Windows 7: Antec Three Hundred case

Just got mine today.

8C drop in temps. I figure 7C for the case and its layout and 1C for cleaning off all the dust lol.

My recent case had the PSU directly above the CPU/fan, forming a corner. Despite having a rear exhaust fan right in that corner and a recently cleaned CPU fan/heatsink it was running 50C at idle.

Now with the PSU at the bottom and the CPU/fan at the top with the 120 (rear) and 140 (top) exhaust fans right there the cores are at 42C.

Was 49.95 delivered from Newegg and it arrived in 5 days, including the weekend. At the time of this post its up to 61.95 with free shipping.


The twin 120s, for intake, should be here tomorrow and I'll put on some new thermal compound as well. Figure an additional 5C improvement. Try some overclocking again


Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Cool! (pun intended ). I have a 300 Illusion (the 2 front fans as you are installing). relatively quiet for 6 fans (w/ GPU and PSU). Quiet enough I see no need to spring for quieter fans. The blue leds are cool enough, but not a big deal for me. I swapped my side panels so the opening is on the right (away from me). Case is wide enough for all but largest CPU coolers. My quad idles aroun 32c-34c, max temp after 6 hours of OCCT was 62c on one core, topped mostly around 59c. I'm more than happy with my choice. Sure you will be too. A Guy

I had a couple of those cases. bought them a couple of years ago $40 and $60 shipped each. used 1 for my HTPC then changed to a Silverstone Sugo case since it was smaller. I really like the look of them.
ended up using both for customer computers.

Now add some BA fan controllers, LCD front panel display, and some nice blue cathodes and it will look even better!

I had an Antec 1200 for a while. I loved how it looked, but I HATED the drive bays. I bought a CM HAF 932 instead ([Project] CM Haf 932 Paint Job and Wiring) and I am much happier with it.

Antec makes a nice case though. I liked how it came will all blue LED fans.

~Lordbob

@Lordbob:

Just curious: I have the Antec 900 and I understand the three-drive cage design, which I like, persists in the 1200. Just wondering what you don't like about it?

Monk

The way the HDDs slide in. The Antec 1200 uses the old style of sliding in like a CD drive. This is all well and good, but it makes moving around HDDs (especially with a big graphics card) a PAIN IN THE ***. I finally got sick of it.
The HAF 932 I have now has SIDE mounted HDD bays with trays for them, so I can just pull them out without needing to take off both sides of the case, unscrew 4 screws, etc. I just unscrew the 2 thumbscrews on the one side and pull the side off then slide them right out.
I love it.

Don't get me wrong, I never did this enough for it to be a big deal. But I did get really sick of it.

~Lordbob

@Lordbob:

Was not aware of that design: how very, very nice indeed. Navigating cables and cards to slide a drive in from the rear can indeed be a challenge as well as that pain you define.

Thanks.

Monk

That was my big complaint. Plus, it is easier to hide wires now.

~Lordbob

the two additional fans and the new thermal compound resulted in 3C lower core idle temps.

The real benefit came when under full load, running at 60C instead of the 78C I was seeing with the old case.

Great, yeah, not that noisy either (I have all my fans on low). I'd recommend this to anyone that isn't going to install a V8 cooler, lol. A Guy