By David Shields
Manufacturer: SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: Raven RV05
Model Number: SST-RV05B
UPC: 84476101536 EAN: 4710007221532
Price As Tested: $116.99 (Newegg | Amazon)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by SilverStone.
SilverStone is known for producing high quality cases that provide an excellent assortment of cooling options, though at more premium prices than other manufacturers. In 2008 SilverStone released a behemoth of a case that was dubbed the Raven RV01. The RV01 became an immediate enthusiast favorite, with striking looks and a unique design that rotated the motherboard by 90 degrees. Even more unique about the Raven was the “stack effect” cooling design, which focused on creating a vertical airflow that allowed heat to naturally rise out of the case. The RV01 was a case to be desired, but aside from being easily one of the largest tower cases ever made, it sold for a whopping $250.00. SilverStone has released several successors to the RV01, including a miniITX version, but has yet to recapture the feel of the original RV01…until now.
Now, SilverStone has just released the latest chassis in the Raven series, the RV05. The RV05 was first demoed last October and arguably was the first enthusiast chassis design without 5.25″ bays. Without the bays, the RV05 is smaller than many mid-towers while still retaining compatibility for a full range of standard features such as ATX motherboards and power supplies, bays for dual 3.5″ drives and 2.5″ drives, and even water cooling support.
| Model | SST-RV0B5 |
| Materials | Plastic / Steel |
| Color | Black / Dark Gray |
| Dimensions | 242mm (W) x 529mm (H) x 498mm (D), 63.8L |
| Storage Capacity | Slim Slot Loading Drive, 2x 3.5″, 2x 2.5″ |
| Cooling | Top : 1x 120mm, Bottom : 2x 180mm (incl.) 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm |
| Front I/O | 2x USB 3.0, Microphone / Headphone |
| Expansion Options | Expansions Slots : 7, Expansion Card Restriction : 312mm x 166mm, CPU Cooler : 162mm |
| Net Weight | 7.6kg |
| Included Extras | Cables Ties, Screws, Magnetic Dust Filter for PSU, Cloth Bag for Chassis |
Looking at the exterior of the RV05, it’s easy to see the similarities in the design with the RV01. The front panel is made of plastic and features the Raven logo, and below that is a angled LED strip that glows white. It gives off a much more muted light than many LEDs, which fits the case better. As the RV05 has no 5.25″ bays, the front presents an uninterrupted, attractive finish. The only other item of note on the front panel is the slim slot loading drive bay located on the lower right that is covered by a grey rubber strip so as to detract less from the overall look.
Each side panel is decorated by a pair of fins at the top and bottom. On the RV01 the lower fins were extra intakes, but here they are simply decorative. It is possible to purchase the RV05 with a window on one of the side panels at the same price as the non-windowed version. The SilverStone logo is etched into the top of each panel.
The top panel is built with a perforated design to allow air to flow effortlessly out from the case. To remove the side panels, one must first remove the top panel, which is removed easily by pulling it straight off the chassis. Then, release the latch found under the upper fin on each panel and pull the side panel straight off. Power and reset switches are on either side of the I/O panel, which is concealed by a rubber cover so as to not detract from the design.
The bottom of the case is basically a large dust filter with four rubber soled feet. As the bottom acts as the RV05’s intake, the feet are purposefully taller than with most cases to provide intake clearance. The dust filter can also be removed for cleaning by simply pulling it out from the front.
As the motherboard tray is rotated 90 degrees, the back of the RV05 has none of the standard expansion slots and I/O hole expected in most cases. Instead, it’s sole feature is an intake for the PSU (which is mounted vertically to exhaust air up and out of the case) and SilverStone includes a magnetic dust filter for the intake. The large gap between the main part of the chassis and the top panel is where all your cables pass through to connect to the motherboard and PSU.
Some say that the design of the Raven series is one that you either love or you hate. With the RV05, SilverStone has taken a step backwards in design, but the end result is no less impressive. With a matte-black finish and angular accents, the RV05 is a looker, and can work wherever you put it, especially given its small footprint.
The interior of the RV05 is designed to take advantage of the “stack effect” cooling, with the motherboard tray rotated 90 degrees, dual 180mm fans in the bottom, and a minimum of additional features to ensure uninterrupted airflow from the bottom to the top. At the lower left corner of the interior are the dual 3.5″ inch bays, which can be removed to accommodate either larger PSU’s or so they don’t partially obstruct the 180m fan beneath them. The PSU mounts vertically above the drive cage. The RV05 can accomodate coolers of up to 162mm in height and graphics cards up to 320mm long. It might even be possible to accommodate longer cards by rearranging the lower intake fans.
The rear panel of the case reveals dual SSD mounts and the mount for the slot loading optical drive. You might think given the design of the chassis it lacks any form of cable management, but you’d be wrong. The space behind the motherboard plate varies, but at it’s greatest depth you have an excellent 25mm of space. Furthermore, you have additional space to tuck cables away around the bottom fans. and removing the 3.5″ cage creates even more. That being said, I would still recommend a semi or fully modular PSU. Another SilverStone logo is located at the bottom of the plate.
Removing the top panel of the case reveals the standard expansion slot setup that is normally on the rear of cases, but is here to accommodate the motherboard rotation. It basically looks and functions exactly like it does normally, and a 120mm exhaust fan can be mounted as well. My only gripe with this design are the expansion slots, which can’t be removed unless you remove the cover beside them first. This is hardly a major issue, but given the attention to design SilverStone showed in the rest of the chassis, it strikes me as odd that it was designed this way.
Another look at the 3.5″ bays, along with the SilverStone 180mm case fans included with the case. To maximize airflow, there are no obstructions between the fans and the filter below. You can, if you so choose, remove the dual 180mm fans and install dual 140mm, or even three 120mm fans. I myself installed a Corsair H100i in push/pull configuration, which fit easily into the space.
This final photo shows one of the two 2.5″ mounts on the back. The holes on my 2.5″ SSD did not line up with the mounts, but I suspect that has more to do with the SSD itself and not the mounts. However, I found that the drive stayed snugly in place without screws anyways.
SilverStone’s aim was to make building a system inside the RV05 easy, especially given the interior is more cramped than others. In that they succeeded quite well, with simple component installation and ample cable management, especially for a case this size.
The SilverStone Raven RV05 is a worthy design to take up the mantle of the Raven series. With a clean, attractive exterior complemented by a sturdy, well built interior, it’s difficult to find fault with the RV05. SilverStone has made the effort to pay attention to every little detail and utilize the space, from covering the front ports to providing ample storage space with minimal use of the interior. Those seeking a greater feature set for the same price will likely prefer one of the RV05’s competitors, but for those who appreciate quality and performance, the Raven RV05 is definitely a top choice.
Below you can see the completed build, and for the most part it is a pretty clean looking build. You can also see that the Corsair H100i in push/pull configuration installed with room to spare, which is great to see after having to struggle a bit to fit the radiator in other cases. I wonder if it might even be possible to fit a custom loop in the RV05, assuming you have the skills to mod and install the pump and reservoir, because there is plenty of space for a full radiator in the bottom.
For a small mid tower that has only four fan mounts, the cooling performance is impressive. While temperatures will differ depending on your system, in my system (FX-8350 / 750TI SC) temperatures were an average of 3° – 5° cooler than in my Phanteks Enthoo Pro chassis. I think that SilverStone could have potentially made the upper mount a 140mm, but thats just a thought.
The RV05 is a great looking mid tower chassis. The matte black finish is very attractive, and fingerprints and dust don’t show up as noticeably as on many others. SilverStone put in the effort to not create a case that was flamboyent and covered in LEDs, but one that included little touches, such as the front I/O and slot drive covers, and the muted white LED strip.
SilverStone’s description of “plastic outer shell” is accurate. The front panel, top panel, and bottom structure are all made from sturdy plastic that blends well with the steel. The main part of the chassis, including the side panels are all of high quality steel. The plastic also seems more resistant to marks and scratches than that on other cases.
The removal of the 5.25″ bays marks a continuing trend in case design. However, for those that cannot do without optical media, the slot loading drive still presents that option while leaving only a minimum footprint within the chassis. What SilverStone has accomplished in such a small chassis is a testament to their experience and designers.
The Raven RV05 sells for $116.99 (Newegg | Amazon) regardless of which version you get. This puts it up against competitors such as the NZXT H440 and Phantom, Corsair Obsidian 450D and Carbide 500R, and Fractal Design R4. While the RV05 is well constructed and boasting an excellent design, many of it’s competitors include more stock cooling options. However, it is worth noting that the AP181 fans Silverstone includes are of a much higher quality than fans included with competitors such as the NZXT H440 and Corsair Obsidian 450D.
If you are looking for a solid, attractive case with high build quality, look no further than the SilverStone Raven RV05.
+ Attractive, sleek exterior.
+ Strong cable management despite minimalist design.
+ Good cooling performance.
+ No wasted space, high flexibility.
+ Easily removable bottom and PSU filters.
– Included cooling options are not as extensive as some competitors (but they are of much higher quality).
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Performance: 9.25
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Appearance: 9.25
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Construction: 9.00
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Functionality: 8.75
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Value: 8.75
