Views on Antec Sonata

[KH85]

if you have one of these could you tell me what you think.

or just general views on the case itself. i looking for silence after my last case

here is a Link for those who wish to see the pics

 

[CraigRT]

Since I can't get the case I REALLY want, I was looking into one of these as well... looks like a good case overall.. I've had Antec in the past, and they are top notch IMO...

 

[KH85]

Thanks,

so far they sound good

Any more opinions?

 

[JKing76]

There's been a lot of talk about the Sonata over at the silentpcreview.com forums.

 

[KH85]

Bump any more?

 

[JaRb0y]

if i had the chance to buy it i would...been eyeing it for awhile but dont have the cash right now. very sleek and uses 120 mm fan in the rear which moves alot of air quietly. i dont remember if there is a fan in front. and again antec makes some of the best cases

 

[KH85]

i think ill get one i like the Antec bit on the side as well

 

[Bad Dude]

This seems like a great design. But the downside is no fan in the front and only one fan in the PSU.

 

[jarsoffart]

Is the Sonata anything more than an Antec case with rubber grommets, a 120mm fan slot, and a modified PSU? I'm thinking of getting one, but rubber grommets are cheap and the Antec SLK3700AMB offers a 120mm fan mount too. The Antec SL350 offered in the SLK3700AMB shouldn't be too loud either, and I could take one fan out or take both and put in a 92mm. Is it worth the 30 premium over the SLK3700AMB?

 

[gramboh]

There is a 120mm fan mount behind the horizontal hard drive cage. Some of the other benefits seem to be the drive cage itself (easier to get drives in and out then conventional orientation) and the fact that two 7V connectors are included for fans so you don't have to mod. Also the PSU fan is controlled by temperature automatically which is kind of nice for noise control. I am getting one soon, pretty good deal I'd say.

 

I own two of them The case is small and cramped so if your into overclocking look into something else. Poor dust control and the black laquer finnish is a dust and fingerprint magnet. Adding a 120MM for intake would be a waste of time since the ide cables from the harddrive cage would restrict the air flow. Your not going to get a quiet silent system unless you add big heatsink low rpm 80mm fan combo for the cpu and some sort of heatstick option for your gpu. Getting quiet hardrives also help like the Barricuda V line. Its got a great power supply with the 7 volt mod already included. The front blue leds make a nice night light. For somebody who wants to build a quiet system and install their OS and really use their computer this case is for you. For the overclocking fools and the mad dremel tool mod junkies, look elsewhere.

 

[ChefJoe]

Are the fans 7 v wired or are they thermal control ? I always thought the fans were under thermal control based on the PSU's temp.

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: ChefJoe
Are the fans 7 v wired or are they thermal control ? I always thought the fans were under thermal control based on the PSU's temp.

I've heard they are wired at 7v, not thermally controlled, which is what I would prefer. Does anyone know where I can get just the PSU?

 

[ChefJoe]

The Sonata has a TruePower in it. The fans are thermal controlled, but (according to their snazzy PR literature) it's not a traditional linear thermal control.

http://www.antec-inc.com/pdf/TruePower_inclusion.pdf


OOhh, just got notice that Newegg dropped the price of the 3700 below the $89 price it had been at. Now $83.99 shipped

 

[KH85]

Thanks for all your information on the case so far.

know i have the hard choice...

Either the case i posted about befor or Antec PlusView 1000AMG without PSU with this PSU what are your views guys i am stuck on the decision

 

[KH85]

*BUMP*

Anyone with thoughts on what i should do?

 

[AntecCSR]

Sonata will be quieter then the PlusView (120mm fans versus 80mm).

You can also get to various reviews through our site (go to the product page and hit the reviews link).

AnteccSR

 

[Syborg1211]

I have a Sonata and it is a pretty silent case. The case is a little cramped so if you're always tinkering around in there it might not be the best choice. I also have watercooling in my case so it's extra quiet and cools quite well. The only thing that I don't like too much about the case is the somewhat poor case airflow. My 9700pro and northbridge get quite hot so I am planning on adding a 120mm in the front and making some sort of duct to make the air run right over the gfx card and northbridge heatsink. All in all it's quite a nice case. One complaint I have is how the front drive slide rail things sometimes have PMS and don't come out too easily. Another is that the right side panel of the case does not come off so routing/hiding cables is a toughy. The power supply also gets a little too warm for my likings so I swapped it out with a dual fan enermax 465.

 

[Gog]

Have you considered the Antec SLK2600?

Good Antec case thats relatively inexpensive. I honestly don't think the Sonata is worth the extra money.

 

[jarsoffart]

The SLK2600AMB only has 80mm fan mounts and the PSU is inferior, still good though, but louder and inferior in other ways. I want to get a SLK3700AMB and the special one-fan edition of the TruePower available in the Sonata.

 

[robrr]

I have a Sonata (Newegg refurb $69) and a SLK3700AMB (Neweg refurb $39) and I like them both a lot. The power supply in the Sonata makes less noise than the one in the 3700. I would consider the Sonata to be silent. I have a Zalman 6000 on my cpu and passive heatsinks on my northbridge and my vid card. The blue lights on the front of the case have got to go though.

 

[jarsoffart]

How is the quality of the refurb? Did it come w/ blemishes or was it basically new?

 

[robrr]

The 3700 was new, perfect condition. The Sonata had some blemishes along the top of the case, but they buffed out with some car wax. Now it is as good as new, too.

 

The blue lights on the front of the case have got to go though.

Dont plug them in then if you dont like them. I like them. They help find my to the fridge for another beer when the room is dark.

 

[KH85]

Thanks alot guys,

i am going to get the Sonata case.

i am looking for a 'Silent' case and i am going to get the Zalmon Heatpipe for my 9700, and i allready have a Zalmon Copper Flower on my CPU which is "Silent".

i am going to order it in a few days. ill post on here what i think of the case, and if it is "Silent" or not

Thanks Again

KHGamez