Silverstone was founded in Taiwan in 2003 and is a globally established manufacturer of PC components. These include power supplies, computer as well as server cases, CPU coolers and case fans. In August 2020, Silverstone expanded its SFF segment and introduced the Sugo 14 or Sugo 15.
Behind this name is a compact case for ITX components. Compared to many other SFF cases, the Sugo 14 also offers space for larger components despite its compact dimensions. For example, there is room for large CPU coolers, long graphics cards and larger case fans. There is even a hidden space for an external 5.25″ drive. All this with a volume of just 20 liters. Price-wise, the Silverstone Sugo 14 starts at € 104.90 and is available in a black or white variant. Find out if the Silverstone Sugo 14 can live up to expectations and how it performs in general in this review.
Technical details
| Model: | Silverstone Sugo 14 |
| Case type: | Mini-ITX |
| Dimensions: | 247 mm (W) x 215 mm (H) x 368 mm (D) |
| Weight: | 4.48 kg |
| Material: | Steel, plastic |
| Color: | Black |
| Front connectors | 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x HD Audio |
| Drive bays: | 1x 5.25″ (external, behind insulated door) 2x 3,5″/ 2,5″ (internal) 3x 2.5″ (internal) |
| Expansion slots: | 3x horizontal |
| Shape factors: | ITX |
| Ventilation: | Tail: 1x 120 mm or 1x 140 mm. Side: 2x 120 mm |
| Radiators: | Front: 1x 240 mm |
| Max. CPU cooler height: | 182 mm |
| Max. Graphics card length: | 330 mm |
| Max. Net part length: | 150 mm |
| Price: | € 104.90 * |
| Features: | Dust filter, cable management, sound insulation |
Scope of delivery
Packaged the Silverstone Sugo 14 in a plain brown cardboard box with a product image, technical specifications and key features printed on it in black lettering. Inside the box, the case is wrapped in soft foam and foil. The soft foam in particular should cushion falls well and thus prevent severe damage during transport. The included accessories are not inside the case, as is usually the case, but have been placed in one of the foam molds. The two bags contain all important screws, a few black cable ties and a decorative cover for the 5.25″ bay. Also included are the pre-installed case fan (120mm), various magnetic dust filter mats and eight rubber feet to stick on. An assembly manual is not included, but can be downloaded from the homepage.
Exterior impression
If you like to show off your hardware, then the Silverstone Sugo 14 is rather not suitable for that. Silverstone relies on a simple and timeless design on the outside. At first glance, the Sugo 14 looks a bit like a black shoebox that is a bit too big. With its dimensions of 247 mm (W) x 215 mm (H) x 368 mm (D) and a volume of about 20 liters, the Sugo 14 is small but still has a relatively large footprint compared to other ITX cases.
The body is made entirely of steel and only the front panel is made of plastic. In keeping with the design, this is also painted black. However, slight accents are set by a copper-colored element, at the end of which the power button is also inserted. Furthermore, the I/O panel on the front, which is aligned upwards, can also be discovered. This has three USB ports (2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0), an HD audio combo port and a reset button. The front panel can only be removed after removing the lid due to a screw connection. The same applies to the 5.25″ bezel.
From the factory, the Sugo 14 has no standard orientation and can be oriented as desired. Due to its cuboid shape, two of the four side panels are identical in each case and can be swapped with each other if the manufacturer’s lettering doesn’t have the right orientation. At this point, however, it should be mentioned that only three of the four panels have been equipped with vents. They are attached to the body via the familiar rail system and with two thumbscrews per panel. The thumbscrews remain on the side panel after disassembly and are thus not lost. The stability of the elements is fine.
The back of the Silverstone Sugo 14 also has a lot to offer for an ITX case. For example, you’ll find a place for a 140-millimeter fan here, but it was only equipped with a 120-millimeter copy ex works, and a total of three slots for expansion cards. The corresponding bezels are reusable and perforated. Thus, even particularly large high-end cards should fit in the Sugo 14.
At almost five kilograms, the Sugo 14 is relatively heavy for its size. However, this also speaks for a reasonable material thickness. Even after disassembling all the side panels, the body looks stable and cannot be bent.
Interior impression
Compared to normal ATX cases, manufacturers keep coming up with new layouts and ideas for ITX cases. This is no different with the Silverstone Sugo 14. Depending on the orientation of the case, the motherboard is either horizontal or vertical. However, the I/O panel and graphics card connectors always face the rear. The motherboard tray has four pre-mounted spacers and a cutout for retrofitting CPU coolers with backplate.
The power supply is placed in the center of the front area and is always installed orthogonally to the mainboard. So, if the motherboard is horizontal, the power cable connector is on top and the cables are aligned downwards. Another feature can be seen at the bottom or at the height of the expansion slots. Silverstone has equipped the Sugo 14 with a locking mechanism to prevent the graphics card from dropping. This system can thus be adapted to any 2 and 3 slot graphics card via a stepless rail.
In terms of media compatibility, the Sugo 14 has room for a total of five internal HDDs (3x 2.5″, 2x 3.5″) and one external 5.25″ drive. However, not all slots can be occupied at the same time depending on the installed hardware. Simple slides made of steel and with a knurled screw are used for 2.5″ data carriers. One of these slides can be attached to the bridge between the mainboard and the power supply. The other two are hidden behind the front panel. In all cases, the mounting is done with four normal screws.
On the right side, the Sugo 14 offers a multifunctional steel frame that has been equipped with a rail system. This system allows the assembly of various components. Ex works, the frame is attached for mounting an external 5.25″ drive. Alternatively, a 240″ radiator or two 3.5″ HDDs can be mounted to this steel frame. However, it is not possible to mount the 240 radiator and the 3.5″ HDDs at the same time. You would also have to do without the external 5.25″ drive in this case.
Overall, the interior is very purpose-built and offers maximum flexibility for the volume. Interior and exterior workmanship are of a good standard and there were no unclean spots to be seen in the paint job either.
System build in the Silverstone Sugo 14
Now we get to the system build. For hardware, we’re using a AMD Ryzen 5 1400 on a Gigabyte B450 I Aorus Pro WIFI with Crucial Ballistix Sport LT gray 32 GB DDR4-3000. The Ryzen is cooled by an Enermax ETS-F40 Silent Edition* and is overclocked to 3.8 GHz. A GTX 1060 6GB from Gigabte AORUS is responsible for the image output. The power supply is handled by the non-modular Berlin Pro RGB 650W with RGB fan.
The installation of all components was done quite quickly and could be sped up even more with the pre-installed spacers. Even for larger components, the Sugo 14 offers enough space. For example, 182 millimeter high CPU coolers and 330 millimeter long graphics cards with three slots can be installed. That should be sufficient for almost all currently available CPU coolers and GPUs. As already mentioned, you can also install an all-in-one water cooling system with a 240-millimeter radiator in the Sugo 14. However, the only condition here is that the pump block and RAM modules must not be higher than 55 millimeters.
However, the wiring of the system was then a bit more complex. While the case has room for a 150 millimeter ATX power supply, there isn’t quite as much room to stow the cables safely and as invisibly as possible. In addition, the cables of ATX power supplies are usually longer than necessary. The overall result looks OK, but you can’t win a beauty prize with it. We definitely recommend a fully modular PSU with short cables or using an SFX PSU with an ATX bezel. Unfortunately, such a bezel is not included with the case.
You should also pay attention to the combination of CPU cooler and motherboard. In our case, the AM4 socket is so far up on the board that the heatsink still fits easily, but the mounting frame can no longer be attached to the case because the heatsink protrudes too far above the mainboard.
The installed fan is from Silverstone and bears the cryptic designation CC12025M12S. It has a frame width of 120 millimeters, spins at 1200 rpm and connects to the motherboard via a standard 3-pin connector. At full speed, the fan is audible but not annoying, but does produce noticeable running or bearing noise.
Finally, we come to the temperatures that were reached in the Silverstone Sugo 14. During the stress test, Prime95 and FurMark were run for 15 minutes at a room temperature of 19°C. Furthermore, the test was performed with two different fan speeds.
Scenario |
Temperature |
| CPU: 50% PWM (850 rpm) GPU: 50% PWM (1650 rpm) 1x 120 mm on 100% (1200 rpm) |
CPU: 72 °C GPU: 64 °C |
| CPU: 50% (850 rpm) GPU: 50% PWM (1650 rpm) 1x 120 mm on 50% (870 rpm) |
CPU: 77 °C GPU: 67 °C |
Basically, you can always expect slightly higher temperatures in an ITX case. However, the Silverstone Sugo 14 does quite well even with a fan. The CPU and GPU do not enter critical temperature ranges even with a reduced RPM of the single case fan.
Summary of the Silverstone Sugo 14 review
Now let’s get to the conclusion of this review. Silverstone has managed to develop a very interesting ITX case with the Sugo 14. Through the chosen design, the manufacturer finds a very good middle ground between compact dimensions, good cooling options and an extraordinary hardware compatibility. Thus, the interior offers space for particularly large CPU coolers, long 3-slot graphics cards and even an ATX power supply. The perforated and filtered side panels as well as the mounting options for additional fans round out the cooling options. In addition, it is up to the buyer in which orientation the case should be set up. Both horizontal and vertical alignment are possible due to the included feet. However, this also brings us to the first point of criticism.
The included rubber feet only have double-sided adhesive tape and can only be used once in the worst case. If you change your mind as a buyer at some point, you first have to nibble off the adhesive strips and stick on a new layer. The lack of installation instructions is much less of a problem. Fortunately, this can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s homepage.
Overall, the Silverstone Sugo 14 is a good case for all those who do not want to compromise on hardware despite the ITX form factor. Compared to the competition, however, the footprint on the desk is correspondingly higher at 20 liters and makes the Sugo 14 look a bit more bulky.
Silverstone Sugo 14
Workmanship
Structure
Features
Cooling
Value for money
86/100
The Silverstone Sugo 14 is a compact ITX case with a lot of space, a high hardware compatibility and good cooling options. However, it is not one of the smallest with 20 liters.
