Silverstone has been a driving force behind many advancements in the field with its Raven series flipping things sideways, its Fortress cases bringing next-level thermals, and its Sugo range holding high-end hardware in an impossibly small footprint. Those of you who follow CES might recall Silverstone’s “Mammoth” case from 2013. It was a rough prototype at the time but it hinted at a massive EATX chassis that was said to be completely dust and spill-proof. Key features included a HEPA air filter with front and back panels designed to deflect liquid, along with a sealed top panel.
The product seemed exciting for folks who wanted a robust case that could protect systems/servers in harsh conditions but we hadn’t heard much about the Mammoth after its original showing. Seeming extinct, we were surprised to find Silverstone’s Mammoth listed in a small launch headline on the company’s site and even more surprised a few weeks later when we found the case on our test bench. The MM01 has yet to go on sale so we aren’t exactly sure how it will be priced, but it’s suggested to cost around $300.
External Design
Having seen the Mammoth MM01 first-hand, it’s no mystery how Silverstone came up with the name – the box my desk chair came in was smaller and probably lighter. Measuring 271mm wide, 542mm tall and 597mm deep, Silverstone’s MM01 boasts the capacity of a bar fridge at 87.7L. Although much of the case has been constructed from plastic, those massive steel side panels help it reach a back-breaking 13.5kg. There are bigger cases out there of course, such as the 113L Corsair 900D super tower or my weapon of choice, the 145L Lian Li PC-D8000. Still, with most large full tower cases maxing out at around 50-60L, the MM01 is very large.
From the front, the MM01 looks like a wall vent as it is dominated by a huge downwards facing vent. This removable vent panel is designed in such a way that if you were to splash water on it there is little chance any would make its way inside.
Even if any water does make it past the vented panel, it’s unlikely to get inside the case as there is a HEPA filter behind the panel. The filter measures 360mm tall, 200mm wide and 20mm thick. The filter cannot be cleaned and Silverstone says replacements should be bought directly from them, though at this stage it is unclear as to what the price maybe.
Behind the HEPA filter are two massive Air Penetrator AP182 180mm intake fans that are designed to operate at between 500-1800 RPM where they generate 17-42dBA. Fully spooled up, they offer a combined 340CFM, which Silverstone says is similar to a typical household fan.
Above the ventilation is a flat rectangular box that wears the Silverstone name and brand logo. This rectangular panel can actually be slid downwards to expose the front connectivity. Behind the panel are two external 5.25" drive bays, power/reset buttons, two USB 3.0 ports, audio jacks and a pair of analog fan controllers. The huge left and right side panels are featureless as including ventilation here would compromise the cases resistance to dust and water. The same is true of the top panel, which while removable is sealed shut to eliminate any water getting into the case.
Underneath the MM01 features a hydrofoil type design with the feet running the entire length of the case. There are a number of small holes here for mounting internal hardware, though they shouldn’t be an issue for dust or water as they are on the underside of the case.
Around the back we find a similar design to the front with a huge removable ventilated panel dominating here. There are also a series of thumb screws for removing the side and top panels.
With the rear ventilated panel removed we find a familiar sight from Silverstone, a 90-degree stacked configuration. The motherboard’s I/O panel is found at the bottom of the case while the expansion slots are located above it, though this design is a little different than past 90-degree stacked setups as the power supply is mounted in the top of the case. The MM01 only comes in black (inside and out), the I/O panel door is the only aluminum on the case, while the body/frame, side panels and top panel are all steel. The entire front back and bottom (feet) are made from plastic, as are the plastic anti-splash ventilated panels.
