Silverstone turns retro cabinet from an April Fools joke into a real product

During April 1st, it is very common for companies to end up playing the “April Fools” game and post extraordinary things with the aim of playing with their consumers. Silverstone is one of those companies, but the joke ended up becoming reality for its newest retro case.

The company is already known precisely for its products in the PC hardware market, and now it promises to gain more notoriety with the launch of a case that looks straight out of the 80s: the FLP01 model.

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Silverstone’s retro cabinet brings nostalgic design and modern functionality

What started as an April Fool’s joke ended up becoming a real product, and it was shown for the first time at Japan Expo. Inspired by the iconic design of the NEC PC-9800 computers, the FLP01 will be launched in the first quarter of 2025, with a starting price of 19,800 yen (about 740 reais).

The idea of ​​the FLP01 is precisely to bring back that retro look of the first desktops. It has a beige finish, which already shows a clear homage to the classic cabinets used in systems from the 80s and 90s. And its use also goes back to that time, as it can be used as a support for monitors, as happened with the PCs, and also has “inputs” for accessing old media such as floppy disks and CDs.

In appearance, these “inputs” look exactly like the ones used in the past, but in fact they are not really for using floppy disks and CDs, but rather just compartments for functions that are more practical today, such as optical drives and USB-A ports. USB-C, headphone output, and power buttons and activity LEDs.

Internal configuration and compatibility

Despite its retro look, the FLP01 is fully compatible with modern components. During the expo, SilverStone showcased a rugged case-mounted configuration featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU, liquid cooling, and an ATX motherboard. The internal space of the case allows you to install GPUs up to 300 mm long and CPU coolers with a maximum height of 138 mm.

In addition, the case also supports standard power supplies and includes an efficient ventilation system, with three input fans, two positioned on the left side and one on the right side, as well as air vents on the back and top.

Launching for other countries may still be a reality

The FLP01 has compact and functional dimensions, measuring 440 mm long, 362 mm deep and 170 mm high. SilverStone still plans to make small cosmetic adjustments to bring the cabinet design closer to that of the classic NEC PC-9800, reinforcing its proposal as a tribute to old systems.

Although the launch is initially scheduled for the Japanese market, there is an expectation that SilverStone will expand its distribution to other countries, with an eye on demand from vintage technology enthusiasts and PC builders looking for something unique.

The FLP01 combines the nostalgic aesthetics of a retro case with the ability to support cutting-edge technologies. It is ideal for those who want to build a discreet sleeper PC or simply have equipment that harks back to the beginnings of personal computing.

Fonte: tomshardware