Choosing a case

[Howard Kaikow]

I expect that the choice of a case affects the efficiency of cooling.

At this time, I've narrowed the choice of cases to the following three:

Antec Sonata: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included.

Antec P160: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included,

Antec Plus1080AMG: 5 fan mounts, 80mm fans, 3 fans included,

The P160 and 1080 have 10 drive bays, Sonata has 9 drive bays.
All 3 have 2 external and 4 internal 3.5 inch drive bays.
The P160 and 1080 have 4 external 5.25 inch drive bays.
The Sonata has 3 external 5.25 inch drive bays.

In the short term, I would plan on have 2 optical drives, a floppy drive and
1 or 2 hard drives.

If memory needs to be installed in pairs, I'd start with 2GB.
Likely get one of the newer Intel mobos to get SATA, NCQ and PCI Express
Express.

Which of the three cases would be recommended?

Should I install ALL optional fans?

 

[Larc]

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 10:52:02 -0500, "Howard Kaikow"

| I expect that the choice of a case affects the efficiency of cooling.
|
| At this time, I've narrowed the choice of cases to the following three:
|
| Antec Sonata: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included.
|
| Antec P160: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included,
|
| Antec Plus1080AMG: 5 fan mounts, 80mm fans, 3 fans included,
|
| The P160 and 1080 have 10 drive bays, Sonata has 9 drive bays.
| All 3 have 2 external and 4 internal 3.5 inch drive bays.
| The P160 and 1080 have 4 external 5.25 inch drive bays.
| The Sonata has 3 external 5.25 inch drive bays.
|
| In the short term, I would plan on have 2 optical drives, a floppy drive and
| 1 or 2 hard drives.
|
| If memory needs to be installed in pairs, I'd start with 2GB.
| Likely get one of the newer Intel mobos to get SATA, NCQ and PCI Express
| Express.
|
| Which of the three cases would be recommended?

The Plus1080AMG is a great case! It's very solid and is easy to work
with.

| Should I install ALL optional fans?

The Plus1080AMG has two rear and the side fan. It's missing a lower
front case fan and also the fan for the hard drive compartment. I'd
definitely install a front case fan and would install a hard drive fan
if there's more than one hard drive.

Larc



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[jacoby]

The sonata has a psu, the p160 does not. I suggest you determine exactly
what components you are going to build with and make sure the sonata psu is
sufficient and has the proper connectors. The removable mb tray,
thumbscrews, 5.25 inch drive rails and the removable hd tray makes working
with the P160 a pleasure. Not sure what the sonata has compared the p160
regarding those features. Read all the info at the antec web site about the
cases and you will become better informed and able to choose the right case
for your needs.

 

[Phisherman]

I expect that the choice of a case affects the efficiency of cooling.

At this time, I've narrowed the choice of cases to the following three:

Antec Sonata: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included.

Antec P160: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included,

Antec Plus1080AMG: 5 fan mounts, 80mm fans, 3 fans included,

The P160 and 1080 have 10 drive bays, Sonata has 9 drive bays.
All 3 have 2 external and 4 internal 3.5 inch drive bays.
The P160 and 1080 have 4 external 5.25 inch drive bays.
The Sonata has 3 external 5.25 inch drive bays.

In the short term, I would plan on have 2 optical drives, a floppy drive and
1 or 2 hard drives.

If memory needs to be installed in pairs, I'd start with 2GB.
Likely get one of the newer Intel mobos to get SATA, NCQ and PCI Express
Express.

Which of the three cases would be recommended?

Should I install ALL optional fans?

A case is so subjective. I prefer the larger 120mm fans, after seeing
what they do and how they work. I'd probably pick the P160.

 

[RBM]

You can't go wrong with Antec,for the buck they make an excellent box. I use
three different ones. My favorite is the 10 bay black SLK3700-BQE . It
uses 120 MM fans (one furnished), which are quiet, and the internal drive
bays are sideways, which makes it so easy to get the drives in and out.The
two front USB ports are in the middle of the box,so you don't have to get on
your knees to get to them. Unlike the Sonata,its black case is not highly
polished,so it keeps down the finger prints. The only question is if the PSU
is sufficient for what you're installing

 

[Howard Kaikow]

The sonata has a psu, the p160 does not. I suggest you determine exactly
what components you are going to build with and make sure the sonata psu is
sufficient and has the proper connectors. The removable mb tray,
thumbscrews, 5.25 inch drive rails and the removable hd tray makes working
with the P160 a pleasure. Not sure what the sonata has compared the p160
regarding those features. Read all the info at the antec web site about the
cases and you will become better informed and able to choose the right case
for your needs.

The book Building the Perfect PC describes building on the Sonata and an
associated article at the O'Reilly web site discusses the P160.

If I get the P160, then I might go with a PC Power and Cooling Power Supply.

My head is stuck on getting at least 400 watts, whether I need it or not,
probably more than I need.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

You can't go wrong with Antec,for the buck they make an excellent box. I use
three different ones. My favorite is the 10 bay black SLK3700-BQE . It
uses 120 MM fans (one furnished), which are quiet, and the internal drive
bays are sideways, which makes it so easy to get the drives in and out.The
two front USB ports are in the middle of the box,so you don't have to get on
your knees to get to them. Unlike the Sonata,its black case is not highly
polished,so it keeps down the finger prints. The only question is if the PSU
is sufficient for what you're installing

Thanx, I had not thought about that one.

 

[RBM]

Howard, FWIW, I'm no PC expert by any stretch, however having built four
machines in the last two years, with all the bells and whistles: SATA, raid,
dvr's etc. Use your building books only as a guide. PC's become old fast,
and in the time it takes to write a book and get it on the market, it
already doesn't include the newest stuff available.

 

[jacoby]

Your power supply requirements will be based on your components. I am not
up to speed on Intel requirements Strictly AMD for the past 5 years. Some
pcie vid cards need additional power requiring a connection directly to the
card as well as the power they draw from the slot. I purchased the p160
since I needed to upgrade my psu to a beefier 24 pin model able to support
an SLi config. After you get a idea of what you need in a psu check out
offerings from Seasonic, Tagan, and Epower, in addition to others.

 

[Si]

I have the Antec P160 with an extra 120mm fan. Very efficient cooling, great
features and pretty quiet too. I'm extremely happy with it.

Cheers.

Si

 

[Shelly F]

I expect that the choice of a case affects the efficiency of cooling.

At this time, I've narrowed the choice of cases to the following three:

Antec Sonata: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included.

Antec P160: 2 fan mounts, 120mm fans, 1 fan included,

Antec Plus1080AMG: 5 fan mounts, 80mm fans, 3 fans included,

The P160 and 1080 have 10 drive bays, Sonata has 9 drive bays.
All 3 have 2 external and 4 internal 3.5 inch drive bays.
The P160 and 1080 have 4 external 5.25 inch drive bays.
The Sonata has 3 external 5.25 inch drive bays.

In the short term, I would plan on have 2 optical drives, a floppy drive and
1 or 2 hard drives.

If memory needs to be installed in pairs, I'd start with 2GB.
Likely get one of the newer Intel mobos to get SATA, NCQ and PCI Express
Express.

Which of the three cases would be recommended?

Should I install ALL optional fans?

I have the Antec Plus1080AMG. Extremely easy to work with, very happy.
I put in all of the optional fans. The front cover fell off, told
Antec, they supplied a new one right away. Alas, that one fell off
too, I don't need it anyway!

 

[Howard Kaikow]

I have the Antec Plus1080AMG. Extremely easy to work with, very happy.
I put in all of the optional fans. The front cover fell off, told
Antec, they supplied a new one right away. Alas, that one fell off
too, I don't need it anyway!

Why would the front cover fall off?

 

[Larc]

On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 10:48:53 -0500, "Howard Kaikow"

| |
| > I have the Antec Plus1080AMG. Extremely easy to work with, very happy.
| > I put in all of the optional fans. The front cover fell off, told
| > Antec, they supplied a new one right away. Alas, that one fell off
| > too, I don't need it anyway!
|
| Why would the front cover fall off?

I have a very similar case* and was wondering the same thing. There's
a door that covers the drive faces in the upper half of the case.
Also, an insert snaps into place on the door, but I can't envision how
that could come off without some abnormal pressure being applied.

* A local computer shop sells rebadged Antec cases that have some
interior modifications. My case is the same as the Plus1080AMG on the
outside, but it has a slightly different interior layout.

Larc



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