INTRODUCTION
Picking up the right parts for a brand new system configuration may not be the easiest thing nowadays due to the huge amount of available options in the market but it's certainly a lot better compared to having limited ones. It's been a while since i've put together a new system for someone other than myself but it happened twice inside 2017 already and i actually couldn't pick the right components as easily as i did a couple of years ago. Building our own systems is not as hard since i always know which components i need for the job but even so when i build our Intel Core i7-6700 rig i couldn't make up my mind about which case to use so i imagine that's equally hard for some of you. SilverStone has released quite a few interesting PC cases over the years but very few aimed at consumers on a tight budget and with their brand new Redline RL06 PRO Mid-Tower they want to change that.
Founded in 2003, SilverStone is an established leader in its field, with an elite team of engineers; we started our quest of providing products that create inspirations. We have since expanded the lines of products as well as types of products we produce, giving our customers a wide selection of choices. With distribution centers in different areas of the globe, SilverStone products can be seen all over the world, not just for computer users but also for home entertainment use. Providing leisure with integration of advanced technologies that is functional and making them enjoyable to use. Here at SilverStone Technology, we continue to pride ourselves in providing the highest level of standards in designing and manufacturing computer enclosures, power supplies, and accessories. Our pursuit for the first class aesthetic appeal is relentless; our teams of devoted engineers are constantly searching for the best technologies that suit end-users with different needs and will make our products as technologically sound as they are beautiful.
SilverStone currently has two versions of the Redline RL06 available in two colors (black with red trim and white with silver trim) the standard RL06 one and the RL06 PRO which as stated above is the one we have here with us today. For good or bad don't expect any significant differences between the two versions since they only have one and that's the three 120mm LED fans (red for the black and white for the white) placed behind the fascia. In terms of interior space the RL06/PRO has enough room for ATX/micro ATX sized mainboards, 5 drives 3x3.5/2.5" and 2x2.5"), 6 fans (6x120mm or 4x140mm and 1x120mm) and/or two 240mm radiators, 158mm tall CPU coolers, 348mm long graphics cards and 200mm long power supply units. It's certainly not as appealing as the Primera PM01 but it's target audience is different so let's check it out.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS
The RL06/PRO cases are shipped inside a regular cardboard box that has a large product picture at the front right next to the product name and its main features.
A few words about the product are printed on the left side right over the product specifications table.
Moving onto the right side we see the features list printed in 10 different languages and a sticker on which you can see the product serial number and barcode (it is here that you can see whether or not the included case is the regular RL06 or the PRO version).
At the rear we see a product drawing of the interior used to showcase the main product features.
The RL06/PRO is wrapped inside a plastic bag and placed between two thick foam spacers.
Unfortunately the bundle is very limited since aside the user manual you're only getting a plastic bag with screws and standoffs.
THE REDLINE RL06 PRO EXTERIOR
The Redline RL06 PRO is very simple in design but thanks to its strange looking fascia it actually looks very nice.
As always a large acrylic window is placed on the left side panel.
The fascia actually looks even better head on and as you can all see it's almost entirely perforated.
Removing the front is very easy (as opposed to the Primera PM01) and as you can all see there's a removable air-filter right in front of the three 120mm LED fans.
You can replace the three 120mm LED fans either with two 140mm ones or a 240mm radiator.
The I/O is located at the top front of the tower and it includes the on/off power button with its LED, HDD activity LED, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports and the usual microphone and headphones ports.
There's also sufficient room at the top for either two 140mm fans or a 240mm radiator (a magnetic air-filter is placed above).
At the rear we see 7 PCI expansion slots, the PSU area and a 120mm exhaust fan (regular not LED).
Four tall legs and a removable mesh air-filter (unfortunately not easy to remove) are placed at the base of the tower.
THE REDLINE RL06 PRO INTERIOR
The RL06 PRO may not be as large as the Primera PM01 but the layout of the interior is similar and that gives it quite a bit of available space.
Here we see the three 120mm LED fans and the area where you can mount a radiator (you may even be able to mount a tube reservoir on the vertical mounting holes).
There are 7 cable management holes on the mainboard tray none of which is rubber coated.
All 7 PCI expansion slots are secured in place via regular screws.
The PSU area cover also has three cable management holes on it.
Turning the case around reveals a 10-way fan hub, two vertical 2.5" drive trays and a drive cage with three 3.5/2.5" trays.
Just like with the Primera PM01 the vertical ones are made out of aluminum while the others are made out of plastic.
Here we see the top from the interior of the chassis.
BUILDING THE SYSTEM
As always the purpose of this section is not to build a functional system but rather to showcase what you can expect from the case at hand in terms of interior space.
Even by installing a full ATX board the Redline RL06 PRO has quite a bit of available space left inside.
Unfortunately although you can indeed install a 240mm radiator at the top it needs to have a maximum thickness of 30mm so that pretty much rules out every AIO system out there and most radiators (with slim fans perhaps it would be possible).
With enough room for CPU coolers up to 158mm in height you should be able to use most in the market today.
Even if you do mount a radiator at the front you should still have enough room for even the longest graphics cards.
In terms of PSU space you can mount regular ATX sized ones without issue as you can see from the above picture (anything longer and it may not be easy to route cables).
NOISE LEVEL TEST
After giving it much thought we decided on performing noise tests with each PC Case we receive by placing our ExTech HD600 vertically on top of each case to measure the noise levels emanating from the pre-installed fans at both 50% and 100% with the help of a fan controller (if the case doesn't have one we use our own).
CONCLUSION
The Redline RL05 was a good mid-tower with plenty of interior space and several features but lacked what it needed in terms of design to become a hit among consumers on a tight budget. The new RL06 PRO improves on pretty much everything compared to the RL05 (everything but interior space) so it could actually have a much more successful run than its predecessor. Of course i do expect the more demanding consumers to go for the larger Primera PM01 instead but still with enough room for ATX sized mainboards, 5 drives, 6 fans and/or two 240mm radiators, 158mm tall CPU coolers, 348mm long graphics cards and 200mm long power supply units the RL06 PRO is not what we’d call small. On top of that add the 4 pre-installed 120mm fans and there’s not much more anyone could ask from a budget gaming tower.
As i type these lines the SilverStone Redline RL06 PRO retails for just USD69.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 82Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) a price which puts it between several similar towers. At the end of the day we’re not saying that the Redline RL06 PRO is perfect cause it’s not but it combines looks with a good amount of features and plenty of interior space (for its size) without breaking the bank and because of that it gets our Golden Award.
PROS
- Design
- Room For Up To Five Drives
- Spacious Interior (158mm tall CPU Coolers / 348mm long Graphics Cards / 200mm long PSUs)
- Room For Up To Two 240mm Radiators
- 10 Port Fan Hub
- Top / Front / Bottom Air Filters
- Full PSU Area Cover (Shroud)
- Four Pre Installed 120mm Fans
- Price (For Some)
CONS
- Bottom Air Filter (Not Easy To Remove & Attach)
- Fan Hub with No Fan Controller
- Top 240mm Radiator Restrictions
- Audible