SilverStone TJ09 Full-Tower Case

Reviews: Cases

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Max Slowik
Kurtis
SilverStone
Mar. 30, 2007

Specifications

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First Impressions

Wrestling the case out of the box isn't easy; it may even require two people. The size is anything but subtle. It is, after all, a full-tower server case.

The craftsmanship that went into the case is immediately apparent, and there's a sense of apprehension about putting a computer into it; in other words, what if the parts aren't good enough for the case? Every edge is contoured or rounded, the front and side bezels are polished, the top and sides are perfectly brushed, and the mesh filters are slightly raised. For a metal box, it's very dynamic. Oh, and there's a hole through it.

Right behind the hard drive cages, there is a tunnel with mesh on one side, with an intake fan to pull outside air towards the expansion slots, without resorting to a funny door-mounted intake. Though possibly inspired by Dell and/or BTX, Silverstone pulls it off like they invented it.

The SilverStone TJ09 is easily 99% aluminum, and gives the impression that it's milled from a single billet. Even the insides are brushed. The rivets are concealed behind brushed aluminum caps, and the seams are very hard to find. The thickness of the aluminum varies, from about 5mm for the front bezel to about 1.5mm for the doors, to keep them light, presumably. Only the doors and the mesh filters have the slightest flex about them. The rest of the case uses 2mm or 3mm thick metal. It's dense for being hollow.

The visible screws are polished, rounded, counter-sunk Allen screws holding the front bezel to the chassis and the window to the door (when applicable). All of the screw holes, from the motherboard tray to the door screws are reinforced. They're stainless steel sockets from the looks of it, so there's practically no chance of stripping them.

The top I/O connections pop up when they're needed, and clap shut with a solid clunk. At first, it takes a little force to work the hinge, but too taut is much better than wimpy. The power and reset buttons are chrome, not plastic painted chrome, and both the power and HDD activity LEDs are blue. Pleasant blue, not burn-holes-through-your-cones blue.

Supporting the chassis are four receiver-grade feet, two inch plastic disks shod with more polished aluminum and some foamy rubber pads.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Look
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: Inside the Case
Page 4: Quality Check
Page 5: Conclusion

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3 User Comments

1 - Posted by mjsmere on April 3, 2007 - 3:19 pm

Excellent article, kudos.

2 - Posted by Max Slowik on April 3, 2007 - 5:34 pm

So, like, I had some real problems writing that article. Not ethical ones, I love this case and I'm glad it's mine, all mine, but rather, writing problems. Mostly problems with flow; I won't point out the problems that I think are there on account of that might taint your commentary.

I really want to hear about what you liked about it. I really, really want to hear if there was something that you thought sounded shitty.

P.S. I didn't shoot the pictures. That's all Kurtis. That's also a very good thing.

P.P.S. I'm going to take some photos of it with our next test rig once it's all installed and put them up here.

3 - Posted by mjsmere on April 4, 2007 - 7:44 pm

I'm sending you a long email about it.

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