Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Oct 2009
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- 9,304
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- United Kingdom
Just ordered the fractal design define R3, was contemplating the Antec P280 but it's nearly £50 more expensive?!
New Antec P280 - First Review ...
- Thread starter rikky
- Start date
Thanks Legend, but the reviews don't compare the R3 with this new kid on the block. So I know the R3 beats all else but I don't know if it beats this. In fact, my problem is the the one review that does compare the two (anandtech) suggests it's as quiet but cooler! And to be honest an extra £45 when im spanding £1500 or so on a system is negligible. I want to get it right.
Not only is it cooler and as quiet (if anandtech is to be trusted) but a) it is bigger so I can put a rad in there one day if I need to b) it will have 4cm clearance of graphics card (compared to only 1cm on the R3) meaning better airflow, especially if I go crossfire one day c) it has 9 instead of 7 expansions at the back (my sound card already takes up 2, 6950 takes another 2, and fan controller on R3 takes another so that leaves only 2 free on the R3! D) there's clearance between the opticals and the door meaning I can put things with knobs in ( like a fan controller): the r3 won't allow this e) the door swings completely open if you need it to (eg constantly accessing opticals bays so just want the door out the way for a few hours) f) it houses one more optical: the R3 only houses two so I don't know how I'm going to get DVD player, fan controller, hot swap caddy and SD reader in there without looking at pci or USB alternatives.
So whilst one can say yes the R3 is good i dont think one can just write off another case like this especially when the only review directly comparing the two favours the p280!
I secretly am biased towar the R3 and would rather get that but I can't argue against anandtech's numbers. I've seen one in the flesh and it is of incredibly good quality. I can't imagine the p280 being any better. In favour of the R3 are the moduvents, the 140 options and the bottom fan. I am hoping to get it and put the 140 bottom fan in BUT the p280 has confused me for the reasons above.
The P280 hasn't surfaced yet here but a quick google brings up £104 delivered - so not sure where you are getting a £50 price difference from.
£120 o.0 - It doesn't look as good as the Corsair 650D to me? Almost the same features (lacking a few like the SATA AHCI dock) wise but doesn't look as professional, looks more like a Fractal Design? It's the front top that doesn't do it for me!
No doubt it's built better than any Fractal (I had the Antec P182 rare silver version for many years) but I'll have to see this new case in person to determine how bang for buck it is for those £100-£120 notes!
No doubt it's built better than any Fractal (I had the Antec P182 rare silver version for many years) but I'll have to see this new case in person to determine how bang for buck it is for those £100-£120 notes!
I see where you're coming from, although from all I've read there really isn't much to separate these two cases. You don't necessarily need a direct side by side comparison to see that. I would disagree with your "£45 is negligible" comment though, because it absolutely shouldn't be a cost relative issue alone. It's like saying a supermarket can whack a 50% increase on a £1 loaf of bread and charge £1.50 because it's got a few more seeds on it, and that's OK because it's a 'negligible' difference when you're doing a £50 shop. It HAS to be justified, and the P280 doesn't do that from everything I've read. It's not even a question of worth really, as you could argue that's subjective... as in your case perhaps... you want it be "right" no matter what the cost... but that doesn't mean Antec's price point for this case is fair and justified. IMO it isn't, and that's why I bought the R3.
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Can't argue with that. Cant comment on pricing as I've not seen the antec in the flesh. Or perhaps fractal is very competitively priced.
But the anandtech review does compare the two directly and th p280 seems to come out on top hence my question else I'd have bought the R3 by now.
But the anandtech review does compare the two directly and th p280 seems to come out on top hence my question else I'd have bought the R3 by now.
Update!
Arrived finally.
and it looks like it's purposely designed for Rampage IV Extreme.
Will be making a mini review soon as well as comparison with Antec P183, Antec 1200, Lankool K62, Fractal define R3 and Lian Li B25FWB soon.
Arrived finally.
and it looks like it's purposely designed for Rampage IV Extreme.
Will be making a mini review soon as well as comparison with Antec P183, Antec 1200, Lankool K62, Fractal define R3 and Lian Li B25FWB soon.
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Well that's just plain bad advice and not remotely helpful. It's OBVIOUSLY not a shoddy case if anyone takes two minutes of their time to read reviews from professional sources and users. I have one myself and it's not shoddy in any way, shape or form. I'm very happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend. The P280 may be a slightly better case in certain areas, but only just.
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Update!
Arrived finally.
and it looks like it's purposely designed for Rampage IV Extreme.
Well be making a mini review soon as well as comparison with Antec P183, Antec 1200, Lankool K62, Fractal define R3 and Lian Li B25FWB soon.
My P280 on the way ...
OMG! this is making me think about the Rampage now although I have been planning on the P9X79 pro! damn you!
Did your case arrived yet?
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2007
- Posts
- 2,617
- Location
- Dewsbury
Well, as soon as this case comes down in price a bit, I will be buying a 280 for sure.
Got a P180b(?) (That's what it said on the box anyway), in piano black, and while it has served me admirably, after 3 years of university it is looking a bit battered now. I am almost certain that a Fractal wouldn't have put up with the physical abuse that I gave my 180.
While I always thought the separate chamber for the PSU was a really nice idea, it was always a faff to route cables through it, and sometimes made for precarious HDD connections. Pleased to see it was done away with for this case.
Fingers crossed for January sales and a (hopefully) cheaper P280. As others have said, it is a price increase over the Fractals, but I always thought they had stolen the P18X series' thunder for themselves.
Got a P180b(?) (That's what it said on the box anyway), in piano black, and while it has served me admirably, after 3 years of university it is looking a bit battered now. I am almost certain that a Fractal wouldn't have put up with the physical abuse that I gave my 180.
While I always thought the separate chamber for the PSU was a really nice idea, it was always a faff to route cables through it, and sometimes made for precarious HDD connections. Pleased to see it was done away with for this case.
Fingers crossed for January sales and a (hopefully) cheaper P280. As others have said, it is a price increase over the Fractals, but I always thought they had stolen the P18X series' thunder for themselves.
