Antec P180 - What to replace with?

fishsmell

fishsmell

fishsmell

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I hope someone can help me out here.

Its time for a new build based around i7/P55 for the lower power consumption etc and I'm looking at my very tatty and tired out Antec P180 :-(

So I want to replace the P180 with a case that's as quiet, but does all the 'modern' stuff like, power cables round the back etc.

Also going into the case will be a H4870, one ODD and at least 4 3.5 HDs (mix of 1TB/2TB).

I've been looking at the Fractal R2 but I'm unsure about the noise compared to the P180. Hopefully, my guess on this is wrong?

What case does the collective recommend?

Help!
 
Don't think you are going to find a quiter case than the P180, i think its pretty much the best one out there in terms of noise reduction.

I quite like the Lian Li PC- B10 if you want a midi case or A71-FB if you want a full case but i think the guys on here will recommend you something else. If it were upto me though i'd just clean up the P180 a bit and reuse it. Maybe a good cleaning and powder coat?
 
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I upgraded from my P180 to a P193. The only downside is the hideous 200mm fan on the side. Similar layout inside compared to the P180, but bigger and easier to work in, and much better cable management. As for noise reduction, it still features the same 3-layer design as the P180, so almost inaudible. Just be careful when you choose the parts for your new build as high heatsinks do not fit in the P193 due to the side fan. I can confirm that a Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme does fit nicely in the P193, and I'm quite happy with my i7 build (below) ;)
 
I'm also facing the same situation. I have a P180.

I want to keep:
- sleek black look, no lights
- quietness

I want to add:
- cable management

I'm thinking one of the Lian Li TYR models. But they're a bit pricey.
 
TBH, the doors on my P180 are normally off as I'm usually faffing on with drives and I get tired of the lower bay cabling etc.


Thanks for the tip on the Lian Li PC- B10

That is one very nice case and would last for years as its very easy to replace parts in. Just that price tag is a bit scary, but that's my fave so far. Plus its black, has no lights and basically is a plain box. Lovely.

P193? - Too large for me, I prefer a mid-tower; I'd be chuffed with your spec too.

TYR? - Too expensive and far too big!
 
Cooler Master ATCS 840 worth a look if you can afford one price seems to have dropped to a decent level now.
Okay it's not plain but very stylish.
 
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Something else:

I never install anything in the drive bays. No cd/dvd/etc. I have a usb dvd drive. So... are there any cases which don't have drive bays on the front, but instead have an extra fan?
 
fishsmell said:
Thanks for the tip on the Lian Li PC- B10

That is one very nice case and would last for years as its very easy to replace parts in. Just that price tag is a bit scary, but that's my fave so far. Plus its black, has no lights and basically is a plain box. Lovely.
Click to expand...

Yep the very simplistic style with the great quality they are known to have is what brought be to it. Once i decide what computer im going to get in the next few months that is definitely going to be my case of choice (if it is in stock by then). Price may be a bit scary but meh the way i see it is that it will last quite a few upgrades and if you are going to look at a case i'd much rather it be something sexy like that.
 
i have an atcs 840, and for me (my ears) its loud, i reckon its cus of the Top vent, im looking at replacing it with the lian li a05NB, have been for some time.
 
billysielu said:
I never install anything in the drive bays. No cd/dvd/etc. I have a usb dvd drive. So... are there any cases which don't have drive bays on the front, but instead have an extra fan?
Click to expand...

Get one with three optical bays and buy a "scythe kama bay", it's exactly what you're looking for. High quality construction too.
 
I'm in a similar boat, fancy a change from my aging P180 which to be honest isn't the easiest case to work in. I've done the Lian Li thing in the past. I think the main thing moving from a P180 to something like a Lian Li would be a panel rattle, but that depends on the thickness of the aluminum.

Personally I think I'm going to go the watercooled route, maybe the old TJ07 classic, not sure yet. Got plenty of time to decide due to being broke lol.
 
Just get a P183. Its a brilliant case and so easy to work with. I got myself a P182 before it came out, but the only difference between them is an extra intake fan.

The P193 is ruined by the hideous side fan. I use an Antec Spotcool fan over my Crossfire cards, and also have a Zalman fan adaptor that looks like it can fit, but this would depend on how many free slots you have to house the bracket.
 
if you don't like the side fan, and you'd need to do some checking on this, but i think you can buy a replacement panel for the other side and fit it in place of the fan panel, or simply fit a window in place of the fan ;)
 
Whats the difference between the P182 and the P183. I have the former, and was just wondering :)
 
Looks like the P183 has the option for a fan in the front of the bottom section and a vented door.

Prefer my P182, as i don't like the vents in the door.

EDIT

If i was to change my case, i would consider a Silverstone Fortress.
 
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Both the P182 and 183 can have a fan in the front of the lower drive cage.

The P182 still has the fan mounting frame in between the PSU and that lower drive cage, the 183 does not (sometimes a good thing sometimes bad, having it easier to remove would have been nice)

The P183 has the new vented door on the front and different front connections i believe (eSATA but no 1394)

The 183 also has the "profiled/stylised" upper fan venting area, whereas the 182 uses the original metal cage stand off thingy

The P182 has removable front filters behind the doors, the 183 has those built into the door panels and has better flow through the doors

The P183 has increased side venting slots on the edges behind the door, they are now ovals rather than narrower slots

Other than that, i'm not sure of any other differences, except "maybe" newer P183's might be fitted with the CPU backplate access, like the newer P193's (not sure this is 100% accurate though)

I actually will be fitting a newer panel to my 182 soon i think, provided it fits :P .... i do like the solid front door, but prefer the newer design behind it
 
Speed said:
I'm in a similar boat, fancy a change from my aging P180 which to be honest isn't the easiest case to work in. I've done the Lian Li thing in the past. I think the main thing moving from a P180 to something like a Lian Li would be a panel rattle, but that depends on the thickness of the aluminum.

Personally I think I'm going to go the watercooled route, maybe the old TJ07 classic, not sure yet. Got plenty of time to decide due to being broke lol.
Click to expand...
Using a Lian Li A70F here, no issues with panels rattling, the case it replaced was an akasa eclipse 62 that did suffer from rattling, but a few well placed bits of blu tac cured that.
 
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