Introduction
SilverStone Technology was founded in 2003 on the principle of recognition that merely having innovative expertise within the industry is not enough. Their objective is to ensure that their expertise is delivered to all products with consistency, in response to user’s needs, and with maximum user satisfaction. SilverStone Technology thrives on the challenges of rapid technological advancements and creating aesthetic standards for the industry. Their products are of high quality. Their product lines include PC Chassis, PSU, Cooling Solution, Storage devices, accessories, etc.
SilverStone has recently released a new RGB lighting product named LS04. We earlier took a look at their LS03 and it still has our praise. It is surprising that RGB lighting is still in major play and Phanteks released their NEON ARGB kits which have taken the market by storm though the idea was not new but the execution is perfect. SilverStone was not behind and they released their premium digital RGB kit. Each pack of the SST-LS04 has two 450mm lengths ARGB strips each having 40 ARGB LEDs. The circuit board is designed in a way that it is flexible as well making the LS04 highly flexible. Using the custom diffusing material, the soft and smooth transmission of light has been ensured.
Product: SST-LS04
Manufacturer: SilverStone
Price: $55 [At the time of the review]
Specifications
Packaging and Unboxing
The strips are shipped inside a transparent container placed inside a paperboard box.
The SilverStone brand name and logo are printed on the top side. Addressable RGB is highlighted with a logo on the top. The LED strips can be seen in the middle. The SST-LS04 is compatible with the ASRock POLYCHROME SYNC, ASUS AURA SYNC, MSI mysTIC LIGHT SYNC, GIGABYTE RGB FUSION 2.0, RAZER CHROMA, and BIOSTAR RGB SYNC.
Salient features of the strips are printed up top followed by the specifications. The feature of the product is printed in 10 languages. The EAN, UPC, and JAN info labels are printed on the bottom right side. A serial no sticker is pasted in the middle bottom. The product is made in China.
Contents
The following are included:
- 2x ARGB LED Strips
- 2x Extension Cables
- 6x Magnetic Clips
- 1x Warranty Guide
Closer Look
Let’s start with the features of the product first:
- Built with high quality and bright 2020 sized addressable RGB LEDs
- Advanced material enables uniform, dot-free lighting while remaining super flexible
- Dual-sided lighting allows for more mounting and display options
- Displays any color by use of an addressable RGB LED control box or capable motherboard
- Included magnetic clips provide more installation freedom
- Supports daisy-chaining multiple light strips
The SilverStone has bundled two 2020 ARGB LED strips in a box. Each strip has 20 ARGB LEDs on it. The length of the strip is 450mm. Since these strips are dual-sided, one side of the strip and the inner flat side has a custom diffuser on it to give that one heck of good visuals. The use of uniform diffuser has enabled the SilverStone to deliver dot-free and uniform lighting throughout the strips. The above picture shows the diffuser side of the strip. The strips are in the white color.
The inner side of the strip has a flexible circuit holding the ARGB LEDs. Since these strips are highly flexible, there was a need for the flexible circuitry as well and SilverStone has done a good job here as bending, twisting these in multiple angles does not affect the uniform lighting.
The other side does not have a diffuser and has a solid surface.
Each strip has two connectors on the ends. Both connectors are female ARGB ones having pin format of +5V,D,NP,G. Both connectors come with the extension pins that are covered to protect the pins.
The above picture shows the digital connector.
The backside of the strip has a solid surface and is in white color. There is no adhesive or magnet on the strips to install them. SilverStone has provided a different approach and I like it.
SilverStone has included 6 clips that are transparent and each has a powerful magnet on one side.
The idea is simple. Insert the clips with the magnet side facing the backside of the strip and transparent side facing the diffuser sides. Then install the strips inside the chassis. This design has one caveat, if there is a non-metallic surface where the user wants to install these strips, there is no way out for that. But the positive side is the reusability. Just tuck the magnet inside and when it needs to be removed, take it off.
The above picture shows the flexible nature of the strips. The clips will support the angle to which the user would want to install the strips. I wish SilverStone would have included the angled clips as well like with the Phanteks NEON but no biggie.
The strips can be daisy-chained and controlled from a single source provided that the source has enough power to do that.
SilverStone has included 2x extension cables for daisy-chaining and connecting multiple strips together and to the lighting source. I daisy-chained two strips and connected both to a +5V header on the AORUS Z390 Pro WIFI motherboard. Both were working fine without any issue. I am also running 4x SST-LS03 strips off a single digital header of the same motherboard. The SST-LS04 is rated at 4.5W using 0.9A at 5V.
There is no controller included in the box so the user would have to be lucky to have a motherboard with a digital header. The user can also use the SilverStone CPL02-E and LSB02-E which are digital LED lighting controllers. Obviously, you will need to buy them separately. Orient the connector such as the arrow symbol on the connector aligns with the +5V pin of the digital header. Don’t connect these strips on +12V headers as this would damage the LEDs.
The SST-LS04 is compatible with:
- ASUS AURA SYNC
- MSI mysTIC LIGHTING SYNC
- ASRock POLYCHROME SYNC
- GIGABYTE RGB FUSION 2.0
- RAZER CHROMA
- BIOSTAR RGB SYNC
When the user connects the SST-LS04 to the motherboard 5V lighting header and does not use the motherboard’s lighting application then the default behavior of the strips will be rainbow mode.
ARGB Lighting
The overall lighting on the SST-LS04 is superb. They are bright, evenly diffused and dual-sided feature adds that kind of a touch that standard ARGB LED strip can’t provide. Here are some of the pictures:
I will soon be installing these strips in the Thermaltake View 71 TG chassis and will post more pictures when it is done.
Conclusion
The SilverStone SST-LS04 is a next-level digital lighting solution from the manufacturer focusing on the flexible strips, dual-sided, and dot-free lighting. This is definitely a next-level game when compared to the standard digital lighting strips with only one side to glow and not having that much of flexibility. This flexibility is coming from custom silicon like material for which the circuitry was needed to be flexible as well. Well, no surprise there as this is not a new idea but the execution is what matters. Phanteks with their NEON has taken on a similar approach though they do have an advantage of angled clips which I found lacking in the SST-LS04. No biggie though as LS04 serves the purpose and does it without a hiccup.
Each pack of SST-LS04 packs two 450mm long strips packing 40 2020 ARGB LEDs to brighten your day in the way it was never done before or at-least! Each strip has two sides illuminating to create some dope and killer looks/visuals. The strips are in white color and they are very flexible. Each pack has 2x lighting extension cables as well to allow daisy-chaining the multiple strips and to connect them to the lighting source. Speaking of lighting source, there is no controller included in the packs. The user has to have a digital lighting header on the motherboard else you can take a look at the SilverStone ARGB controllers like CPL02-E and LSB02-E which can be bought separately.
These strips don’t have adhesive tape on them. In fact there is no mounting mechanism on the strips themselves. SilverStone has provided 6x clips which are transparent with one side having a powerful magnet on it. The clips are inserted on the strips and attached to the metallic surface in the chassis. These strips are compatible with the ASRock POLYCHROME SYNC, ASUS AURA SYNC, MSI mysTIC LIGHT SYNC, GIGABYTE RGB FUSION 2.0, RAZER CHROMA, and BIOSTAR RGB SYNC solutions. They are rated at 4.5W using 0.9A at 5V. Don’t connect them to the +12V header as doing so would damage them. They are using pin format of +5V,D,NP,G. Make sure to match the pin format for correct functioning.
The SST-LS04 takes the RGB lighting to a new level and standard which is impeccable and the evenly bright lighting looks stunning and creates some heck of visuals. I am definitely seeing the LS04 taking over the LS03 in my build. SST-LS03 still has our praise for giving subtle and cool looking lighting effects but it is time to lift the game with the SST-LS04. The SST-LS04 is listed at $55 at the time of the review. With flexible strips, magnetic clips for multiple angles mounting, dual-sided and dot-free killer lighting effects, the SST-LS04 comes highly recommended if you are into RGB lighting and on a lookout for a new kinda look provided your wallet can take on a bit steep price.
We are thankful to the SilverStone for giving us the opportunity to review their SST-LS04.
