SilverStone Sugo SG08 review

Performance Analysis

With the Air Penetrator fan set to its low speed setting, the case remained pleasingly quiet, especially given the amount of meshing where fan noise can escape. At this setting the SG08 was able to keep our CPU at a delta T of an impressive 44°C, just a single degrees centigrade above the excellent (and much larger) BitFenix Prodigy. Meanwhile, our graphics card chugged through our stress test at a respectable delta T of 56°C, the same result as the Elite 120 Advanced, which is unsurprising given that its graphics cooling setup is essentially identical.


Flicking the fan controller's switch to high speed mode did cause the air noise to rise to a noticeably higher level, but it was still tolerable. It also had the pleasing effect of dropping the delta T results of both the CPU and GPU by a significant 3°C each. The CPU result here in particular is excellent, as it bests the previous best performing case, the Prodigy, by a whole 2°C. Clearly, the Air Penetrator and positive pressure design are a force to be reckoned with.


Conclusion
The SG08 is a very minor upgrade to the SG07, and in most regards the cases are actually identical. However, a lot has changed in two years – not just our testing process, but also the demands that people are now beginning to make from mini-ITX builds, which no longer need to make performance compromises to accommodate their size.

The unusual design and relatively steep price tag are classic hallmarks of a SilverStone chassis, but we can't argue with the results. Despite having only a single fan, the SG08 was able to achieve the best result by a fair margin for CPU cooling that we've seen so far, and was no slacker when it came to keeping graphics hardware cool either. A rear exhausting graphics card is definitely recommended if using this case, but this is quickly becoming the norm now and so shouldn't be an issue.

The build quality of the case is excellent and we're also very impressed by the SG08's ability to cram so much hardware into so small a space, while still leaving room for long graphics cards and taller CPU coolers than other larger cases. That said, it's a pity SilverStone hasn't taken the opportunity to improve upon the SG07's shortcomings, such as the over-reliance on tools or the lack of any real system for managing stray cables. However, building and modifying your system is a relatively rare event for most, and being able to run a high end system in a case so small, quiet and stylish case is a very attractive prospect. If your wallet can take the dent and you're willing to work with it, the SG08 would make an excellent purchase for those looking to squeeze the most out of a mini-ITX build.