Conclusion
SilverStone’s TJ09 is simply a great case. It is a very high quality, great looking unit that is a joy to work with. Its side ventilation system, mid-level GPU and oversized top exhaust are very unique features that really set it apart from the rest of the crowd. For those who have been stuck working in cramped cases, the TJ09 really opens your eyes to the benefits of extra case real estate.
As was evident in our testing, SilverStone’s unique thermal design features are very effective. Even without the optional fan locations populated, we saw an incredible 11°C drop in GPU temperature and a 9°C drop in CPU temperature over our reference case. Even the PSU exhaust temperature was decreased by 7°C. These drops in temperature were not done at the expense of silence either. The included fans are very quiet and provided ample cooling to our overclocked quad core rig. With all of the fan locations populated, the case does even better. This is truly a case with next generation systems in mind–a fantastic choice for enthusiasts and overclockers.
My biggest complaint about the TJ09 is that it presents many challenges in the cable management department. This is mainly due to the bottom mounted PSU. For those who are really nit-picky about an organized appearance, some patience and creativity will be required with the TJ09. I also feel the case window could have been done a little better–its look and feel are not at the same quality level as the rest of the case.
The TJ09 retails in the $250 range. Not cheap, but considering its quality and performance, this is a very reasonable price. I’m pleased to award SilverStone’s TJ09 with Icrontic’s “Outstanding Product Award”. I was thoroughly impressed. I’d like to sincerely thank SilverStone for providing us with this sample.
Pros:
- Fantastic cooling performance
- Very quiet
- High quality materials and build
- User friendly with lots of space, removable motherboard tray.
- Looks great
Cons:
- Cable management challenges
- Side window is a little flimsy
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