So I bought an Antec 900 to drown my sorrows :D

[soundx98]

So I bought an Antec 900 to drown my sorrows.

Can't afford a new rig, I needed something to pick me up.

 

Most of you are are familiar with the Antec 900.

I'm not a gamer but I heard this case talking to me in my sleep.

"Buy Me, Buy Me"

 

 

Lots of fans

It's supplied with 3 x120mm and one 200mm (top exhaust), all are 3 speed (L-M-H) Blue LED

tons of airflow, (from the owner's manual so may be fudged a bit)

200mm Fan Specs

High (800 RPM) - 134cfm @ 30dBA

Med (600 RPM) - 108cfm @ 27dBA

Low (400 RPM) - 83cfm @ 24dBA

120mm Fan Specs

High (2000 RPM) - 79cfm @ 30dBA

Med (1600 RPM) - 56cfm @ 28dBA

Low (1200 RPM) - 39cfm @ 25dBA

 

Unconventional looks (cause it's got that bigaz 200mm fan in the top)

 

I liked dual 120mm intakes and had worked it into my last three cases with great results.

Just thought it was kewl

(links to rig mods below sig)

 

The Antec 900 can be found on line from $79.99 to $149.95

Figure $100 plus maybe a few will be what it sets you back.

So is it a Great Case, Good Case, OK Case, or Crap Case?

It may be a little of each.

 

The 900 has been praised for it's great cooling capabilities and value.

You either love or hate the exterior looks.

Course the other side says it's a piece of crap that is loud, a dust trap, overpriced and quite possibly, the greatest known threat to mankind.

 

Time to see what we got here.

 

Yes, you can take the Top section off

(BUT YOU MAY BREAK A CLIP!)

 

To remove the top panel:

2 screws on the underside of top need to be removed to realease the 200mm fan.

Push the rear and side clips to the outside to release.

The front clips are 1.25” to 1.5” from the front panel.

You need to push forward from the rear.

(You can’t actually see them)

Take a long flat blade screwdriver and press the tabs gently towards the front.

(This is where I broke one of the clips)

Superglue to repair the tabs or double sided tape to secure it if necessary.

 

 

 

The case is bare metal on the inside and it really seemed to give it a "unfinished paint job" look.

Just not very impressive.

I decided to paint everything flat black.

 

On to the Priming.

 

 

Me, I like screw holes

The screwless designs never seem to keep everything "tight".

The Drive tower is just two strips of steel.

(nothing to see here, move along)

Prime that biatch

 

 

The Antec 3-1 removable HDD enclosures didn't really impress me.

They do the job but I was lookin' for sumthin a little slicker

Been wanting to try these Scythe HDD Stabilizer 2 deals for awhile.

They were on sale for $7.99 set at Frozen CPU

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/3041/noi..._Reduction.html

Just seemed like a good solution.

 

 

The Fan/Drive cage assemblies did the job, but seemed bulky.

 

 

 

Close up of rubber bumper mounted on HDD.

 

[soundx98]

Checking Scythe Stabilizer/HDD for fit.

I'm liking it already.

 

 

Intend to use the Matrix Orbital MX630 for information/control.

Displays all my MBM info, media files, and pretty much anything else you want.

http://www.matrixorbital.ca/products/mx_series/

 

 

My initial plan is to lay it out something like this.

Figured I would keep the DVD at the chassis bottom since it will sit on a desk.

 

 

Looking for something like this in looks.

I wanted to make sure I raised the top fan up for better flow to the rear exhaust.

I'll just be mounting the fans and grills, not the actual cages.

Lot of touch up painting to do as the 5.25' panel side aren't painted (bare metal)

 

 

The "blackness" of the Matrix Orbital and Antec 900 case front bezel match perfectly.

I am getting wood.

 

So hopefully it will look something like this.

Lot of folks complain about the poor cable management aspects of the case.

There is nothing that you can "tuck" wires into.

 

[soundx98]

Thoughts and stuff

I Have some AiT Cool Silver TIM I am going to try.

http://www.maxitmag.com/hardware-reviews/c...ool-silver.html

 

I'm gonna need to cut some holes in the right side to pass cables (including molex)

One where the 3.5" floppy is and one two bays below it (including SATA PWR molex)

Access to fan speed control? Best location?

 

Wondering if I should use the 2nd Matrix Orbital in front as well.

One dedicated to multimedia, RSS, and e-mail feeds and the primary for sys information.

 

Need some Silver highlights in some black area.

Drive cage panel is hidden with side window on.

 

I hate the window side panel already.

back half is mesh with a 120mm fan cutout, front half is plexi.

Just don't like the design.

modding them into a single window will require a 16" x 13" panel

[catkicker]

Looks good my friend. Take a gander at this for a new side pannel window. I have wanted to use this in a modded case.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/ind...c6b21956fe3acb2

[Guest Blooz1]

Lookin' good so far, soundx!

 

That stuff cat linked to would look GREAT!

[Darkorb]

wow thats pretty cool man, lookin good

[ReelFiles]

Sweet, glad to see you're back at it, go-go soundx go!

[soundx98]

that dang catkicker knows me like a book.

AND it's exactly 16" x 12" so I can do one big window.

 

This from a cut they did at [H]ard forum.

 

 

I have the AC Ryan Mirror 2 in the cart, and Lian-Li replacement speaker (Antec doesn't have one).

thought I may point it on near the floppy drive so I can hear it.

Lookin at some right angle SATA cables now, but I don't know if I want to stealth the drives.

Cable management would be tough with that see-through front panel.

(It's gonna be a nightmare anyway)

 

They have the Black anodzied Lian-Li wheels for $40 but that's half of what I paid for the case.

 

Besides I can always add them as budget permits

[catkicker]

What about some kind of conduit for the wiring and cables. I once thought about using automotive vacum hose. It's black and bends nicely and it comes it several sizes. I was going to secure the tubing with these.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/ind...roducts_id=3208

and use uv or just colored zip ties.

 

And check these wheels out

http://www.kikboxes.com/kikshop/product.asp?intProdID=4

[ReelFiles]

Those ball "wheels" look a little tall, but nice nonetheless.

[soundx98]

I'm not ruling any idea out, but I'm hoping to have it up and running fast.

(I'm gettin' all antzy just waiting for paint to dry.)

 

I'll be Painting things black for the next week.

Luckily a flat black paint job is pretty hard to screw up

 

I've got some of Stu's caster wheels.

Like the cannonball they have a large bolt going straight up, The PSU is in the way.

May need to look into a plexi base again old friend

 

 

http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showpost.p...889&postcount=3

 

Lots of work to do, just trying to come up with some good ideas.

[catkicker]

I'm not ruling any idea out, but I'm hoping to have it up and running fast.

(I'm gettin' all antzy just waiting for paint to dry.)

 

I'll be Painting things black for the next week.

Luckily a flat black paint job is pretty hard to screw up

 

I've got some of Stu's caster wheels.

Like the cannonball they have a large bolt going straight up, The PSU is in the way.

May need to look into a plexi base again old friend

 

 

http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showpost.p...889&postcount=3

 

Lots of work to do, just trying to come up with some good ideas.

 

 

Tis a sweet plexi base it is. I have it under the glass shelf my Lian li is sitting on looks sweet.