SilverStone Grandia GD07 Review: Centering and Serving Your Media
by Dustin Sklavos on April 29, 2012 1:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- HTPC
- SilverStone
Introducing the SilverStone GD07
The last time we reviewed one of SilverStone's Grandia enclosures, it was the GD04, and it was a review that launched the first major revamp of how we test cases. Since then SilverStone has kept the Grandia series relatively staid, but at CES they were showing off the new GD07 and GD08, and today we have the GD07 in house.
SilverStone has turned the GD07 into an enclosure designed to cram as much computer into as small a space as possible within reason, and the horizontal orientation seems to make it ideal for use as a media center enclosure. However, inside it also has a tremendous amount of storage capacity that suggests it could also be used as a media server. The GD04 was a fine case once you tweaked it and added a fan controller; is the GD07 ideal on the first go?
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It's pretty impressive at first glance, with four external 5.25" drive bays. You're going to find that's something indicative of the rest of the enclosure, as the GD07 is rife with storage options. But we also had the chance to meet with SilverStone at CES 2012 and get a proper tour of the GD07, and so as this review goes on I'll talk a little more about the decisions that went into designing this major update to the Grandia series. Suffice to say it's an excellent update that may be just what you're looking for if you want to build a combination media center/file server (similar to what I use at home), but there are definite drawbacks compared to the previous GD04 and GD05.
| SilverStone Grandia GD07 Specifications | ||
| Motherboard Form Factor | ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX | |
| Drive Bays | External | 4x 5.25” |
| Internal | 2x 2.5" and 5x 3.5" | |
| Cooling | Front | - |
| Rear | 2x 80mm fan mount | |
| Top | - | |
| Side | 1x 120mm intake fan and 1x 120mm fan mount | |
| Bottom | 2x 120mm intake fans | |
| Expansion Slots | 7+1 | |
| I/O Port | 2x USB 3.0, 1x Headphone, 1x Mic | |
| Power Supply Size | Standard ATX | |
| Clearances | HSF | 138 mm |
| PSU | 220 mm | |
| GPU | 13.5" / 343mm | |
| Weight |
15.4 lbs. 7 kg |
|
| Dimensions |
6.9" x 17.3" x 17.1" 175mm x 440mm x 435mm |
|
| Special Features |
Large removable drive cage Locking hinged front panel Extra horizontally mounted expansion slot USB 3.0 via internal header |
|
| Price | Online starting at $140 | |
The GD07 is larger in pretty much every way than its predecessor, the GD04, which means it doesn't necessarily obsolete that model so much as exist alongside it. In exchange for the extra real estate, SilverStone bumps the number of drive bays up substantially as well as allowing for a full ATX motherboard instead of just Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX. We also get front panel USB 3.0 connectivity through an included internal header.
Just like the GD04 was a sibling model with the GD05, differing in front panel layout, so the GD07 and GD08 are similar. The GD07 has more exposed expansion and a locking front door that hinges downward, while the GD08 has just two exposed 5.25" bays and no door. I personally prefer the door; the power button is still exposed, you don't have to lock the door, it offers a cleaner finish, and it hides the optical drive activity LED. If you prefer the alternate configuration, however, the GD08 will retail for $145 and is currently available for pre-order at some retailers.
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pimogo - Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - link
Hi ChrisQuestion: in your build you included an h100, which is precisely what i'd like to do.. either that or the smaller h60. However, the reviewer here basically said that closed radiator systems were a no go due to the motherboard to sideboard constraints. Given that this case is fairly similar to the case you have, what gives? Is it then possible to install an h100 in a stock case or did you have to mod it?
Many thanks!
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
I removed the fans on the inside, removed the filter and secured the 2 120mm fans on the outside with fan grills I pulled off dead PSU's. Due to the positive pressure design, I pointed the fans to bow air into the case. The CPU sits at 30c at idle and 65c under load. The GPU is at 40-43 under load.Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
I don't know if the post will let me put this in, but here are pics of my personal system.http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248327595...
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
Sorry, the GPU temp is at idle not load! I also made an extended Molex cable that comes off the PSU harness to the outside of the case. My entertainment unit has been modified with 2x140mm Bitfenix fans and a Zalman fan control to suck hot air away from the HTPC and receiver amp. I mod I highly recommend! I also find the corsair fans to loud and the corsair controller doesn't make them quiet enough, so use the MB headers and artic cooling PWM fans. I also replaced the fan in the PSU.I have pictures on face book, but the link I wanted to put got removed.
pimogo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
Thanks for the comprehensive response! So you have the 2 fans on the side for the Corsair which are themselves replacements--not the OEM fans? You found the OEM loud?If they're loud, i wonder if its worth going in that direction. I wonder if just a noctua slim cpu fan would not suffice. Btw how many fans in your case do you have total?
Thanks!
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
The fans are ok on their own most of the time, but on the outside they were a little louder. Since I build computers for a living, I have access to a fair few parts, and the Artic cooling ones have more blades, shifting more air at a lower speed. I think the H100 is worth it. No modifying of any structures is done thoughaudioman83 - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link
I'm selling one used-Like New at Amazon. I treated it with kid gloves. It's in perfect condition.