Pics of my new Antec P180!!

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D
Fisher999:

Yes I will be replacing my motherboard tomorrow

You keep missing my question about what fan did you use for the front 120mm fan (the one we can't see in your pictures) ???

Thanks,

Greg

 

[nealh]

ok..but I bet with XP90/Vantec Stealth will be very close if the not same to a 120mm fan with XP90

I have 2 coolermaster fans 43cfm at low dbs(cant recall now what)...I have no idea about the Ninja HS

 

[milleron]

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D
I never really thought covering those holes would make a big difference since the power supply doesn't really get that hot I think to really effect the temps in the upper chamber. But maybe when I replace my motherboard this weekend, I'll try sealing it off to see if it helps any.

Judging by exhaust temps, the PSU is by far the biggest heat producer in my P180. I kept all my HDs in the lower compartment, too, in order to isolate their heat from the motherboard, as Antec intended. I also left the lower-compartment fan in place. It spins so slowly that it doesn't even start immediately when the computer is booted, and it is truly silent. I thought Antec and SPCR went to great lengths in thinking this case through during R&D, so I was loathe to tweak their recommended setup. The only thing I did was to leave the upper 3.5" bay out to improve airflow. So, even if it wouldn't make a huge difference, what are you gaining by ignoring this feature that Antec gives us for augmenting motherboard/CPU cooling?

Ron

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D
Fisher999:

Yes I will be replacing my motherboard tomorrow

You keep missing my question about what fan did you use for the front 120mm fan (the one we can't see in your pictures) ???

Thanks,

Greg

Oh sorry, lol. I definately missed that question. But I'm using the same orange Yate Loon, as I have for rear exhaust.

 

[nealh]

Judging by exhaust temps, the PSU is by far the biggest heat producer in my P180. I kept all my HDs in the lower compartment, too, in order to isolate their heat from the motherboard, as Antec intended. I also left the lower-compartment fan in place. It spins so slowly that it doesn't even start immediately when the computer is booted, and it is truly silent. I thought Antec and SPCR went to great lengths in thinking this case through during R&D, so I was loathe to tweak their recommended setup. The only thing I did was to leave the upper 3.5" bay out to improve airflow. So, even if it wouldn't make a huge difference, what are you gaining by ignoring this feature that Antec gives us for augmenting motherboard/CPU cooling?

Ron

well in my case, I need to allow some cabling through the openings..I maybe able to close one..but I do not think my OCZ 520 Powerstream is creating that much heat in the upper chamber..since the fans are in series and pull heat out nicley, in fact in my old SX830 OCZ lowered case temps 2C vs Antec TruePower 480w

 

[ShazK]

Mine is such a bloody mess of cables. At least they're sleeved and aren't blocking the airflow badly because my case stays cool, but still, it's a mess. Oh well, no window for people to see anyways.

 

[imported_caf2461]

Real men don't have disco cases with clear cover panels. They pop the hood to show off the engine anyway. Nice, classy and professional job. True craftmanship.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

off topic sorta, but I noticed in one of your pics that you use the coolermaster 450 psu. I just ordered one today for $25AR....how is it working for you so far?

Also, where are you plugging in the 24pin connector on your mobo?

 

[DoktorPete]

Thought some people might like to know that you can get this case with a window but its pricey

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...roduct_info&cPath=162&products_id=3304

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: HonkeyDonk
off topic sorta, but I noticed in one of your pics that you use the coolermaster 450 psu. I just ordered one today for $25AR....how is it working for you so far?

Also, where are you plugging in the 24pin connector on your mobo?

This power supply works just fine for me. It's definately the best PSU you can buy for the money right now. But will be replacing mine soon since I need to buy a power supply that is SLI Ready. Because I plan on purchasing another 7800GTX in the future.

When I was using my MSI, I had to use a 24-to-20 pin adapter. But my new Asus supports 24pin already so I don't have to use anymore adapter.

 

[ajikan]

very very nice
a LOT better than my P180 set up!

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: milleron
Dynamix,
Why didn't you close off the sliding panels between the lower compartment and the upper? Aren't you concerned about keeping PSU-generated heat out of the motherboard compartment?

Ron

Okay after reading your post about closing off the top so the air from beneath won't go up into the top, and a few others recommending to me that I install my hard drive in the lower cage. I went ahead tonight and reorganized my case. I am still waiting for some new parts I ordered to arrive (Scythe Ninja and some fans). I took some really quick (crappy) pics. But I will make sure to take some better ones once the Ninja comes on Thursday. In the meantime, take a look at what I have so far.

Oh by the way, in case you didn't know. I replaced my old motherboard and video card. I am now running my eVGA 7800GTX, and a Asus A8N SLI Premium. The card, and the motherboard are GREAT! This board rocks, the layout is the best I have ever worked with and so far its very stable, and overclocks even better than my MSI. I am very happy with my purchase.

Anyway here's the pics
1
2

 

[milleron]

Dynamix,
Since you've built the prettiest P180 on the 'net, I hate to be the nit-pickiest bastard on the 'net, but we really can't help what we are Anyway, I'm wondering why you still haven't closed the rear sliding panel as far as it'll go. And since you have beaucoup room in the lower compartment why not let the 38mm fan help to cool the HDs? If you just set it on low, I honestly don't think you'll be able to hear it, but it will help to reduce HD temps.

I realize it won't be possible to post meaningful data about changes in motherboard and CPU temps with this rearranged rig, since you changed motherboards, but I'm still curious about whether you've noticed any difference.

Isn't that heatpipe cooler on the A8N-SLI Premium the niftiest thing you've seen in a long while? Your computer is beginning to resemble mine a lot, now. The main differences are my use of an XP120 (Panaflo with speed sensor) and a totally fanless video card (Gigabyte Radeon X800XL that's running nice and cool). Oh yeah, and your Olympic-gold-medal cable management.

Ron

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: milleron
Dynamix,
Since you've built the prettiest P180 on the 'net, I hate to be the nit-pickiest bastard on the 'net, but we really can't help what we are Anyway, I'm wondering why you still haven't closed the rear sliding panel as far as it'll go. And since you have beaucoup room in the lower compartment why not let the 38mm fan help to cool the HDs? If you just set it on low, I honestly don't think you'll be able to hear it, but it will help to reduce HD temps.

I realize it won't be possible to post meaningful data about changes in motherboard and CPU temps with this rearranged rig, since you changed motherboards, but I'm still curious about whether you've noticed any difference.

Isn't that heatpipe cooler on the A8N-SLI Premium the niftiest thing you've seen in a long while? Your computer is beginning to resemble mine a lot, now. The main differences are my use of an XP120 (Panaflo with speed sensor) and a totally fanless video card (Gigabyte Radeon X800XL that's running nice and cool). Oh yeah, and your Olympic-gold-medal cable management.

Ron

Hey Ron,

If you look closely, you'll see that I now have closed the sliding panel all the way as far as it can go on both sides. Before yesterday I had it completely open, now there is only a tiny gap on the side with the hard drives because thats as far as I can push it with the cables being up routed to the motherboard.

As for the 120x38mm fan I won't be installing that. That fan is loud to me even on its low setting. I am debating however on installing a silent 120x25mm fan on the bottom chamber, but I still don't even think it might be necessary for the one hard drive I have placed on the bottom cage.

And yes the heatpiped chipset was the best idea ever, especially for silence freaks. Because those tiny, noisy chipset fans are pretty annoying. Spinning at 5000rpm, even as small as they are, are still very loud.

Don't worry though, once my Ninja comes with the new fans I am going to take better pictures. I just took those pics last nite real quick while I was very tired, and they came out pretty crappy.

 

[Bona Fide]

Don't bother getting a fan for the Ninja. It's structure is such that the exhaust fans on the P180 will siphon off any heat dissapated by it.

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
Don't bother getting a fan for the Ninja. It's structure is such that the exhaust fans on the P180 will siphon off any heat dissapated by it.

That is my plan right now... to leave it fanless. But I will be doing a few tests to see which setups work the best.

 

[Fisher999]

I can't keep from posting some thoughts and observations here as an owner of a P180 (though yet to build in it) and a faithful follower of the threads on the case here at anandtech and over at SPCR (who, let's not forget, had one of their co-editors involved in the design of the P180).

I think some people are forgetting the information over here and over here, maybe because the information is getting a little old abeit no less informative.

Originally posted by: milleron
...Judging by exhaust temps, the PSU is by far the biggest heat producer in my P180. I kept all my HDs in the lower compartment, too, in order to isolate their heat from the motherboard, as Antec intended. I also left the lower-compartment fan in place... I thought Antec and SPCR went to great lengths in thinking this case through during R&D, so I was loathe to tweak their recommended setup...

With all due respect Ron, silentpcreview points out that the P180 is "...highly configurable..." and designed so that one can tweak the configuration to "...optimize the setup for best results with your gear...". Therefore, I find nothing wrong in Dynamix's decision to reconfigure the P180 for HIS needs. I think it's particulary clever how he did not follow the P180's instruction manual's suggestions on how to route the power cables to the upper chamber instead using the forward "hole" to do this and using the rear-most "hole" for JUST the 12V power connector. True this scheme was used by the reviewer in the first SPCR review but it is an effective strategy that I plan on "borrowing" when I build in my P180.

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D

Originally posted by: HonkeyDonk
off topic sorta, but I noticed in one of your pics that you use the coolermaster 450 psu. I just ordered one today for $25AR....how is it working for you so far?...

This power supply works just fine for me. It's definately the best PSU you can buy for the money right now. But will be replacing mine soon since I need to buy a power supply that is SLI Ready...

Replacing the power supply is probably a good idea. The Coolermaster RS-450-ACLY, as reported over here at SPCR, and it's more powerful 550W brother, as reported over here at SPCR, are power supplys that demonstrate excellent voltage regulation, efficiency and power factor correction but they are ANYTHING BUT QUIET. You have been so concerned with the noise from your Zalman VF7000 (with it's 92mm fan), a CPU cooler that numerous people have been using in QUIET pcs with great success, but it is more likely your POWER SUPPLY that is the LOUDEST component in your system. But as pointed out in the SPCR's second review on the case, the choice of a power supply is less crucial in the P180 as its "...lower chamber keeps PSU very cool and choice of PSU is less crucial for low noise..."

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D
...and a few others recommending to me that I install my hard drive in the lower cage. I went ahead tonight and reorganized my case...
As for the 120x38mm fan I won't be installing that. That fan is loud to me even on its low setting. I am debating however on installing a silent 120x25mm fan on the bottom chamber, but I still don't even think it might be necessary for the one hard drive I have placed on the bottom cage...

I still am bothered by the fact that you claim that the 120mm x 38mm bottom fan is loud when Antec's acoustic ratings for it (see page 7 of your Antec P180 owner's manual) are lower (QUIETER) than the 120mm x 25 mm fans. The fan spins more slowly on all three of its speed settings than the top two 120mm x 25mm fans and is rated to be quieter than the top two. The fan speed "default" position is medium. Have you accidentally set yours to high ??? Even if you have its high setting is rated to be 500RPM slower and 2dBA quieter than either of the top two fans at their high speed setting.

Furthermore, I don't know why you felt you necessarily had to move your hard drive into the lower drive cage. Read the first article on the case over at SPCR. In that review, the reviewer, like you, removed the lower fan and hard drive cage and mounted his single hard drive in the UPPER drive cage. You are using a hard drive from a line of hard drives, the Samsung Spinpoints, which are known for thier quietness and ability to run cool (even though they don't perform in the same ballpark as a Raptor ). SPCR, in the first article, used a Samsung MP0402H 2.5" 5400rpm 8MB cache drive.

I agree with you, however, that if you DO keep your hard drive in the lower chamber it may not be necessary to mount a fan in the lower middle position. I would, however, heed SPCR's caution to seal the rear lower vent holes with HVAC tape if NOT using a fan in the lower chamber but ARE using a hard drive in the lower cage as the power supply will tend to "pull" air from the rear vent holes (if they're not sealed) and not draw cool air from the front of the case which helps to keep the lower hard drives cool.They also recommend sealing the rear vga duct holes when NOT using the vga duct to keep warm exhaust air from being "recirculated" into the case; I believe that "item" was pointed out by somebody earlier in this thread.

Originally posted by: Dynamix3D

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
Don't bother getting a fan for the Ninja. It's structure is such that the exhaust fans on the P180 will siphon off any heat dissapated by it.

That is my plan right now... to leave it fanless. But I will be doing a few tests to see which setups work the best.

That sound like a good idea to start; the P180 is known for its excellent upper case exhaust flow; again, to quote SPCR, the P180 has "...excellent airflow around CPU..."

Greg

 

[Dynamix3D]

Greg,

Just a reminder, that I replaced the fan in my Coolermaster RP450w PSU with one of the same orange Yate Loon fans that I have as my exhaust and intake. So it is very very quiet. The fan spins very slowly all the time too, so you cannot even hear it at all unless you put your ear to the back of the power supply.

 

[daftpunkit]

Have you installed the Scythe Ninja? if so how is it doing performance wise?

BTW, very very nice getup.

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: daftpunkit
Have you installed the Scythe Ninja? if so how is it doing performance wise?

BTW, very very nice getup.

Nope, the Ninja is scheduled for delivery this thursday. So I will be takin some more pics and posting my impressions then.

 

[Arye]

I will be getting the same case, not from seeing this but this is making me want it more! I love the setup and everything. 11/10 for the wire managment but as blacklit said you should take a challenge with a full load. I know you could kick its ass even then GJ! Keep it up!

 

[ShazK]

My main problem is getting all my fan cables to my fan controller neatly like you did. Really, you need to help me out... My fan cables are just one giant mess in the front of my case. I dare not show this mess in this neat thread, but I will. I don't know what to doooo >.> First build ever and its a total mess.
http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=computer817050010zm.jpg

 

[Safeway]

This is ridiculous - that is, the amount of attention your case is getting.

 

[Dynamix3D]

Originally posted by: Safeway
This is ridiculous - that is, the amount of attention your case is getting.

lol, sorry it's not my fault though. I guess everyone is just interested in seeing how I do my work since they are having a hard time getting there P180 set up neatly.

 

[imported_Stew]

*drool