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Written by Bruce Normann - Edited by Olin Coles   
Sunday, 28 September 2008

Antec Mini P180

Antec is a major player in the computer chassis market, with a long history of providing solid solutions to computer builders looking for something a cut above the norm. They are the number one most popular case manufacturer for readers of Benchmark Reviews, so they must be doing something right. Today Benchmark Reviews is going to look at a new offering from Antec that is aimed at a narrower market niche than most of their other products. The Antec Mini P180 is a mini tower case that builds on the designs of the original P180 and P182, and puts those lessons to work in a smaller format. The smaller format comes at a price; only microATX motherboards are supported, but as we'll see, that's not too much of a penalty in the intended market segment.

Antec_Mini_P180_Box_Develop.jpg

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I have an Antec Sonata II that I bought several years ago and it has survived various upgrades and overhauls of the components inside. It's been a faithful partner, and I've not had any reason to consider an upgrade. I still like the way it looks, with its high gloss black paint job and clean design for the front panel. Every now and then I forget, and crash the DVD disk caddy into the front door, but I've done dumber things that have had far worse consequences. Like the time I gave my IBM Model M keyboard to the Salvation Army...

The main thing that sets this case apart from every other desktop case we have reviewed on Benchmark Reviews is the fact that it will only accept microATX motherboards. For most PC enthusiasts, this would be the death knell, except for one thing. All of us end up building PCs for other people; people who don't share our love of gaming, over clocking, massive heat sinks, LEDs, side windows, cold cathode lamps and cable jackets that glow in the dark. These people just want a box that rocks, reliably, without the headaches of learning everything from scratch, and so they turn to you. They want performance, upgradability, and reliability, at a reasonable price. This is known as the bang for the buck, or value market segment, and in this instance a uATX motherboard makes a lot of sense. There's another market segment where uATX rules and that's HTPC, but that's not the subject of today's review.

About the company: Antec Inc.

Antec, Inc. is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators. Antec_Logo_Believe-It.png

Antec's offering of enclosures includes a large range of cases, such as its technically advanced Performance One Series, cost-effective New Solution Series and server grade cases designed for the needs of all workstation and server markets. Antec's products also include front line power supplies such as its TruePower Trio series, Quattro series, and EarthWatts, the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are geared toward the gaming demographic, like the Nine Hundred, the premier gamer enclosure. Antec also offers a computing accessories line comprised of many original products, including its patented LED Fans and Notebook Cooling solutions.

Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The company's products are sold in more than 30 countries throughout the world.

Features & Specifications

Antec Mini P180 Features

  • Unique upper and lower chamber structure: the power supply resides in a separate chamber to isolate heat from the system and lower system noise.
  • Stylish black interior
  • No power supply included. to optimize the performance of your Mini P180, your choice of power supply is crucial. Antec strongly recommends choosing from our NeoPower or TruePower series.
  • Configurable to accommodate graphics cards with full length PCBs
  • Cable organization for added convenience and better airflow Mini_p180W_q.jpg
  • Innovative three-layer side panel (aluminum, plastic, aluminum) dampens system generated noise, making this one of the quietest cases available
  • Double hinge door designed to open up to 270º
  • 0.8mm cold rolled steel for durability through the majority of chassis

Mini P180 Specifications

  • Motherboard: up to microATX
  • 8 Drive Bays
    • External 3 x 5.25"; 1 x 3.5"
    • Internal 5 x 3.5" for HDD
  • Cooling System:
    • 1 rear (standard) 120mm x 25mm TriCool Fan
    • 1 top (standard) 200mm x 30mm TriCool fan
    • 2 front chamber (optional) 120mm Fan
    • Exterior speed control switches
  • 4 Expansion Slots
  • Front ports:
    • 2 x USB 2.0
    • 1 x eSATA
    • Audio In and Out (AC' 97 and HDA)
  • Unit dimensions:
    • 17.1"(H) x 8.3"(W) x 17.2"(D)
    • 43.5cm(H) x 21.2cm(W) x 43.6cm(D)
  • Package dimensions:
    • 20"(H) x 11.1"(W) x 20.3"(D)
    • 51.0cm(H) x 28.3cm(W) x 51.5cm(D)
  • Weight:
    • Net: 20.9 lbs / 9.5 kg
    • Gross: 24.4 lbs / 11.1 kg

Closer Look: Exterior

If I had to pick a color for a computer case, it would be blue; that bright anodized aluminum kind of blue. Seen any anodized blue cases lately, me neither? Lots of blue LEDs, I know, but no blue cases. So, my second choice is black, with blue LEDs, of course. But you have to remember; this is not a computer case for you or me. This is a computer case for the "other" people in your life. You know who I'm talking about: your girlfriend, your wife, your brother-in-law, your ex-brother-in-law, your cousin, and your buddy who majored in English Literature. All the people you know, who know that you know how to build PCs that rock. Of course, none of them want a box that glows, and there's no way to convince them that more lights are better, somehow.

Antec_Mini_P180_Front_GlamL.jpg

What you need is a nice looking, subtle case that is not too expensive, but still has what it takes to build a PC that runs a mass-market box into the ground. The Antec Mini P180 fits the bill perfectly, I think. The gun-metal gray inserts on the front and two side panels are very elegant. They bridge the gap between shiny black and silver or white. Don't go by the pictures on Antec's website to get an idea of the color. They are much too dark; it looks like the whole case is black. I took the time to make sure the pictures on Benchmark Reviews show accurate colors and textures.

Antec_Mini_P180_Corner_Plas.jpg

For those that want something a lot brighter, Antec does offer a white version. You would never mistake it for an Apple, but if black would ruin the decor, it's nice to have an option.

The smaller size of the Mini P180 cuts some of the weight off, compared to the larger models. It's still a solid bit of kit, as my British cousins say, but it's not an immovable object at 20.9 lbs. Antec calls it petite, but at 17.1"(H) x 8.3"(W) x 17.2"(D), I'd still call it a mid-size. The framework is all steel, powder coated black, and held together by rivets. It's not as sexy as welded aluminum, but it works. All the metal edges are rolled over 180 degrees, which makes a huge difference in user friendliness and adds a bit of stiffness, as well.

Antec_Mini_P180_Bottom_Pane.jpg

The overall case is very rigid and doesn't flex at all when moving it around, even when fully loaded and without either of the side panels installed. Antec has continued with their soft silicone rubber feet, much softer than the feet on my five year old Sonata II case. Those feet have stayed put and resisted damage during that time, so there is at least some hope that the new, softer feet will have a useful service life.

Antec_Mini_P180_Top_Exhaust.jpg

There are two fans supplied and installed; one on the rear panel and one on the rear half of the top panel. When I say half, I mean half, the total case depth is 436mm and the top fan is a huge 200mm diameter unit! It is 30mm thick, despite most published specifications listing it as a 25mm thick unit; the manual is the only place I saw it listed correctly. The upper exhaust vent has received a major makeover compared to Antec's other P18X cases, the exhaust area is now flat, instead of a raised vent, and the exhaust exits straight up, out the top, instead of being ducted towards the rear. I always thought those little dryer vents on the other cases were kind of ugly, so I'm pleased with this change.

Detailed Exterior Features

The side panels of the Mini P180 are remarkably complex, composite structures. The door frame is molded plastic. The outer surface is decorative aluminum, covering 95%+ of the door frame. Most manufacturers would be content to stop there; you've got a functional side door that looks good. Antec chose to add two additional sheets of aluminum on the inner surface, arranged in a constrained layer damping assembly that gets high marks for increasing stiffness and reducing noise and vibration. I generally go hog wild in my cases to reduce noise, and this is the first case I've seen where I wouldn't even try to improve the damping of the side panels. They pass the "knuckle rap" test with flying colors, no boing, no ding, just a dull thud.

Antec_Mini_P180_Side_Panel_.jpg

One of the nice features of the entire Antec P18X case family is that you don't have to remove any front panels to install components into the 5.25" drive bays. Every time I'm forced to remove a decorative plastic panel from a computer chassis, I groan and reach for my flashlight. Even in the rare instances where the manual gives instructions for how to remove the panel, there's always a "catch" somewhere that hangs up and defies any logical explanation for why it won't release. I've gotten better over the years, but I've left a small trail of broken plastic hooks and tabs to mark my progress. With the Mini P180, everything is accessed from the front; the cover pieces snap out pretty easily, the metal blanking plate / RF shield behind the decorative cover comes out easily enough, and all you have to do is slide the optical drive, or other accessory in from the front, after attaching two of the supplied guide rails. It snaps into place, and you can unsnap it from the front, as well. Any time I don't have to disassemble something put together at the factory in order to install a basic system component, I'm happy. As we'll see, this is a taste of things to come, once we examine the interior.

Antec_Mini_P180_Fr_Screen.jpg

The front of the case features several jacks, conveniently located in the middle, on the right side. They are all accessible with the front door open or closed. There are two USB jacks, headphone and microphone jacks, and an eSATA connector. The internal cable for the eSATA connector has another eSATA connector at its end, and there is a short pigtail adapter supplied to allow plugging into a standard SATA drive connector on the motherboard. The length was long enough to reach anywhere on the MB. All the rest of the front panel connectors had cables of adequate length, as well.

Antec_Mini_P180_Front_Conne.jpg

The built in speed controls on the back are nice; easy to set, unlikely to get bumped or broken, and conveniently located.

Antec_Mini_P180_Fan_Switch.jpg

Both fans are reasonably quiet, the 200mm unit more so, because it runs slower. The manual lists full details for the two fans: Full Dimensions, RPM, Operating Voltage, Input Current, Input Power, Air Flow, Static Pressure, and Acoustical Noise. The RPM and Air Flow for the two fans, based on the setting of the switches on the fan controller are (from the manual):

120mm Fan

RPM

CFM

2000

79

1600

56

1200

39

200mm Fan

RPM

CFM

800

134.11

600

108.493

400

39

I won't comment on the 6 digits of precision listed for the airflow spec in the manual, except to mention it in passing. I had no problems keeping my test system cool, with both fans on their medium setting. They were audible in my environment, the 200mm less so, but both of them together were not as loud as the fan on the CPU HSF.

Closer Look: Interior

The interior of the Antec Mini P180 is where this case really shines, at least from the perspective of this community. It's not that we don't care about the externals, but remember, you're probably not building out this case for yourself. Antec is on to something here, I think. They seem to understand that a lot of PCs get built by enthusiasts, but not always for enthusiasts. Many times, as you slide on down the price scale, you get punished. If you buy a cheaper video card, a cheaper processor, a cheaper HDD, you have to give up speed, capacity, and features. The thing is, none of these matter too much to the system builder, because they don't end up using the system long enough to really care. The case is a different story, however.

Here, the system builder is the one taking the hit. You have to struggle with designs that not only don't make sense; they make the assembly process painful, literally at times. If the design doesn't get you, the build quality does. Sharp edges, holes that don't line up, plastic parts that break off, poor packaging that lets the side panel get dented, cracked corner trim, missing hardware, things that are supposed to come apart, but just won't, things that are supposed to go back together again and don't. The list of possible shortcomings goes on and on. Sadly, this is not a theoretical, or even an exhaustive list; it's only the things I can recall quickly off the top of my head.

Antec_Mini_P180_Inside_All.jpg

At times, in the early days of PC building, as I was showing someone their new pride and joy, pointing out all the cool stuff inside, I was almost embarrassed by the jumble of wires, the disorganized layout, and the rough finish of the inside of the case. Computer cases have come a long way in the last ten years. This case makes it easy to build a system that looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside.

Antec_MiniP180_Side_Q.jpg

Cable management is exceptional, there are portals everywhere you might need them and tie-down points that match up. A good example is the routing for the main ATX power cable and the 12V CPU connector to the motherboard. Even with the PSU located on the bottom rear, and the ATX connector on the upper front edge of the MB, I was still able to route the two cables completely behind the motherboard tray and bring them back around to connect without undue strain. There were tie-downs in just the right places to keep everything lined up straight, and I once I realized how easy it was going to be, all I could think was, "Sheesh, that must be how it's supposed to work!" All this with a modest PSU that doesn't feature a super long umbilical cable, i.e. just the sort of PSU you would probably use for a build like this. This is one of the advantages of a slightly smaller case, for sure.

Antec_MiniP180_Back_Q.jpg

The fit and finish of the interior is excellent. The black powder coat is immaculate and gives a refined look to the part that often gets forgotten. When I show the internals of this case to people, half of them say, "Wow, the inside of this case looks nicer than the outside of my old case". The other half says, "Man, I need to get one of those for my girlfriend. Maybe then I can convince her that the inside is just as important as the outside."

Detailed Interior Features

Everything on the interior of the Mini P180 seems to be designed to make it easy to build and easy to make it look good once you're done. Let's go down the extensive list of features that make this case a breeze to work with:

  • Two separate, easily removable, HDD cages
  • Choice of HDD orientation, depending on choice of HDD cage
  • Locking slide frames for each HDD in the lower cage
  • Soft, silicone mounting grommets for all five HDD locations
  • Both side panels are easily removable
  • Cable routing holes in all the right places on the MB tray
  • Cable tie down points in all the right places
  • Lots of reusable, removable, cable ties included
  • Plenty of depth behind MB tray for routing / storing cables
  • Adjustable cable pass-through between PSU chamber and top spaces
  • Bottom location of PSU keeps extra cables away from most commonly used drive bays.
  • Space available opposite PSU for extra cables in unused drive bays, great for non-modular power supplies.
  • PSU can be installed upside down, if desired
  • No need to remove front or top panel for any reason (How many have you broken in your lifetime...?)
  • No real need to upgrade or add more fans, unless you go crazy on the video
  • Fan speed controls built in, easy to set.
  • Fan speed controls can be easily covered to maintain correct settings
  • No fiddly RFI shielding to get bent up and twisted
  • Standoffs pre-installed for motherboard mounting, YMMV
  • Not tool-less, but sometimes a screw is the easiest thing to install
  • Protective film can stay on the metal panels until final setup

Antec_Mini_P180_Inside_Bare.jpg

I chose a modular PSU for this build, thinking that I would end up with a monster mess of cables, otherwise. I needn't have bothered, as there is plenty of empty space in the bottom chamber for unused cabling. I doubt anyone is really going to use the bottom two 5.25" drive bays for an optical drive. It's just too inconvenient there on the bottom, and unless you have an old HD DVD drive and a Blu-ray drive and an old CD-RW drive that you are going to pawn off on someone, then one optical drive is all you probably need. There is another air intake on the bottom surface, with a removable filter, that provides fresh, cool air for the PSU. This filter requires opening the side panel to remove it for cleaning. The location is perfect for accommodating standard ATX-sized power supplies; longer, oversize units may interfere.

Antec_Mini_P180_PSU_Space.jpg

I can't see using more than 500-600 watts in a typical mATX build, so that's a non-issue for me. There is room above the PSU, in case it has a secondary fan on the top surface. The Antec NeoPower 500 watt PSU that I chose uses a single 80mm fan to push the heat out the rear, and the primary intake vents in the PSU enclosure are at the front of it, right by the bottom intake vent of the Mini P180. I've been very happy with its performance and it seems like an ideal unit to use with this case. The NeoPower 550 has the same design and would work fine, as well.

The portal between the upper and lower chamber has an adjustable cable guide, to minimize the gap and transfer of air between the two chambers. In my case, because I was able to route the main power cables behind the motherboard tray, I was able to leave this plastic slide as far closed as it would go. This turned out to be quite a bit wider than I needed for the one HDD power cable and one SATA cable. So much for sealing off the PSU chamber.

Antec_Mini_P180_PSU_Cable_P.jpg

Each of the 3.5" drive bays is removable, either for installing and/or removing drives conveniently, or permanently. They are both works of industrial art, and each is a different design. The upper one will hold three drives vertically, and the lower one will hold two drives horizontally. The lower one has locking slide frames for each HDD, which allow you to remove each one of the two HDDs without disturbing the other. Five dedicated HDD bays seems a bit much in a case like this, but the added flexibility is sometimes welcome, depending on the overall goals of the build.

Antec_Mini_P180_Stock_Fans.jpg

With regards to the CPU HSF, there was only one thing during the build that gave me pause. I usually assemble the CPU, HSF, and memory into their respective mounting location before loading the motherboard into the chassis. It just seems so much easier that way...usually. With the Mini P180, I couldn't negotiate the MB past the combination of the drive cage platform sticking out from the front, and the rear case fan. Well, one quick look told me which one was going to be easier to remove, and 60 seconds later the MB slipped into place without a fuss. I had tested the fit up of the MB earlier, without the CPU HSF, and it set right into place without any issues, so this is only a problem if you install the HSF first. Some units, like the Cooler Master don't give you a choice, but the Xigmatek could have been installed fairly easily with the motherboard in place. Still, taking four fan screws out was not too high a price to pay.

Interior Details Continued

There is a small box on the side of the lower HDD cage that will hold a small stash of hardware, cable ties, etc. At first I thought it was pretty much a gimmick, but then I thought about all those times I was upgrading someones PC at their house or office, and they didn't have a clue where any of the original case hardware had gone. Point taken, Antec.

Antec_Mini_P180_Drive_Cag1.jpg

All of the HDDs mount using special screws that work with the soft silicone vibration isolating grommets to securely and gently hold the HDD in place.

Antec_Mini_P180_Drive_Cag2.jpg

Here are a couple of views showing a typical HDD installed in each of the cages:

Antec_Mini_P180_Drive_Cag3.jpg

Each of the two HDD Cage docking zones has its own vent, with a separate filter, that gets air from a slotted grill behind the front panel. These filters are removable, accessible from the front grill, and washable. There are mounting points on the inside for a 120mm or 92mm fan, which presumably would be used as an intake. The overall airflow design for the upper chamber is optimized for front to back flow.

Antec_Mini_P180_Drive_Cag5_.jpg

I was initially disappointed that it was not possible to have both an intake fan and the drive cage installed in the same drive bay, but realized that two passive intakes will work for 90% of the builds. The two standard fans can pull a fair amount of air through the case, especially that 200mm unit on top. If a high powered graphics card is installed in the PCI-E slot, the lower drive cage can be removed and a fan installed in that position to provide plenty of fresh, cool air to keep GPU temperatures down. The rear of the case has several ventilation holes, in and around the four expansion slots, which will aid in cooling a graphics card, as well.

Antec_Mini_P180_Bot_Fan_Gri.jpg

The two fans, at right angles to one another in the upper rear corner of the case, offer the builder a choice for the orientation of the CPU HSF unit, if their hardware supports it. My choice of an AMD CPU and the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 CPU cooler meant that I had no choice; the only solution was for the exhaust of the HSF to point up, towards that monster 200mm fan in the top panel. Even though the choice was made for me, I think it was the right one. The slower 200mm fan doesn't pull as much static pressure as the 120mm fan on the rear, and with the CPU HSF blowing right at it, it won't have to.

Antec_Mini_P180_Inside_Driv.jpg

There was plenty of room for any decent sized CPU cooler. In addition to the Xigmatek 120mm HSF, I also test fitted a Cooler Master Hyper 212, which has the same basic layout as the HDT-S1283, and fins that are about one inch deeper, and is about the same height at 160mm. There is about 10mm of height clearance remaining with either of these, and I couldn't find any CPU HSF units at Newegg that were any taller. I did not try any of the low profile, downdraft types, but I don't see any thing that would get in the way. I think the ventilation scheme works best with one of the vertical heat pipe style of HSF units, where the airflow is parallel to the motherboard.

Mini Tower Final Thoughts

The packaging was more than adequate to prevent damage to the case. My sample was delivered by UPS and was double boxed, sparing the decorative and informative graphics on the outside of the retail box from harm. Two fabricated polyethylene foam end caps kept the case firmly in place and separated from the box walls, and the major surfaces are covered with protective film. I'm sure there will be isolated instances where some sharp object impales the package and scratches the finish of the case, but I've seen hi-fi gear costing several thousand dollars packed no better than this. I'm satisfied that Antec has done a reasonable job protecting the product.

Antec_Mini_P180_Inner_P2.jpg

The exterior of the box is covered with very attractive and informative graphics. The features and benefits are well described and illustrated. A retail buyer will have ample information to make an informed purchase decision, even without a display unit being available to poke and prod. The only thing they won't get from the external package is a sense of the manufacturing quality, which is very high. You need to get hands on to understand that aspect. My only beef is that, just like the pictures on the Antec website, the glamour shots showing the outside of the fully assembled case don't do a credible job showing the contrast between the black plastic frame and the gun-metal gray inserts on the front and sides. It makes everything look black, which is not a true representation.

The hardware was well packed, marked and plentiful. Antec also includes a sheet of chemically treated anti-corrosion paper on the interior of the case. This is a nice touch that I haven't seen before. I'm sure these things come over in container ships, across the Pacific, and the salt air does nasty things to steel.

Antec_Mini_P180_HDWR_Box.jpg

Everyone loves to hate the front runner, especially if they think their status is undeserved. There is no doubt that Antec has some pretty stiff competition in all of their market segments, including computer chassis. In this instance, I think they've put together a package that offers an attractive set of features and high quality construction at a price that is not too much of a stretch. Still, there's no denying that the pricing is actually a stretch and many people will look elsewhere. The good news is that there is an answer, a way forward, if you will, staring us in the face.

Many of the components in the Mini P180 could have been produced at a lower cost if Antec had employed some Design for Assembly techniques and applied other Value Engineering concepts to reduce the manufacturing cost. The drive cages, for example, had several design features that could have been redesigned for lower cost, without sacrificing any functionality, quality, or aesthetics. I know robotics makes the use of screws for fastening less expensive than it used to be, but snapping in a non-removable plastic guide rail with a tensioned tab is still faster and uses fewer parts. As a Mechanical Engineer, who has designed a fair number of parts in my day, I am loath to say "Cheaper is always better". Obviously, if you look at the previous reviews of Antec products on Benchmark Reviews, you can see that Antec has reused a lot of design details from prior offerings, and this is another, alternative way to keep costs low. I think Antec has a wonderful opportunity in front of it, to design the next generation of cases with the same features, benefits and high quality, but at a lower selling price. If they can do that, they can become unbeatable, and will be more than worthy of maintaining their top spot with enthusiasts.

Antec Mini P180 Conclusion

The Mini P180 gets above average marks for presentation. Maybe it was a random freak of nature that UPS delivered it to my door without a scratch, but it looks like the packaging can stand up to some abuse without damaging the product. The retail box was both attractive and informative, all business; no dragons or half-dressed women on the outside or the inside. Once again, think about the target audience for this product, they're not going to understand or appreciate the typical gaming graphics.

The product has a unique and smart appearance, and will fit in with most business or home office environments. It's a fairly conservative design on the outside, perfect for its intended owners, I think. Tastes will vary, but if you like a subtle, time-honored look, it works very well. The inside is where the action is, at least for our readers; I don't think you could ask for much more functionality, in terms of making the build process go smoothly. You don't have to fight with this case to make it look like it was built by an experienced, obsessive-compulsive, craftsman; it works with you every step of the way to make it all look easy. The manufacturing quality is also way up there, which eliminates any unpleasant surprises during the build process. Antec_Logo_Believe-It.png

By its very nature, it is not a case that encourages extremes. You want six fans, sorry, it only has mounting points for four. Oh, you actually want to install four fans, well, you'll have to ditch both of the really nice drive cages. Don't worry; you can still install a couple of HDDs in the lower 5.25" bays, with adapters. Actually, that's not such a bad idea if you really need to build a screaming, smoking, overclocker and need tons of airflow. But that is really missing the point, I think, unless you just have to build the ultimate Q-Ship to blow away unsuspecting punters.

The lowest ranking that we gave for the Antec Mini P180 is for value. Obviously, if you find a heavily discounted deal, this score is irrelevant. At the basic street price, you have to be willing to part with a few extra dollars to get the exact combination of good looks, features and quality that this product provides. Time will tell if this was a good marketing strategy, but I think that for every gamer or all-out enthusiast out there, there are at least 5-6 other people in their circle of friends who would be very pleased with this product. Sounds like decent odds to me.

The Antec Mini P180 currently sells for $149.99 in white and $159.99 in black at Newegg. If you are looking for an extreme value, this isn't it, but it's not overpriced, especially if you can find a discount or a rebate. The universe of computer chassis at Newegg ranges from below $20 to $1,000. With that perspective, it's easier to reconcile paying an extra $20-$30 to get the features that you want, in case you feel pressured to buy whatever unit is on sale that week. I've seen promotions lately that were blowing this unit out for $69.99; which was an awesome deal, to say the least. So, as always, shop around for the best price and service.

Pros:Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award for Quality Recognition

+ Rigid construction
+ Classy and subtle looks, perfect for the target market
+ Flexible cooling options, top and rear exhaust with speed controls
+ Superior cable management
+ Inside looks as good as the outside
+ Isolated chambers for PSU and motherboard, drives
+ Quiet operation, 200mm fan is a cut above the competition
+ Unmatched panel damping on side panels
+ Front air filters easily accessible from outside
+ Impressive manufacturing quality
+ Available in Black or White
+ Good packaging, eye-catching and informative carton

Cons:

- Heavy construction
- Slightly high cost, could be reduced with Value Engineering
- PSU air filter only accessible by opening side panel
- Can't have a front fan and a drive cage in the same space
- Had to remove rear fan to install MB with CPU HSF attached
- Front door a nuisance for some

Ratings:

  • Presentation: 8.75
  • Appearance: 9.50
  • Construction: 9.25
  • Functionality: 9.25
  • Value: 8.00

Final Score: 8.95 out of 10.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.


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Comments 

 
# CorectionDuracellm... 2010-05-03 04:27
HI!

Cons:
- PSU air filter only accessible by opening side panel

I do not agree with that statement! Because the dust filter can be transferred to the lower part of the bottom plate, the vent flange allows for this.

Thank you!
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