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case designed to convey you the feel and appear of a retro gaming PC, however with out the necessity to depend on outdated {hardware} or modify an outdated case. It’s an attention-grabbing look with seemingly a really area of interest market, however for those who 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 very best PC case for the job. What’s extra, with Silverstone slapping a modest worth on this beige desktop chassis, it’s not a retro gaming possibility 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 is predicated on the corporate’s long-existing GD09 case design, which is geared toward folks constructing dwelling theater PCs (HTPCs). With its comparatively compact measurement and horizontal desktop PC format – moderately than a vertical tower configuration – it has lengthy been favored for the truth that it sits extra naturally amongst different dwelling theater and Hello-Fi tools, similar to 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 a substitute, this case has been restyled to scratch the nostalgic itch of players and PC lovers who both began their PC journey in the course of the period of instances that actually did appear like this, or for youthful patrons seeking 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 eschews the standard brushed aluminum panel for beige plastic fashioned to incorporate two fake 5.25-inch floppy drive bays. Behind the highest considered one of these is definitely house for a 5.25-inch optical drive, letting you play 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 fashionable grey Silverstone brand and stripe, is a distinguished energy button, inexperienced energy LED, and orange 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 prime 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 may pop the overwhelming majority of recent high-end {hardware} into this case. You simply need to be careful for the 136mm most CPU cooler peak and 309 x 133mm growth card restrict.
A single 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive bay is on the market for becoming a tough drive or 2.5-inch SSD, whereas cooling is modest, with house for 2 120mm followers on the correct, 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 proper 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 surprise 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 determine that this isn’t the case fashion for you, there’s at all times Silverstone’s different new case it has introduced, which is a dual-glass-panelled “aquarium” fashion case known as the Lucid 04. Designed for micro-ATX builds, it’s out there in black and white, and it supplies a compact and classy possibility out there for $189.99.
For extra PC design concepts, take a look at our PC construct hub the place we spotlight a number of the greatest gaming PC designs we’ve noticed all over the world.
