Does it get any better than Antec 900?

[Termie]

I have the Antec 900, it's housed my last two builds, and I got it for $60AR in 2008. Definitely got my money's worth out of it. But it's far from perfect. Here are the pros and cons...

Pros:
(1) inexpensive for number of included fans and cooling capability
(2) included mount for internal 120mm fan right behind memory and graphics card (makes a big difference in GPU temps)
(3) one of the first cases with a top exhaust fan, which has been copied by many designs (although frankly, it doesn't make a huge difference in temps, probably because it's perpindicular to the air flow)
(4) convenient power button, usb ports, and tray on the top of the case
(5) fairly compact for a mid-tower case, particularly the width

Cons:
(1) no fan filters - this has been addressed in all modern cases, included the cheaper Antec 300. It's really a big problem for dust management.
(2) Antec tri-cool fans are noisy even on low settings - I think it's the bearings that just aren't designed for quiet operation (they're designed to withstand full speed)
(3) no real cable management other than a few zip ties - most modern cases have ports to hide cables behind the motherboard (although they are by nature slightly wider cases, in order to provide room for all this "plumbing" underneath the MB tray)
(4) no motherboard tray cut-out, making heatsink replacement a complete pain
(5) With stock fans, it's not quiet! I've replaced all the fans (except the top fan) with Scythe fans, and that has made a difference, but the case itself does nothing to quiet down a system...it has a huge hole in the top, so of course it's going to be loud.

Overall, I probably wouldn't buy the Antec 900 today, but it was really groundbreaking when it came out. Truth is that I might use it again for my next build anyway, just because I have all my new fans mounted in it and it's compact enough to fit under my desk.

 

[Petey!]

If Quietness and Airflow are your 2 biggest concerns, then the FT02 really can't be beat.

 

[Interitus]

Second vote for the Lian-Li/Lancool K62 or K## series.

Love mine. Plenty of room, great cable management (hell no to the 900/1200 Antec's for cable management), and great airflow if you're willing to tinker a bit. I swapped all the fans in mine for Yate Loon mediums for a good silence/performance option.

If you do go with one of the K## series I highly recommend flipping the top 2 fans to intakes. Makes for a good temperature drop and creates positive pressure keeping a bit more dust out.

-edit-

You can still stay right at $100 after the fan swap if you can find a deal on the K62 or similar cases. I got mine for $75, throw in 4 YL fans and it's just a tad over $100. The stock fans are decent, but low airflow.

 

[SickBeast]

good deal, where at?

NCIX with I think a $35 MIR. I'm pretty sure the deal is dead at this point. Perhaps the MIR is still valid and you can track one down.

It's a really sweet case. I love the look of it, and it keeps my stuff really cool.

 

[DirkGently1]

If i were buying now i would get a Lian-Li, but nothing will make me part with the CM Stacker 810 that i have currently. I believe it is the best case ever made! I have 5x120mm S-Flex case fans @ 1200RPM making very little noise at all, although i could swap them for 900RPM fans if total silence was needed! (There is a Noctua 120mm fan on the HSF too making six total). The intake fans are all filtered, 3 in, 2 out for positive pressure).

The case also has 12x3.5" and 2x5.25" drive bays in its current configuration and an enormous amount of room around the Motherboard (ATX). If you were lucky you may be able to pick one up used, but i can't imagine anybody wanting to part with one.

 

[Psyside]

HAF 932, silent and great cooling performance.

 

[SickBeast]

Hey ElFenix, NCIX has the Antec 300 for $30AR again!

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE%20HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1026

 

[RussianSensation]

The Azza Solano 1000 is better than the Antec 900 V1/V2. It has better airflow, quieter fans, and higher quality construction. The Antec 900 is outdated at this point imo.

The SPCR "Serenity" design (http://www.pugetsystems.com/nav/serenity/SPCR/customize.php) uses the P180 instead.

Antec P180/182, etc. series is a joke compared to modern cases. When tested with dual 4870s, the cards ran almost 12-13*C hotter and thus noisier compared to what a typical modern case can provide with dual 120mm fans or 1x 140mm at the front feeding into the videocards. Without good airflow, the CPU and GPU fans will be noisier, esp. when overclocking.

 

[ElFenix]

Hey ElFenix, NCIX has the Antec 300 for $30AR again!

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE%20HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1026

you canucks get all the good stuff

Antec P180/182, etc. series is a joke compared to modern cases. When tested with dual 4870s, the cards ran almost 12-13*C hotter and thus noisier compared to what a typical modern case can provide with dual 120mm fans or 1x 140mm at the front feeding into the videocards. Without good airflow, the CPU and GPU fans will be noisier, esp. when overclocking.

people buying the P180 are not running the stock fans at full blast. they're not even running the stock fans at the slow setting. only the 38 mm tricool was worth keeping, and only at the low speed.

in another article they claim the P182 was quiet, so they're really not even consistent. i bet they never did a proper test. didn't that used to be a respectable review site?

 

[Wangstang]

Hey ElFenix, NCIX has the Antec 300 for $30AR again!

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29812&vpn=THREE%20HUNDRED&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1026

Looks like the Mail In Rebate is only available to Canadian buyers. If you live in the US you have to purchase from the NCIXUS.com website and the rebate clearly states it's only for the NCIX.com website.

Wes

 

[sticks435]

I bought a 900 for $30 after clearance and a $30 gift card around the time the 900 Two came out. It's not a bad little case, but like others have mentioned it's pretty small inside for cable management with today's big graphics cards/SSD & HHD combo's. Lack of fan filters is also a bitch, since I live on the ground floor of my Apt and dust is terrible. I game and fold with it, and while not terrible, it's def noticeable and sometimes annoying when the GPU is running at 60 or 70%.

I bought a 650D from Microcenter a few weeks ago, but it's still in the box, while my build is on hold. Thinking about returning it, since it's one of the ones with the fan controller issue and I'm now rethinking spending $212 on a case. I love the features of the K-63, but not quite sure about the looks.

I'll keep the current system that's in the 900 as a full time folding machine, but it will be far way from either my bedroom or computer desk.

 

[Zanovar]

this case at its current price(uk)is a pile of cock,im afraid some unlucky peeps will go down on it though.cases have moved on,antec still selling this shite havent