Review on SilverStone Technology Enclosure Internal SST FS305 12G by Corey Michaels

While the functionality of this device is solid, the build quality seems extremely poor for a Silverstone product. The internal lugs that push the disc out don't seem to move very well and may be brittle. I can definitely understand what other reviewers are saying when they say the plastic is broken. Compartment doors snap nicely in some cases, but not so much in their now fixed location. I tested the product in my Thermaltake Chaser Mk1 right after opening the box, where it fit very well. There were definitely gaps between the edges of the case and the front panel of the case, 1mm on each side. The case itself was firmly installed and didn't move when the discs were loaded. The front compartment doors clicked nicely and latched as expected. I used a small flathead screwdriver and tried opening some of the compartments while it was locked but to no avail. It seems pretty easy to get in if you absolutely want to, but there's not much room to work here. All drives worked fine in this orientation, but it took a little more force than I expected to open each bay door. I was particularly impressed that this enclosure can handle 5 x 3.5" SATA drives with only 2 SATA power connectors inserted. Compartment doors are hinged at the bottom. This is the orientation I was hoping for, so it didn't bother me. It was very easy to install using the "Easy Install Adapters" that came with my case, basically small metal tabs that fit into the screw holes and snap into place when inserted into the case. That's when I noticed the quality. After installation, I noticed that the plastic levers that push each disc out require a little more force to fully seat the disc. Nothing crazy, but definitely noticeable. I tested ejecting the drives before powering on the unit and found that it also required more effort on the chassis to bring the drives back into that orientation. I'm hoping not to have to replace discs in the near future but I'm pretty sure these ejector lugs will break within 5 disc changes for years to come. I have noticed the clearance in this case in my case which is now 1.5mm on all sides as opposed to 1mm on the Chaser Mk1. I also noticed that bay 3 didn't want to close all the way in this orientation. This is most likely because this case doesn't fully support the case like a standard tower case. Inserting a coin between the case and case solved this problem. The first thing I noticed after starting the machine was a fairly loud fan noise. Not unbearable compared to the rest of my rack (and the Chaser Mk1 from earlier testing), but certainly frustrating if you have a near-silent PC looking to install this on. Although I didn't remove it, I did investigate where the fan is mounted and it seems weak as mentioned in another review. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing breaks in the near future and I'm crossing everything I have so I can troubleshoot these issues with my 3D printer to fix when something breaks. In general, the phrase "you get what you pay for" doesn't quite apply here. I distinctly remember seeing other 4-bay cases for around $100, although they don't appear to be stocked at Revain. I have used the Silverstone 3.5" Aluminum 2-Bay SATA Enclosure in the past and have had a great experience. It cost $40 when bought in 2012, so $125 for 5 already seems quite high considering the difference in quality between the 2. Overall I'm glad it works and supports SAS, which is rare in this price range.