SilverStone's New PC Case: the Seta A2

in #silverstone3 hours ago

Last week, SilverStone sent me their new case, the Seta A2, which hasn't yet been released in N. America, to review.
SilverStone Seta A2 Mid-Tower Case.jpg
I wasn't sure what to expect, to be frank, but I was pretty sure that it would be decent since they chose it.

I released my video about it over the weekend, but I want to share a bit about it. The video is about 1 hour. If there's interest, I'll make a cut-down version of it.

The black unit is going to be $169 and the white and gold unit $189. Please note that the gold color is somewhere between gold and bronze, more like fool's gold without the shine.

Aside from the info in the title, here are some observations.

PROs

  • Backside connector mobo compatible.
  • Solid, heavy steel construction.
  • Lots of attention to detail.
  • Features to make it easy to build in: removable fan/rad trays on the front and top; PSU mounting backplate; can be converted from storage master to space master; many mounting points for fans; recessed area behind mobo tray provides lots of cable channels; removable 8-slot case tray; etc.
  • 4 dual-tray storage cages, which can be removed individually or as a group, plus mounting points on the bottom and 2 plates to the rear of the mobo tray offer lots of space for 2.5" and 3.5" devices.
  • Subtly classy look with a touch of ARGB on the front.
  • Multi-position adjustable GC anti-sag support GB01.
    GC stand 4.jpg
  • Storage cage array can be raised and lowered to the vertical limits of the case.
  • Well-ventilated PSU shroud.
  • Mounting points for fans and storage all over.
  • Can accept up to 3 420 radiators, plus a 120/140 on the back, even thick ones on the front and side, I believe.
  • Can accept up to 16 fans (max 13 140mm) and comes with 4 140s.
  • 2 rubber supports under the PSU so you don't have to hold it while screwing in the PSU plate's 2 thumbscrews.
  • Out of the way 5 ARGB fan hub that also controls the front ARGB.
  • Full-sized bottom dust filter (the only one!).
  • Almost all air coolers will fit.
  • Several points with thumb screws.
  • Easy to open and close aside panels.
  • No dumb righthand glass panel requiring a metal panel behind it to hide the cables and stuff (looking at you, Corsair!).
  • The cable holes are a nice size.
  • Cable management system includes 3 pairs of metal tabs, cable/twist tie slots, 2 pairs of square flexible plastic retainers and 1 pair of velcro straps.
  • The top i/o panel has 2 USB A and 1 USB C, mic and speaker jacks, and power and reset button with LEDs.

There are some drawbacks other than the lack of other filters.
CONs

  • The top isn't fully removable, which I believe is possible given how sturdy the case is.
  • The case is quite heavy.
  • I had a problem with the front ARGB LEDs becoming damaged. We're trying to figure out why.
    TOP
    damaged top lighting.jpg
    BOTTOM
    damaged bottom lighting.jpg
  • At the time of review, instructions were not available.
  • I found some of the Phillips bolts fiddly to reinsert/thread.
  • No removable mounting frame for the side. I realize that is because the storage array mounts there, but maybe that could have been resolved.
  • Only 2 branded velcro straps but a bunch of cable ties.
  • Top i/o panel used USB 3.0, not 3.2 gen 2.

Overall, though, I feel like this is a very nice case and I'm probably going to move my PC into it from my Corsair 5000X, or use it for an AMD build (eventually). Unless something better falls into my lap, the other PC will be in the Antec Performance Series P20C, which is quite similar in many ways.

I hope that this info proves to be useful.