SilverStone has expanded its line of network attached storage enclosures by officially listing the CS240 Mini-ITX NAS chassis. The new small-form-factor case focuses on high-bandwidth, enterprise-class enterprise storage by integrating four front-accessible, hot-swappable U.2 drive bays.
Designed for enthusiasts, home server operators, and small businesses seeking massive throughput in a compact footprint, the chassis pairs extreme data access speeds with flexible component compatibility. It delivers high density storage without forcing users to compromise on standard system hardware.
SilverStone CS240 Design and Storage Capabilities
The SilverStone CS240 Mini-ITX NAS chassis is engineered around a 21.65-liter volume, measuring 211 mm wide, 285 mm tall, and 360 mm deep. Built using a combination of a sturdy steel frame, a textured plastic front panel, and an aluminum front door, the case balances durability with an appealing aesthetic. The lockable front door provides an extra layer of security, keeping drive bays protected from accidental removal or physical tampering.
Primary storage flexibility comes from four 2.5-inch hot-swappable drive bays situated behind the front panel. These bays operate in tri-mode, allowing users to install enterprise U.2 NVMe (SFF-8639), SAS, or traditional SATA drives up to 15 mm in thickness. Powering this array is a high-performance backplane utilizing dual SlimSAS 8i (SFF-8654) connectors running over a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. This connectivity guarantees up to 64 Gbps of total bandwidth per channel, making it ideal for low-latency workloads, virtualization, and heavy media streaming.
U.2 Hot-Swappable Bay Features and Specifications
The inclusion of U.2 NVMe support sets the CS240 apart from standard consumer NAS cases that strictly rely on SATA interfaces. Enterprise U.2 SSDs offer significantly higher sustained write speeds, increased endurance, and lower latency compared to legacy SATA solutions. Beyond the four external hot-swap bays, SilverStone has included an additional internal drive mounting bracket. This internal space can hold either one 3.5-inch hard drive or two 2.5-inch drives, perfect for hosting dedicated operating system boot drives or secondary backup pools.
Internal Layout and Component Compatibility
Despite its focus on server-grade storage density, the layout inside the SilverStone CS240 Mini-ITX NAS chassis accommodates standard desktop hardware. This ensures users have access to a wide selection of consumer and workstation parts, rather than being forced to source specialized server components.
The chassis accommodates motherboard form factors including standard Mini-ITX, Deep Mini-ITX, and Mini-DTX. For power delivery, the enclosure supports standard SFX and SFX-L power supply units (PSUs) up to 140 mm in length, offering plenty of headroom for high-wattage power supplies needed during heavy workloads.
Motherboard Support and GPU Clearance
Expansion capabilities are surprisingly robust for a 21-liter NAS enclosure. The CS240 features two PCI expansion slots, providing enough room to install dual-slot add-in cards. Users can install graphics cards measuring up to 300 mm in length and 168 mm in width. To protect heavy graphics processors during transport or long-term horizontal installation, SilverStone includes an integrated internal GPU support bracket.
Alternatively, these expansion slots can host dedicated Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), RAID controllers, or high-speed 10GbE and 25GbE networking cards, enabling builders to tailor the machine precisely to their network requirements.
Cooling and Power Configuration
Storage-dense enclosures naturally generate substantial heat, especially when fully populated with fast U.2 NVMe drives. SilverStone addresses this challenge by equipping the CS240 with an optimized airflow layout straight out of the box.
The chassis comes pre-installed with three 120 mm cooling fans. Two 120 mm fans are mounted on the side panel to draw fresh air across the internal motherboard and expansion components, while a single 120 mm fan at the rear exhausts heat from the system. For custom cooling configurations, the side fan mounts can alternatively accommodate up to three 80 mm fans.
Thermal Management Options in a 21-Liter Footprint
Thermal clearance inside the case is generous. The layout supports air CPU coolers up to 182 mm in height, allowing users to fit large tower coolers for quiet, efficient processor cooling. For liquid cooling configurations, a 120 mm radiator can be mounted at the rear exhaust location.
Front-panel input and output options are placed conveniently along the front edge. Connectivity includes one USB Type-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, and a combined 3.5 mm audio jack for easy peripheral connections.
While official global availability details have yet to be fully outlined by SilverStone, early retail listings in Europe have surfaced with price points around €349. With its blend of high-speed PCIe 4.0 U.2 storage capability and standard component support, the SilverStone CS240 stands out as a powerful option for custom high-performance NAS builds.
