Overall and FV
One thing's for sure, Silverstone has created something completely new with the Fortress FT03. They managed to pack a big gaming rig into a small footprint, perfect for anyone who wants to run their PC on their desk without it taking up half of the desk, or for a LAN environment. Having said that, there are small issues here and there that you have to keep in mind if you plan on getting one. First, you are limited to only three 3.5 inch bays and one 2.5 inch bay, for most this won’t be an issue though. I found the unique cooling layout to perform well in our testing, but I am concerned that there isn’t room to improve the cooling much if you need it. I also found the case to be really hard to pick up and carry around; luckily Silverstone sells a carrying bag that supports this case.
On the good side, I love the styling of the FT03. It has that elegant Silverstone look that almost no other manufacturer can come close to. This is mostly because of its use of brushed aluminum and curved corners. I mentioned it before, but its small footprint is impressive, especially with support for multiple video cards and Micro ATX motherboards. Normally with this sized footprint we are limited to one card with a Mini ITX motherboard, those looking for a little more will love this. Of course at just under $170 the Fortress FT03 isn’t cheap. But if you want a little style, something completely unique, and room for SLI and Micro ATX, it’s one of only a few options on the market. And I can promise you, its one of the most unique.