Venerable Antec 300 replacement advice

Moagem · 15 Feb 2022 at 07:42

Hi,

I bought an Antec 300 back when they were new for my first ever build.

Over a decade later and I'm still using it. Fans are working great, buttons ok, dust filter is... present if ineffective.

I've upgraded three times over the years and currently I'm using a gigabyte gaming b350 motherboard with a ryzen 2600 CPU, Corsair vengeance ram, m.2 SSD, 4 other ssds, a HDD and a red devil 5700xt graphics card.

I had to cut out the rivets for the HDD bay in the case in order to fit the GPU. It was a surprisingly neat job.

I feel like upgrading, I want to see my components and I'll be buying a new motherboard and CPU soon so it will be nice to look at the whole setup through a glass side panel. I'd also like improved airflow because my GPU gets a bit warm and I'd like to make sure it's not being choked.

The problem is the a300. It's built like a tank. So sturdy even after my structural compromises and years of use. I can't justify getting rid of it for wear and tear reasons, and if I get a replacement like the the flimsy Corsair (carbide series) case I saw recently I'll be really disappointed, thinking I've traded form over substance.

Are there any cases out there with the same sturdiness and longevity as my old 300? Do they make them like they used to? Am I delusional?

I like the look of the fractal design meshify 2 but I'm worried it will be a let down. Can anyone recommend a replacement that has similar height, better airflow and similar sturdiness/quality of construction?

Has anyone upgraded from a 300? What did you choose? I'm not bothered about getting the absolute latest but yeah I think it's time to upgrade.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Ace Modder · 15 Feb 2022 at 10:29

The Antec P101S is awesome and modern and features the same build quality as the old 300. However it doesn't have a window.

If you want windows, then the Antec P120 is a great shout but like all glass sided cases, it won't have the same level of "tankyness" as the 300. Thats part of what makes it so good.

Moagem · 17 Feb 2022 at 10:01

The P101S is everything I'd want with the exception of a window, it's so close.

The P120 on the other hand is so very open, I think I need to find something which splits the difference. I like the look of the NZXT H510/I but not sure about build quality.

The same goes for the be quiet! Silent base 802...

Are modern cases generally as flimsy and plastic as the Corsair carbide series case I mention in the original post?

Are there case manufacturers which have a reputation for solid built cases like the antecs, or is it more a case of you get what you pay for regardless of manufacturer?

McPhee · 17 Feb 2022 at 11:13

Moagem said:
The P101S is everything I'd want with the exception of a window, it's so close.

The P120 on the other hand is so very open, I think I need to find something which splits the difference. I like the look of the NZXT H510/I but not sure about build quality.

The same goes for the be quiet! Silent base 802...

Are modern cases generally as flimsy and plastic as the Corsair carbide series case I mention in the original post?

Are there case manufacturers which have a reputation for solid built cases like the antecs, or is it more a case of you get what you pay for regardless of manufacturer?

You're looking in the wrong direction. NZXT and Corsair are far from the best examples of quality.

Try Lian Li, Fractal Design and Phanteks. Also, bear in mind budget. <£80, you're probably going to see a lot of plastic, but >£100 there should be very little (unless the case design uses shapes which are difficult or expensive to do with metal).

***F1ZZY*** · 17 Feb 2022 at 12:26

The biggest changes in cases over that time period is the omission of front drive bays (5.25 and 3.5) in favour of more fans and mesh panels, plus the addition of Tempered glass.
I don't think you need the front drive bays so you should have plenty of options.

Lian Li Lancool II cases probably the best in this area (the glass side doors are lovely). Take your pick from the design and colour options they have.

Moagem · 18 Feb 2022 at 07:49

Phanteks and Lian Li have some really great looking cases, I like the phanteks p500a and p600s and the Lian Li Lancool II is a solid contender.

Lastly the meshify 2 compact looks like my best bet for airflow.

Thanks everyone I've now got 4 contenders from a sea of potentials. Time to start measuring desk space, my current case is underneath but with a glass side panel I'll want to put everything on display!

Watch for me on the pcmasterrace subreddit in a few weeks when my tempered glass panel shatters!