Silverstone has simply dropped one of many bravest PC case launches we’ve seen for a very long time. The brand new Silverstone FLP01 case has an old-school desktop-layout case designed to convey you the appear and feel of a retro gaming PC, however with out the necessity to depend on previous {hardware} or modify an previous case. It’s an attention-grabbing look with probably a really area of interest market, however when you merely should match your 80s/90s recreation assortment with a case design of that period, this must be a best choice.
Certainly, if you wish to construct a retro gaming PC, or recreate that retro look with a contemporary PC spec, the Silverstone FLP01 might be the most effective PC case for the job. What’s extra, with Silverstone slapping a modest value on this beige desktop chassis, it’s not a retro gaming choice that’s going to interrupt the financial institution both.
Initially beginning as an April idiot’s joke on X (previously Twitter), a real Silverstone FLP01 prototype later appeared at a Japanese expo occasion, displaying that it did certainly exist, and it’s now getting an official launch.
The Silverstone FLP01 relies on the corporate’s long-existing GD09 case design, which is geared toward folks constructing residence theater PCs (HTPCs). With its comparatively compact dimension and horizontal desktop PC structure – quite than a vertical tower configuration – it has lengthy been favored for the truth that it sits extra naturally amongst different residence theater and Hello-Fi tools, reminiscent of AV receivers and amps.
Though impressed by the slick, black design of the GD09, although, the FLP01 doesn’t evoke the identical aesthetic pleasures. As an alternative, this case has been restyled to scratch the nostalgic itch of players and PC fanatics who both began their PC journey in the course of the period of circumstances that actually did appear to be this, or for youthful patrons trying to faucet into a glance that matches their appreciation for retro gear and gaming.
In addition to an all-over beige paint job, the entrance of the case drops the brushed aluminum of the GD09 and provides a beige plastic panel shaped to incorporate two fake 5.25-inch floppy drive bays. Behind the highest one in all these is definitely house for a 5.25-inch optical drive, letting you load your CDs, DVDs, or Blu-rays. Behind the decrease bay door is the entrance I/O panel of the chassis, consisting of two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, plus a headphone jack.
Additionally on the entrance, together with the trendy grey Silverstone emblem and stripe, is a outstanding energy button, inexperienced energy LED, and crimson drive entry LED.
Inside and across the again and sides of the case, although, it tells a a lot much less retro story. Slide off the metal high panel – no glass panels right here – and you’ve got house for the standard ATX motherboard and energy provide, together with a rack of full-height growth card slots. This implies you’ll be able to pop the overwhelming majority of recent high-end {hardware} into this case. You simply must be careful for the 136mm most CPU cooler top and 309 x 133mm growth card restrict.
A single 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive bay is obtainable for becoming a tough drive or 2.5-inch SSD (all different storage must be M.2 SSDs in your motherboard), whereas cooling is modest, with house for 2 120mm followers on the best, a 120mm fan on the left, and two 80mm followers above the motherboard IO panel.
We completely love that Silverstone has been courageous sufficient to make this case and we’d wish to have a go at constructing the right retro gaming PC in it. In spite of everything, we’ve already proven you tips on how to construct a retro gaming PC in a contemporary case, so why not go the additional step? We do marvel simply how many individuals will really pay for a contemporary – let’s face it – barely ugly case, however priced at simply $129.99 it’s not like Silverstone is charging a premium for this case.
If you happen to in the end do resolve that this isn’t the case model for you, there’s at all times Silverstone’s different new case it has simply introduced, which is a dual-glass-panelled “aquarium” model case referred to as the Lucid 04. Designed for micro-ATX builds, it’s obtainable in black and white, and it supplies a compact and classy choice obtainable for $189.99.
For extra PC design concepts, try our PC construct hub the place we spotlight among the finest gaming PC designs we’ve noticed world wide.
