Antec FINALLY back to form?

I don't think they ever lost form so to speak, I think they just tried to push out more niche products aimed at Gamers and PC enthusiasts. I agree some of their efforts were very controversial in their aesthetics. I rate Antec products highly. There support is second to none in my experience (I posted a thread on it in the past when I needed a part for a case in which they shipped it from Holland within 2 days free) and the build quality in my experience is very good.

These two new products look quite solid. The P280 looks to be a follow on from the successful P18X series cases.
 
Am I the only one who looks at the P280 and thinks that it's a step backwards from the P180, which had different cooling chambers and other damping features, while the P280 appears to be the same as any other case internally, with some foam on the door?
 
Separate chambers for Hard disks and PSU was one of the main reasons I bought the P183. Maybe they'll have different versions offering different features. Top mounted USB is handy though. Nice to see a clean door panel.
 
ive got the p180 .. omg its a beast ..........but its now classed as my secondary pc .. and is in teh cupboard lol .. antec fusion case atm for media centre / light gaming .

looking to se what antec has in slightly bigger form myself in fusion -esq form so i can get a better graphics card in ... anyone recommend me a flat case ?
 
The P280 looks very interesting - with the sound dampening and front door it could offer the perfect mix of quiet computing vs performance/overclocking.:)

Antec seem to be bringing the internals of their cases up to date and that was needed as they always make solid well built cases imho.
 
I always feel that Antec can't get the balance, all of their cases seem either overly "LOOK AT ME I'M LUMPY AND GAMEY", or too "I'm chilled maaannnn, understated so I blend in with the wallpaper. Mmmhmmm."

Xigmatek Elysium for me next. Can't decide which colour scheme though...
 
hmm the p280 looks nice, but it screams Factal design to me I think I would perfer a factal as well, looking again.

the other one I think is too gamy and small by the looks of it
 
Well just viewed a video preview of the P280 and it looks even better in the flesh - those pictures don't exactly do it justice I feel and it is looking odds on favourite to be part of my next build ...;)

I also think the Fractal R2/3 cases seem to be based on the Antec P180/192 cases but the larger XL case from Fractal doesn't seem to cut the mustard in any reviews I have seen.
 
AMG said:
hmm the p280 looks nice, but it screams Factal design to me I think I would perfer a factal as well, looking again.

the other one I think is too gamy and small by the looks of it
Click to expand...

Didn't Fractal originally steal the P series design though? :p
 
the dark fleet cases are by far the worst case I've ever had to build in. Even with a modular PSU they're just a nightmare. I've always liked Antec products, always found them easy to build into (despite what people say about the 900/902, I've never found it difficult to cable tidy them). So hopefully they can impress once again
 
Vinni3 @H|H said:
Didn't Fractal originally steal the P series design though? :p
Click to expand...
they did indeed, Fractal ripped off the Antec P180 design so blatantly and then added insult to injury with lower build quality.

Anyway, I'm glad to see Antec giving a little more focus to low noise and more elegant design again. The whole gamer oriented design direction was so unappealing. Still, I wish they would copy the vertical airflow style that Silverstone are making successful, but apply the Antec low noise knowhow.
 
Given the current predilection for PSU floor intakes I get the feeling that the advantages of multiple-compartment design in the P183 were rendered moot. You simply don't need a dedicated 120mm intake for just the HDD's and PSU with a bottom intake, and 1 120mm intake isn't really enough for GFX+CPU+MoBO given the heat they kick out these days.

Personally, I like the look of the new 280's, and if I had the dosh would definitely consider it so long as the build quality remains up to scratch. Vastly improved cable management is just gravy :)
 
Stripes said:
Given the current predilection for PSU floor intakes I get the feeling that the advantages of multiple-compartment design in the P183 were rendered moot. You simply don't need a dedicated 120mm intake for just the HDD's and PSU with a bottom intake, and 1 120mm intake isn't really enough for GFX+CPU+MoBO given the heat they kick out these days.

Personally, I like the look of the new 280's, and if I had the dosh would definitely consider it so long as the build quality remains up to scratch. Vastly improved cable management is just gravy :)
Click to expand...

Exactly - all my points in there!
 
Errm, both of those cases look like every other case around at the moment. Bog standard hdd/dvd holders, bog standard mobo area, psu, rear fan. Frankly both look like fairly cheap and, generic now.

Every other cheapo case around has a top exhaust, two watercooling holes, everything in that case. Its entirely nothing stand out, its not stunning looking, or high quality looking, not even the one big fan vs 2 small fans thing.

Everything about it screams £30's worth of case to me.

Of course, a step up from their ridiculous lanparty style stuff, but they were making cases that had great features, or great cooling, maybe great looks, and they didn't look bog standard.

At least those horrific lanparty jobbies were different.
 
like the look off the p280 even though the fractal cases look a lot nicer on the front panel and is that space for a 240mm rad at the top i spy ? :p
 
drunkenmaster said:
Errm, both of those cases look like every other case around at the moment. Bog standard hdd/dvd holders, bog standard mobo area, psu, rear fan. Frankly both look like fairly cheap and, generic now.

Every other cheapo case around has a top exhaust, two watercooling holes, everything in that case. Its entirely nothing stand out, its not stunning looking, or high quality looking, not even the one big fan vs 2 small fans thing.

Everything about it screams £30's worth of case to me.
Click to expand...

You could possibly say that to 90% of the case market, including 'premium' cases like Lian-Li's, Corsair and Silverstone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom