Silverstone offers a huge range of computer cases that vary greatly in design and purpose. The company get-go caught our attention with beautiful HTPC cases such as the LC13B-E, which had the build quality and class of a Lian-Li with what we felt was a more interesting pattern.

However, Silverstone really landed on our radar with the Raven 2 Evolution (RV02-Eastward) which at the time was probably the almost interesting and unique gaming example we had ever seen. The 90-degree stacked design worked well providing first-class cooling while generating trivial noise and at $180 information technology wasn't ridiculously expensive for a high-end gaming case.

We received the Raven 3 only a few months subsequently reviewing its predecessor and Silverstone impressed united states of america by costing xi% less while perhaps beingness a better example than the RV02-E in sure respects. Conversely, the Raven iv was a stride backwards for usa as the over-complicated design made installation a task and the heavy forepart panel acquired reliability problems that eventually saw it removed from shelves.

The Raven v arrived mid-way through 2022 and we were taken by its appearance, affordable price and thermal functioning. Unfortunately, the internal layout fabricated installation challenging and it also suffered from a number of hardware limitations.

While the Raven serial has undoubtedly become more than affordable over the years, Silverstone has struggled to recapture the magic of the Raven two Evolution.

That beingness said, the company is one time over again trying its mitt at creating the ultimate Raven case with the new Raven X (RVX01). Designed for the masses the RVX01 features an MSRP of just $eighty, only is information technology any proficient?

Silverstone promises that the RVX01 will deliver flagship level cooling performance, ample bulldoze space and full size component compatibility. The Raven X looks equally aggressive equally ever and despite the affordable $80 price tag it will come with 3 120mm AP fans out of the box.

Exterior

The Raven RVX01 reminds us quite a fleck of the Raven RV05 though there are a number of small-scale and still rather obvious changes. For one, the RV05 was a solid black chassis whereas the RVX01 features a few cherry-red highlights and to our knowledge there is only a crimson/black version.

Classed as a mid-tower, the RVX01 is surprisingly small measuring merely 485mm alpine though it is 500mm deep and 215mm wide. This gives the RVX01 a rather modest 52L chapters making information technology 18% smaller than the RV05, a example that we already thought was limited on space.

The RVX01 is eleven% thinner than the RV05 and that lone has usa a bit worried about the case'southward cable direction options given that Silverstone claims the RVX01 can handle full pinnacle CPU air coolers. This leaves little infinite behind the motherboard tray. Depth-wise the RV05 and RVX01 are much the same though the RVX01 is thirteen% shorter.

From the front, the RVX01 is easily recognizable as a Raven series computer case and cherry highlights aside we call up this is one of the better designs.

Aggressive lines are what the Raven series is all almost and despite the chaos, the façade still manages to look quite sleek. That is probably due to the fact that there are no buttons, forepart panel connectivity or bulldoze bays to speak of. The RV05 does accept the Cylon look going on though, equally the 'V' shape in the front end console lights upward when the organisation is on, giving a absurd upshot.

The I/O console has been moved to the top of the case and this will provide easier admission to users who wish to place the RVX01 under their desk, for example. Included in the top panel I/O are two USB 3.0 ports, two audio jacks with the power and reset buttons merged into the design at either side of the I/O panel. This is very much the layout nosotros establish on the RV05.

With the system's guts rotated by xc-degrees, the motherboard and expansion connectivity protrude from the top of the instance and are covered by a well-ventilated lid that is easily removable. The matte blackness lid looks ambitious with precipitous, unusual lines and it also features a crimson grill which will no doubt entreatment to some while others will simply hate it.

The rear of the RVX01, where you would typically find fans and motherboard connections, has nothing simply a unmarried 120mm fan grill. It'southward worth pointing out that the RVX01 is painted black inside and while this is to be expected to a certain degree it is nevertheless a squeamish characteristic for a sub-$100 case.

The left side is covered by a long, free-flowing door with a window to show off your hardware. In order to remove the case doors, the user must first slide the tiptop panel off and and so disengage a pair of screws which means a screwdriver is required to get inside the RVX01.

The doors so lift upwards for removal. This isn't well-nigh every bit nice every bit the tool-free push design of the RV05 but costs had to exist cut somewhere.

Flipping the RVX01 upside down reveals a huge dust filter that can exist slid out for cleaning purposes. Interestingly, there's no fan grill on the bottom of the case. Backside the filter are three 120mm Silverstone Air Penetrator fans that forcefulness plenty of cool air into the RVX01.

As mentioned before, the fundamental of the RVX01's aesthetics is the carmine lesser skirt. This gives the RVX01 that Asus ROG red/black look that has also been borrowed by other manufacturers such every bit MSI with its 'Gaming' products. The red/blackness theme is fine but we promise to run across a solid blackness version in the not too distant future as well.

Additionally, the case has four feet raising it 40mm off the ground. This gives the RVX01 an ambitious looking stance on the desk and allows enough air to be sucked under the case by the trio of 120mm intake fans.