Antec P180 Owners Thread

ja3h · 9 Sep 2005 at 10:35

Flanno said:
Did you find the Akasa noisy ?
I am thinking of moving back to mine but changed my mind when I saw what a job it would be taking everything out of the p180. The only real problem I have is the left door vibrates somtimes and has a couple of scratches. Might swap the left and right around.

Well tbh not really, i put that akasa paxmate dampening material on the side and top panel for it. But i did drill a 120mm blow hole in the top for my rad which i no longer use, and i haven't been able to get a replacement from akasa. I'm going to miss the ease of use from the akasa (everything can be taken apart!

) But look forward to a quieter pc. When i get it i'll let you know!

Fuzzi Bear · 9 Sep 2005 at 11:01

Speed said:
Care to elaborate on that? As far as I can see the panels are identical so I'm wondering if you are basing that on experience with your case or something you read.
It's pretty easy to see which is which though; just look for the screw markings in the middle slot, which ever panel has the markings is the panel that doesn't use the thumbscrews (i.e the panel that doesn't allow access to the main internal sections, rear panel I call it.)

riven said:
I can't remember now, I just remember putting the wrong one on the wrong side, and it wouldn't quite go. So I picked up the correct panel and it slotted in much easier.

Riven,

I think, judging by all these posts, is that the panels are indeed identical in every way. Only that when they've been fixed to one side of the case for so long, they 'mould / bend' to the TINY differences in geometry between the two sides, so that if you later try putting the panels on the 'wrong' way around, they wont slide with as much ease.

BTW, ordered my P180 and a Seasonic S12 430W yesterday and have been told will be with me by Monday. im not at work for a fortnight after today so have lots of time to play with it... will post all my pros and cons after the build. Its a fantastic thread this, as i've read-up on all the possibly issues BEFORE my case has arrived, so that i can have a lot of forward planning..

cheers for all your informative posts so far!

Speed · 9 Sep 2005 at 11:13

Fuzzi Bear said:
Riven,

I think, judging by all these posts, is that the panels are indeed identical in every way. Only that when they've been fixed to one side of the case for so long, they 'mould / bend' to the TINY differences in geometry between the two sides, so that if you later try putting the panels on the 'wrong' way around, they wont slide with as much ease.

BTW, ordered my P180 and a Seasonic S12 430W yesterday and have been told will be with me by Monday. im not at work for a fortnight after today so have lots of time to play with it... will post all my pros and cons after the build. Its a fantastic thread this, as i've read-up on all the possibly issues BEFORE my case has arrived, so that i can have a lot of forward planning..

cheers for all your informative posts so far!

Yeah, that sounds about right. Like I say, it is easy to tell the panels apart anyway.

Fuzzi Bear · 9 Sep 2005 at 13:58

Speed said:
Yeah, that sounds about right. Like I say, it is easy to tell the panels apart anyway.

Just check for the one with the scratches on the inside, caused by the thumb-screws wasnt it?.. i remember that from your ealier post and have made a mental note for when my baby arrives on Monday.

Thanks for posting that originally by the way... its all these little types of 'tips' from people having used the case first hand that you WONT find in the manual.

Keep em comin!

Speed · 9 Sep 2005 at 14:08

Fuzzi Bear said:
Just check for the one with the scratches on the inside, caused by the thumb-screws wasnt it?.. i remember that from your ealier post and have made a mental note for when my baby arrives on Monday.

Thanks for posting that originally by the way... its all these little types of 'tips' from people having used the case first hand that you WONT find in the manual.

Keep em comin!

Sort of yes, there are of course two panels one that exposes the main area (where you gain access to everything) and one that exposes the rear of the motherboard tray. The main panel that allows you access to everything uses two thumb screws, one at the top and one at the bottom if the lip that sticks out the rear of the panel. The other uses three screws, one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom. The easy way to tell which panel is which is to look at the middle screw hole in the panel. If it has markings on it from a screw, then it's the panel that covers up the rear of the motherboard tray. If its the panel that opens up the main area, it will have no markings on it as there are only two thumbscrews.

Hope that made sense to someone!

Flanno · 9 Sep 2005 at 20:11

FuzziBear - you are spot on mate. I swapped my panels around (cause the left one was bit scratched) and it was a little harder to get on. It also occasionally vibrates !!

Gwyn · 10 Sep 2005 at 09:44

Hi guys
I am not sure if any one has already asked this as I have not had time to read every post but has anyone installed an Abit Fatality AN8 with a Tagan 480 PSU.
Thanks

FatalSaviour · 10 Sep 2005 at 18:18

fishsmell said:
Got a P180 yesterday and was all transplanted in around an hour.

This is the first case I've paid more than 30quid for so I was kinda hoping for something good.

So? - 1st off here's what's in it (nothing to stress the air cooling but that's not why I bought the case).

Athlon 3000+ (std) - using Artic Ultra 64 TC fan
ASUS A8N-SLI Premuim
ASUS 7800GTX
1GB (from Apple G5)
300 GB Maxtor SATA
160 GB Seagate SATA
coming soon: 300 GB Maxtor SATA (from Apple G5)
Tagan 480-U01

....etc

Fishsmell, please please please could you either post a pic of your case layout here or send me a High-res pic by email please?
I've got almost exactly the same kit as you (A8n-sli deluxe instead of premium), and I'd dearly love to get this case. However, i'm slightly put off by the all too familiar 'will my PSU cables reach?' problem.
Thanks a lot

FrankJH · 12 Sep 2005 at 08:12

I do like my case, however I am disappointed with the quality of the door and panels - they really do feel pretty feeble. I do however appreciate the design of the hdd cages and the box for the screws etc, which you really wouldnt know was there.

Hoping to transplant my main pc this week, couldnt over the weekend due to emergency dental work required instead!!! Will then start building up my media pc ( 2500 barton / 9600 pro / nf7-s/ black gold) into the CM case.

Speed · 12 Sep 2005 at 08:39

FrankJH said:
I do like my case, however I am disappointed with the quality of the door and panels - they really do feel pretty feeble. I do however appreciate the design of the hdd cages and the box for the screws etc, which you really wouldnt know was there.

Hoping to transplant my main pc this week, couldnt over the weekend due to emergency dental work required instead!!! Will then start building up my media pc ( 2500 barton / 9600 pro / nf7-s/ black gold) into the CM case.

I guess it depends which cases you've come from with the Antec P180, many people are impressed with the quality. I'm guessing those are mostly people who've come from lower quality cases. Myself I come from a Lian Li case, so I find the quality pretty good, but not amazing. It's still a brilliant case and even unaltered it's very quiet.

Speed · 13 Sep 2005 at 16:44

Anyone used a Rheobus with this case? I'd assume some would have problems with the knobs hitting the door. Thinking of a Sunbeam Rheobus or something similar. If anyone is using any kind of front mounted fan controller and it allows the door to close without issue please let me know what you have!

Thanks

FrankJH · 14 Sep 2005 at 11:19

Speed said:
I guess it depends which cases you've come from with the Antec P180, many people are impressed with the quality. I'm guessing those are mostly people who've come from lower quality cases. Myself I come from a Lian Li case, so I find the quality pretty good, but not amazing. It's still a brilliant case and even unaltered it's very quiet.

I am comparing it to a CM Cav3 case - which if anything is a little cheaper than the P180. Just thought the panel and door should have been sturdier. Mainly got it for its hopefully much better cooling.

Speed · 14 Sep 2005 at 11:21

Ah right, I find the doors and side panels plenty sturdy, the way the side panels are made also helps dampen sound and reduce vibrations.

W00dy · 14 Sep 2005 at 11:23

Anyone used a Rheobus with this case? I'd assume some would have problems with the knobs hitting the door. Thinking of a Sunbeam Rheobus or something similar. If anyone is using any kind of front mounted fan controller and it allows the door to close without issue please let me know what you have!

I have a Vantec Nexus installed behind the door no problem mate

shouldnt be an issue

HugoFJH · 16 Sep 2005 at 06:53

I was just starting to trnasfer my system last night and while taking the front off, the bottom right clip was nowhere to be found - really quite annoyed about that, if it rattles too much when i reassemble gonna see if I can get a new front from antec.

What I actually came here to ask was, quite a few seem to be able to remove the fan from between the lower hdd tray and the psu, however mine seems to be very firmly attached indeed, is there a trick to it? I can see four plastic clips nearly on each corner of the fan, but they just dont budge at all even with a little help from a flaat bladed screw driver

Speed · 16 Sep 2005 at 09:22

HugoFJH said:
I was just starting to trnasfer my system last night and while taking the front off, the bottom right clip was nowhere to be found - really quite annoyed about that, if it rattles too much when i reassemble gonna see if I can get a new front from antec.

What I actually came here to ask was, quite a few seem to be able to remove the fan from between the lower hdd tray and the psu, however mine seems to be very firmly attached indeed, is there a trick to it? I can see four plastic clips nearly on each corner of the fan, but they just dont budge at all even with a little help from a flaat bladed screw driver

There is indeed a trick to it but you don't need any tools. You see the flap on the front, it's flexable. Push that all the way back to the fan making sure the whole length of this flap is pushed back and then while holding that in place pull the fan forward. What that does is releases the tabs stopping the fan mount from moving forward. I had a hell of a job trying to get it off, but I read a review and it tells you how.

HugoFJH · 16 Sep 2005 at 10:36

Speed said:
There is indeed a trick to it but you don't need any tools. You see the flap on the front, it's flexable. Push that all the way back to the fan making sure the whole length of this flap is pushed back and then while holding that in place pull the fan forward. What that does is releases the tabs stopping the fan mount from moving forward. I had a hell of a job trying to get it off, but I read a review and it tells you how.

Thank you Speed, just done that and you are right even when you know how to do it it still tough to dislodge. my problem now is that the place I wanted to fit it - between the two types of drive bay at the front doesnt seem to want to accomodate it. Either the top clips fit or the bottom ones but not both together. As a guestimation I would say 3/4 of ill fitting clips are not aligning with required holes and thats after struggling to remove the brown plastic plate from the bottom of the upper drive cage.

Speed · 16 Sep 2005 at 10:40

It is indeed still tough but it will get easier the more you do it!

Nuclearbaggins · 16 Sep 2005 at 18:59

Bought my P180 today and a hiper 580w PSU unit for it but im having trouble the 4pin 12v P4 thing dont seem to be long enought also the main ATX 24 pin is a very tight fit(length wise). Where can i get extentsion for these from im desperate to get it fired up, btw its a asus a8n sli premium board.

Guinny · 16 Sep 2005 at 20:53

Nuclearbaggins said:
Bought my P180 today and a hiper 580w PSU unit for it but im having trouble the 4pin 12v P4 thing dont seem to be long enought also the main ATX 24 pin is a very tight fit(length wise). Where can i get extentsion for these from im desperate to get it fired up, btw its a asus a8n sli premium board.

PM me and I will give you a link.
You have the same mother board and PS as me and I also needed a 4 Pin extension.