Antec Nine Hundred

[hitchface]

Well, I've had this case for about 2 months now, and after giving a few pointers, decided I'd re-write it into a full blown review. Here she be!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Use the photos here to understand my poor explanations...

Looks:
With cases having windows being very popular with today's crowd, you are sure to run into some that are way overdone. Fortunately, the Antec Nine Hundred keeps it relatively simple.
The whole side panel "viewing area" is basically a rectangle, but divided into 2 chevron-esque parts. One part is just your standard window, and the smaller part is grilled, but a bit more on that later. The front is entirely perforated in order to accomodate the 2 120mm blue LED Antec TriCool fans that pull in air for this beast. Of course there is the Big Boy fan on top, which is Antec's new 200mm TriCool fan that adds a look that says "I mean business." There is a little tray on the top, and normally I might put this in the "functionality" section, but realistically it isn't a selling point. You can hold a digital camera as it is plugged in, or something similar, seeing as the I/O is right in front of that tray.

Building:
For some, this case might seem a little smaller than they thought. There are some relatively non-mainstram features here, so if you go and build in it, you may find a little bit of adjustment is needed. First off, your power supply will be bottom-mounted. Some find this to be a curse, others a stroke of genius. The plus side to that bottom mount is that is improves your airflow situation dramatically provided you have a power supply with an intake fan on it, and it doesn't create that common hotspot that many top-mounted builds do. The downside is that, for most motherboard configurations, it makes wire management a little trickier, especially if your cables aren't all that long.



The HDD cages (there are 2, with capacity for 3 HDDs each) have those blue LED fans I mentioned earlier in the front for HDD cooling, and coincidentally feed air to your power supply and VGA solution. If you want to change out the fans or put in the HDDs, the cages do come out, but you'll need to take both side panels off to get at the thumbscrews. Attached to the top HDD cage is an empty 120mm fan mount. This mount is removeable (obviously at the expense of cooling expansion), but if you decide to keep it in, there are 2 immediate things that you may need to contend with. Placing a fan in there will negate the use of that cage for additional HDDs, limiting you to the bottom cage only. The other limitation is for those of you with long video cards. It can get very tight in there unless that fan mount is removed, so consider that before building...you may find yourself balancing between cooling options and huge video cards/additional HDDs. My last word on these cages: they are not tool-less. It isn't really a big deal, since tool-less designs have the possibilty of being flimsy anways, but be prepared to break out the 'ol screwdriver.

Cooling:
We have already seen some of the cooling options in the last sections, but let's be honest. This case was built for cooling. We have our 2 120mm fans in front, the rear 120mm for exhaust, the 200mm on top for exhaust, with the option of a 120mm in the side (this is that grilled part...it has a fan mount on it for extra VGA cooling goodness) and you can add another 120mm fan to the back end of that top HDD cage, making the famous wind tunnel. Including the power supply exhaust fan, that makes for 7 fans total, all well placed in good locations to optimize airflow. All of the included fans, as mentioned above, are TriCool, but the fan controls are all inside the case, meaning you need to take the side panel off in order to get at them. Some people have converted the case for water cooling, so we know it is possible, but expect it to be tight.

Funtionality:
The I/O section is loaded with your standard stuff, with a nice little FireWire port for you video camera toting folk. In all, it includes 2xUSB, 1xFireWire, Power, Reset, HDD act. light, speaker/headphone jack and a mic jack. It is all top mounted, so it's nice and handy for you folk who leave your prized computer on the floor (not reccomended, considering the amount of air this thing will pull in), but at the same time, it isn't really a pain for me, and I have it sitting on a desk. The case as a whole isn't all that difficult to work with. Earlier versions had a clearance issue with a VGA adapter being placed in the top slot, but that has since been rectified. It is a big case, but it won't dominate an entire desk, if thats what you're looking for.

Final thoughts:
I really like this case. It doesn't really dish out any punishment as far as build time and difficulty, but it might make you work a little harder than some others depending on your parts. The looks aren't very tacky, yet they retain a high cool-factor. It is a fairly sturdy case, with the exception of the side panel (pretty thin...but you shouldn't be throwing that around anyways lest you scratch your pretty window). But most of all...it is cold in there.

Feel free to PM me if I missed something or if you have any questions! First real review.

[Jimmy0]

Great review hitch, but your link is broken ;)

[TwoRails]

Try this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129021) one...

[hitchface]

Bummer...I get that all the time from newegg links too.... Either way, glad the review was alright.

[chrash]

I'm thinking about getting one of these... just wondered how noisy they are given the multitude of fans in there?

[hitchface]

That depends what you consider noisy. I have the thing loaded to the top with Aerocool Xtreme Turbines on and one of the TriCool fans, and I don't mind it at all. Stock, I found the case to be very quiet. If you turn all of the fans to medium or low, you'd be amazed.

[chrash]

Sold! Thanks for the response, I'm going to get one of these. :)

[NinjaBachelorParty]

One tiny thing i would point out, be careful with the fan controller for the rear exhaust fan. The position means that it can slip out and obstruct the CPU fan, this happened to me once, with a Core 2 Duo stock fan, luckily i spotted it quickly and fixed it out of the way more carefully.

[hitchface]

I changed the position of all of my fan controllers because of that...just tucked that one between the fan and the window side of the case.

[doubledragon5]

I've been looking to put my wife rig (sig) into something with a bit more cooling ability. This is it. I have seen this one at Best Buy and now I'm convinced it will to the job... thanks for the review hitchface..

[hitchface]

Not a problem bro. Just make sure the PSU cables will be long enough. If the mobo power supply cables are close to a foot and a half long, they should give you room to breathe and tie them back some. Hope it works out!

[doubledragon5]

When I get home (hopefully) tue, I will see if the wife will let me go ahead and purchase it now if not later... She already has said ok, once cross my fingers...:)

[Fibre Optix]

I just bought this case yesterday. I love the look.

But I have one question, I was planning to pun in a fan controller in one of the drive bays. BUT! the fans have their own control switches. LOW MED HIGH.

Can I still install a Fan Control Panel?

[hitchface]

Not recommended. You need to have a non variable speed fan installed to a fan controller for it to properly work. I just got new fans for that purpose.

[Fibre Optix]

Not recommended. You need to have a non variable speed fan installed to a fan controller for it to properly work. I just got new fans for that purpose.

thanks for the heads up.

[hitchface]

Not a problem. Stick with the fans you have in there now and see how you like it and how comfortable you are with your temps. If you feel the need to upgrade the whole setup and fill it with fans, like I did, then go with a fan controller.

http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/RHEOBUS.HTML

I have the black one in my box. Fantastic.

[Zelpo]

Nice link on the fan controller ... just what I was after! I want to yank the led fans & put something more 'conservative' in there place.

Not sure if it is still on sale, but I picked up this case at CompUSA for less than $100 on sale a week or so ago. Newegg is listing it for quite a bit more.

I was concerned about wiring, here is a thread (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126395) that goes into detail w/pics from several 900 owners.

This will be my first time building a pc from the ground up. Can anyone suggest a PSU that is actually designed to be bottom mounted? I'm not seeing that designation listed in product descriptions.

[hitchface]

Most times they won't be designated as such. If your PSU has 2 fans on it, you'll be set. When you install it, you should have an intake fan inside the case that faces upward and the exhaust shooting out the back.

[sgtspector]

I believe the mounting template on the back panel where the psu goes is reversed so that any power supply will mount with the fan facing the inside of the case as opposed to the bottom panel. I just finished my son's build with that case and was concerned at first with getting it in with the fan working correctly.

[Zelpo]

Yeah I knew that most any recent quality PSU would probably fit, but since there is a window I was going to make an effort to keep possible labeling right side up. I figured that some manufacturers would market PSUs specifically for bottom mounting, but I guess the demand isn't big enough yet. I'll keep looking :cool:

[sgtspector]

He has an antec psu that is recommend by them for this case I forget the name right now. But there is no label on the side visible through the window.

[hitchface]

Is that he me? I have the TruePower 2.0 550. Now they have the TruePower Trio...but try something from PC Power and Cooling. They have quality units. Antec has been flaking out a little, hopefully to recover soon.

[sgtspector]

No my son just finished his build with that case.

[hitchface]

Right. Missed that detail.

[Zelpo]

I must be under a rock ... what's the deal with Antecs quality, or lack there of. All I ever remember is reading good things about them.

[kram 2.0]

Folks, just a general reminder. Please follow the guidelines for the hardware review section found in the sticky thread (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=57265) of this forum. All replies should add some level of informative value of the product being reviewed.

Thanks.

[spartan015]

i was planning on building a pc with this, but i read that it's not really a great option if you're planning on having 8800 GTX's in them (sli) or GTS...

is that true? i mean that and including the 1220mm fan...

on a side note, antec has been getting a lot better, i like my tru power 550w psu, it's stable and it feeds all the needs on an AGP comp... prolly keep it for the next simple upgrade... lol.

and i always dreamed of building a comp with the Antec P180 (black) case...

[hitchface]

The issue with an SLI rig in this system is that the bottom card gets mighty close to the PSU, and could partially starve it of airflow. Either way, SLI isn't really seeming like it is worth the money that its proponents would like you to think. The performance boost doesn't usually warrant the cost of the additional card.

But to answer your question, you CAN fit an 8800 in there with that extra 120mm fan. Tight, but it will fit.

[bd1886]

Just purchased an Antec EarthWatt 550w and the thing runs quiet and smooth. Put it in a build I did for a friend's kid and I'll sure use it again.

[doubledragon5]

Ok I bought the case, but I'm having a hard time understanding how to install the floopy with that so called face plate.. Any iteas...

[hitchface]

The floppy should slide into the converter. Take the original face plate off, and slide the floppy inside.

[doubledragon5]

Well i figured it out, now I have to get a new psu.. The antec 450 smart power I am using the 12V power plug to the mother board won't reach.. It is short by about 1 1/2 inches and I can't seem to find an adapter anywhere..

[glc]

Are you referring to the 2x2 connector or the main connector?

http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=ATXP4EXT&c=US

http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=ATX24POWEXT&c=US

[doubledragon5]

Ya glc I was, couldn't find any here, did'nt even know if they even had any.. ended up buying a new psu Antec Trio 550...:(

[hitchface]

doubledragon5, did you ever get that floppy drive sorted out?

[doubledragon5]

O yes I did everything is set up and running.. I also went out a purchased for $50 a ZalmanCNPS9500 LED cooler, because I plan on trying this overclocking thing.. It has also dropped my temps from an average 40+ to and average of 34 to 36 on both the CPU and MB... Wiring this thing was a pain, but I did not do to bad of a job.... One thing I don't like about the new PSU is that there are two connectors just for the fans, but quess what they don't work with any fan period.. Each connector has only two pins in the connector it self and when you hook it up it only the blue lights on the fans work.. So I don't have know I dea what kind of fans they are suppose to power....

[hitchface]

Sorry I took so long to reply. The stock fans are not meant to be run by the PSU. Because they are controllable speed fans and they have LEDs, you'll need different fans (normal, variable but not controllable speed) to plug in there. By the way, I'll post a picture of my rig in here with wiring stuff in a while. Like tomorrow.

[doubledragon5]

Thanks hitchface,mine is all set and will post pics myself....

[hitchface]

Ok folks, here they are. Some notes:

I had to get my PSU replaced with a Muskin model...it is modular so I don't have as many cables stuffed under the HDD as I once did.

The PROBLEM is that the cables are a tad shorter than that of my Antec TruePower2.0 550. This means that you will see the mobo cables in some odd places. Once I get my hands on some extensions, I will run them around the edges of the case and clean it up more.

Motherboard power cables cutting odd angles (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P3120091.jpg)

Handy tape job...sans my Windows Reg Key (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P3120093revised.jpg)

More tape (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P3120094.jpg)

Cover back on...doesn't look so bad anymore (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P3120095.jpg)

Some of the wiring has been cleaned up even more since I took these photos. That SATA cable is very well hidden now, thanks to the invention of the right angle, and those extra HDD power connections are all tucked underneath the HDD.


And let the light show begin... (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P3120081.jpg)

And one of my turbine fans for fun... (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/hitchface/P1150125.jpg)

I put that last one in just because they look wicked in this case. There you have The Aviator.

[doubledragon5]

Mine looks like hell.. I will post picture hopfully this weekend... I should of had you do mine for me hehehe....

[Zelpo]

Mine looks crazy too ... but first I wanted to get the thing up & running for a few weeks, work out any potential bugs. Then go crazy with the dremmell.

[Snatch]

Thinking of getting this case paired with a Asus P5N-E SLI. Now the following question might sound stupid, but I have not build a system since way back in the 1990s.

Hitchface mentions that "...the stock fans are not meant to be run by the PSU. Because they are controllable speed fans and they have LEDs, you'll need different fans (normal, variable but not controllable speed) to plug in there...."

Now the Asus P5N-E SLI has only 2 chasis fan connectors, how do I connect the other fans?

[doubledragon5]

I hooked mine up to the psu itself.. For instance I have 1 fan and the dvd burner on one psu connector..

[Snatch]

Thanks. So they will work running off the PSU itself. Huge sigh of relief. Thinking of getting a Thermaltake Toughpower 850W.

[hitchface]

Snatch,

I guess I should have worded it differently. The fans can be POWERED by the PSU, but some PSUs come with "Fan Only" connectors that will try and regulate the speed of a manually regulated fan, thus creating a conflict. You can still hook them up to the PSU, just not under those specific connections.

[Snatch]

Everything all clear. Sorry, the learning curve has been steep the past month or two with researching everything for a new system. Major headaches trying to figure out what would work together. ^^ Thanks for the review.

[hitchface]

Thats cool man, I am in your shoes as well. I know more than I did 2 months ago, thats for sure, but now I am trying to learn about older architectures and form factors... just as confusing as the new stuff is. Glad you enjoyed the review.

[Windu]

I just bought this case last night. I am kind of on the fence still about it. Great cooling. Went from 49c during gaming to 36c and gpu temp droped 10 degrees. Case it louder than I was hopeing and the wire management is a major pain.

[HarshWinter]

Sorry about bouncing between your threads, but dose the Antec 900 have any problems with sucking in alot dust?

[hitchface]

Naturally, as it has more fans and more airflow, it will create a larger dust problem than most cases. This really wasn't a factor for me because all I have to do is pop the side panel off and have at 'er with a can of compressed air. Even then, I only need to do it once in a blue moon.

I would recommend dusting it out yourself every now and then as opposed to installing air filters. A filter would ruin the good thing that the 900 has going for it, which is mass amounts of air moving through it.

[Captn]

Are you referring to the 2x2 connector or the main connector?

http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=ATXP4EXT&c=US

http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=ATX24POWEXT&c=US


glc, i couldnt seem to find it myself, but do they have an extension for the 8pin power to my mobo. Would be nice in my Antec 900 case, my Seasonic M-12 700w is a little short to re-route it any other way. Thank you in advance.:)


I think i found it after all. http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=EPS8EXT&c=US :)

[MovinUp]

Just got delivery of the Antec Nine Hundred last week. The 200mm fan looks enormous compared to the typical 120mm or smaller fan. This case looks great just sitting there empty but I can't wait until the rest of the stuff gets here so I can bring it to life.

I got it from CircuitCity.com of all places. Their price is currently $104.99 and $3.99 for shipping. Follow this link:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&context=&keyword=antec+nine&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0

[noneoftheabove]

i have the antec 900 and a creative sound card, the sb0570 SE 7.1 and there is no obvious way to connect the case audio ports to the card, my onboard audio is dead so i have to find a way to do this.

[Ahura]

Well, I don't know if yu guys know, but tape tend to fall off after a while, a month or two, and when they do they always leave behind glue residue that is really annoying.

Yu should get one of them plastic noose thingy. They work better and they come in small size, tiny too.

[hitchface]

Use different tape?

[Ahura]

There are no such thing as permanent sticky tape, otherwise tape manufacture would have gone out of business long ago. Same idea to light bulb.

[RazR]

no real harm if you drill holes into your motherboard tray and use cable ties to keep the cables in place..
just be sure to plan out where your going to drill the holes

[glc]

Most sound cards do not have headers for connecting case ports - it's not a case issue, it's a sound card issue.

[dalenorth]

I've got this case and it's a must-buy. If anyone is looking into this, you gotta get one.
Also this case lowered my CPU temps by about 10c degrees, very happy with that.

[Cricket]

Also this case lowered my CPU temps by about 10c degrees.As compared to what? What case did you originally use?

:) Cricket

[doubledragon5]

As compared to what? What case did you originally use?

:) Cricket

Cricket I had a Antec Sonata 2 and the temps were high.. This case lowered my by about 15 degrees on average..

[TwoRails]

I was tempted to get one as Newegg is having a pretty good sale going on right now... but it has only 3 external full sized bays. I have 4 now and would like a fifth. It's a nice case, though.

[doubledragon5]

I was tempted to get one as Newegg is having a pretty good sale going on right now... but it has only 3 external full sized bays. I have 4 now and would like a fifth. It's a nice case, though.

By far the best case I have ever purchased...

[TwoRails]

No doubt it's a good case... it's too bad I want / need so many external drive bays :(

[glc]

TR, look at the Coolermaster Centurions. They have some very reasonably priced 5 bay cases that don't look like a game arcade.

[Aerandirel]

Man I hope this goes back on sale again, I cant belive I missed the one just going on. It was cut by almost 50 bucks I tihink....

[TwoRails]

Thanks for the tip, glc. My main box is still broken and I'm on my laptop and missed the auto notification on your post I guess...