With the arrival of Large Flick mode on Steam and Valve's Debian-based SteamOS, the call for Mini-ITX boxes has exploded as many gamers look for a solution that is more flexible than consoles and more compact than desktops. Having taken notice, case makers including Silverstone are answering that demand.

Unveiled at CES this year, the latest member to Silverstone's Raven family quickly gained recognition for beingness the ultimate Steam Car enclosure. Called the Raven Z RVZ01, this gaming chassis is among the best compact designs nosotros've seen for cramming a fully-fledged enthusiast PC into an impressively pocket-sized space.

Despite weighing just eight.17lbs (iii.71kg) with a tiny 14L capacity, the RVZ01 is destined for large things with support for enthusiast gear including a dual-slot GPU that's up to 13" (330mm) long -- technically leaving enough room for the GeForce GTX Titan. Perhaps equally attractive is the RVZ01's asking toll of merely $85.

This is even more impressive when you compare it to the recently reviewed Xigmatek Nebula, which has a 22L capacity (57% larger than the RVZ01) only is limited to much shorter 175mm dual-slot graphics cards and is currently going for $120. With that kind of an advantage on its side, the RVZ01 is off to a keen start.

Being a member of the Raven series, the RVZ01 is very ambitious looking and should appeal to gamers, though information technology's worth noting that Silverstone will release a more sedate version chosen the ML07. A engagement hasn't been released on that yet.

Measuring 382mm wide, 105mm tall and 350mm deep, the RVZ01 features a capacity of just 14L and weighs just 3.71kg, making it only slightly bigger than the Xbox 1. The case is designed to either stand up like a tower or lay flat like a desktop case. The Raven logo on the front end can likewise be orientated horizontally regardless of whether the case is used as a belfry or desktop, which is kind of overnice.

The example has a matte blackness finish, which typically is good for avoiding finger marks. However while the plastic front panel and side are fairly finger print resistant, the steel top and bottom panels are extremely prone to gathering fingerprints.

The three plastic panels await very ambitious and feature the same blueprint plant on the much larger RV04. For the well-nigh function nosotros really like the design and believe it volition speak to gamers very well. That said the front mounted blue USB iii.0 ports practice spoil the design somewhat, using black USB ports might have been the mode to get here.

Forth with the USB 3.0 ports Silverstone has colored both 3.5mm audio jacks black along with the ability and reset buttons. There is as well a slot-in slim optical drive slot if you wish to install an optical drive.

Personally, I did abroad with optical drives many years ago now, but Silverstone sent its 8X DVDR drive (SST-SOD02) which costs virtually $75, effectually 3x more than than a standard 5.25" optical drive. Ironically the slot-in slim optical drive costs almost as much as the RVZ01 itself, and so we feel well-nigh will neglect to purchase it.

If y'all lay the instance apartment in a desktop blazon orientation the left and right sides characteristic ambitious plastic panels that are ventilated to allow hot air out as Silverstone has gone with a positive air pressure pattern. Some of the ventilation slots can too be used to install 4 rubber feet which are provided in the parcel should you choose to stand the instance up similar a belfry.

Alternatively, when laid flat similar a desktop there are different rubber feet that can be used to heighten the instance nigh a centimeter off the ground.

Around back, the RVZ01 looks a picayune unusual featuring nothing more than an I/O slot for the motherboard, a 3-pin power in-put and a pair of expansion brackets that look to be mounted the wrong way (we will explain this soon one time nosotros get inside).

Fan grills are on the steel panels that nosotros spoke of earlier in the height and lesser when the chassis is in the desktop position. The elevation console features a single 120mm fan grill while underneath there are 2. What'due south neat most these fan grills is that they feature external dust filters that snap into place using magnets. Apart from looking good, they are a highly applied style of keeping dust out of the RVZ01 as they tin can exist quickly removed for cleaning without having to take the system autonomously.

These grit filters are highly effective due to the mode the fans inside the RVZ01 are configured. As air going into the case is filtered, the positive force per unit area means dust cannot get inside through other slots and vents around the case as information technology is constantly being exhausted though these openings.