SilverStone Redline RL04 Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The Redline RL04 is a mid-tower case from SilverStone targeted to users on a budget, costing only USD 53. Yet, it brings features usually only seen on more expensive models. Let’s see what the RL04 has to offer.

Figure 1: SilverStone Redline RL04 case

Figure 2: SilverStone Redline RL04 case

The left-side panel of the RL04 is meshed, supporting two 120 mm or 140 mm fans. The case comes with a magnetic air filter for this mesh. See Figure 4. However, this filter is not a perfect fit. As you can see in Figure 5, it is a little bit bigger than the place where it is supposed to be installed. As you can also see in Figure 5, the filter that came with our sample was a little bowed. According to SilverStone, this may happen in places that are too dry. Because of this, the filter wouldn’t stay in place, sliding down as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 3: Left-side panel

Figure 4: Air filter

Figure 5: Air filter is not a perfect match for the case

Figure 6: Air filter slides and doesn’t stay in place

[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]

The front panel of the SilverStone Redline RL04 has four external 5.25” bays with solid covers. There is a 120 mm fan with red LEDs at the bottom part of the front panel, and it is possible to install a second 120 mm fan or a 180 mm fan (if you remove the 120 mm fan that comes with the case). There is an air filter for the front fan. The manufacturer doesn’t publish the technical specifications for the fans that come with the RL04.

Figure 7: Front panel

Figure 8: Front fan

The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports and the traditional audio jacks installed on the left side of the front panel. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector.

Figure 9: Buttons and connectors

[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels”]

The top panel of the SilverStone Redline RL04 has a mesh allowing the installation of two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans. The bottom panel has an air filter for the power supply fan.

Figure 10: Top panel

Figure 11: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the SilverStone Redline RL04 are painted in black.

On the SilverStone Redline RL04, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The product allows the installation of a 120 mm fan on its rear panel, but it doesn’t come with this fan.

This case has seven expansion slots with vented slot covers. These covers, however, are disposable. There is a plastic cap to protect the place where expansion cards are screwed.

The reviewed case has two holes for external liquid cooling solutions. Each of the holes is 1” (25 mm) in diameter. To use these holes, you must break and toss away the metallic covers that are present.

Figure 12: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the SilverStone Redline RL04.

[nextpage title=”Inside the SilverStone Redline RL04″]

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews, which is great to see on a budget case. The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.

Figure 13: Overall look

Figure 14: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 15, we have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using regular screws (at least they are black), accessed from outside the case. The SilverStone Redline RL04 supports video cards up to 11.5” (292 mm) long.

Figure 15: Overall look

The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As previously shown, there is an air filter for the power supply fan. You can install power supplies up to 11” (280 mm) deep, so there is virtually no restriction on the physical size of the power supply that you can install.

Figure 16: Power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The SilverStone Redline RL04 has four external 5.25” bays and five internal 3.5”/2.5” bays. Installation of 5.25” and 3.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws, but installation of 2.5” devices requires the use of regular screws. The 3.5”/2.5” bays are accessible from the right-hand side of the case rather than the left-hand side, which is more common.

Figure 17: Disk drive bays

Figure 18: Access to the 3.5”/2.5” bays

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer, as you can see in Figure 19.

Figure 19: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the SilverStone Redline RL04 include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available color: Black
• Side panel: Meshed
• Dimensions: 18.9 x 8.7 x 20.6 inches (480 x 220 x 523 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 14 lbs (6.2 kg)
• Gross weight: 16 lbs (7.4 kg)
• Bays: Four external 5.25” bays and five internal/external 3.5”/2.5” bays
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 11.5” (292 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 120 mm fan (red LEDs) on the front panel
• Optional fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 180 mm fan on the front panel (replacing the 120 mm fan that comes with the case), one 120 mm fan on the rear panel, and two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel
• Extra Features: None
• More Information: https://www.silverstonetek.com.tw
• Average Price in the U.S.*: USD 53.00

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The SilverStone Redline RL04 is an impressive case for its price, with features usually only seen on more expensive models. It comes with just one fan, but this is expected on a case in the USD 50 price range. Even though we couldn’t use the side filter, actually, this is not a major issue when considering the case’s price, overall construction quality, and features. The RL04 will certainly please the user who is looking for a case with good features at this price.

Strong Points

• Excellent price
• Air filter for the power supply, bottom, and side fans
• Support for video cards up to 11.5” (292 mm) long
• Vented slot covers
• Supports five 3.5”/2.5” storage devices
• A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Clips for fastening cables using cable ties

Weak Points

• Air filter for the left panel is not a perfect fit
• Doesn’t come with the rear fan