Silverstone Sugo SG08 Case Review

The biggest limiting factor of the mini-ITX form factor is the case since this really dictates how you will ultimately build your system.  Of course you can always remove the case from the equation and use something larger, but that would defeat the purpose.

Cooling is a major feature of the Sugo SG08 which might be an overstatement considering that the 180mm fan consumes the entire width of the chassis and covers the entire motherboard.  The benefits of a fan likes this comes in the form of positive air pressure and will almost guarantee that your motherboard components will remain cool.  Graphics cards are met with ample ventilation both from the primary intake fan and from case wide venting.

There was a question surrounding CPU cooling and what exactly will fit in the SG08.  Obviously OEM coolers will fit without issue and, based on our research, might be your only option.  For instance we tried a few different coolers, including the Cooler Master Gemin II S524 and found that while the height was within range the format of the cooler either didn't fit in the chassis or didn't fit the motherboard.

Due to the size of the SG08 your storage options will be limited to a single 3.5" HDD and two 2.5" laptop or SSD drives.  The case requires a single slim optical drive which can be obtained from Silverstone as a slot loader or purchased on the open market if you need something a little more specific.

Much to our surprise and disappointment we discovered that Sugo SG08 is not the case to purchase if you want to do modifications, there is simply no room.  Cooling is clearly taken care of and despite the rather limited stock of available CPU coolers we found that modifications to support aftermarket heatsinks would require more effort than it is worth.

Modern GPU Support
Included 80 Plus Bronze PSU
Monster 180mm Cooling
Dual Speed Fan Controller
Thick Aluminum Front Panel

Limited to use OEM heatsinks
There is nowhere to hide cables
HDDs get no direct cooling