Q & A - SilverStone FORTRESS Serie Manual

Q & A
Q:
Can I use a tower-style heatsink without a fan?
A:
According to tests we've done internally, a CPU with TDP rating of 130W (such as Intel Core i7), can
run with a fanless tower-style heatsink inside the FT03. However, this does not account for overclocking
and performance will vary depending on the efficiency of the heatsink used. We suggest that you try at
your own risk.
Q:
How do the hard drives get cooled behind the motherboard tray?
A:
When the hard drives are installed, they are so close to the aluminum side panel that passive heat conduction does occur to help
reduce drive temperature. For the hard drive installed in the hot-swappable bay, an aluminum block pre-attached to the side panel will
also help to provide heat conduction for cooling duty.
Q:
Why is the case designed to only support slim optical drive?
A:
The FT03 was designed to have the smallest footprint possible and to be aesthetically pleasing so a slim optical drive with slot loading
is the best choice to achieve this objective.
Q:
Does the power supply exhaust affect the case's cooling performance?
A:
Yes, the exhaust from the power supply will have a small effect on overall case temperature. This is unavoidable due to FT03's small
footprint design. However, our internal testing has shown that if a high efficiency power supply is used (such as SilverStone's 80 PLUS
Silver certified Strider Plus series), the exhaust temperature will likely stay below 35 degrees Celsius and have minimum effect on overall
case cooling performance.
Q:
Why is the power cord connector located on the bottom of the case?
A:
One of FT03's design parameters was to eliminate all cable connections on all four sides of the case. As most power cords are
connected closer to the floor and usually below case height, we moved the power cord connector to the bottom of the case for more
elegant integration.
Q:
If I want to use a simple, closed loop water cooler, where should I install the radiator?
31
A:
Most users can install it in the 120mm fan slot
above the CPU area.