A really poor quaility Antec SLK 1650B case

[jimmyj68]

As a first step in upgrading my mother-in-laws computer I wanted to get her an updated quality case so my first thought was Antec. I thought I could get a quality yet not too expensive case so I ordered the SLK 1650B from NewEgg. As usual it was on my front porch in three days. When I unpacked it to get ready to transfer her system from her old case - I was shocked. The metal was almost tissue thin and so soft I could bend the little flanges on the side panels that hook over the case base with thumb pressure alone. I discovered this because the side panels were loose fitting at the bottoms. I found that all of the connecting/securing flanges for the top and sides of the case were just as soft. Light thumb pressure would bend them. The I/O motherboard adapter for the back of the case was of such thin material I could easily bend it into a DNA shape. I hope the powersupply is the usual Antec quality. The removable cage for hard drive/floppy installation was flimsy enough to bend into a trapezoid with minimal effort.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from an "inexpensive" case (almost $60), but am I expecting too much from Antec? My personal case is a Sonata- built like Fort Knox and it was just about $40 more than the SLK 1650. My first thought was - this can't really be an authentic Antec prodiuct. Has anybody else had this experience? is it possible that somebody is copying Antec packaging and design and making inferior examples? What is your thoughts on this?

 

[RalfHutter]

Sorry, that's a real SLK1650. I keep trying to warn people about this cheap POS, but no one can see past the front bezel. They think that because the bezel looks similar to the SLK3x00/Sonata bezel, that the rest of the case is simlar to the SLK3x00/Sonata too, but as you can plainly see, it's a cheap POS $20 case.

Just recently I threw a brand new SLK1650 (got it a while back on some special promotional deal for $30, shipped) into the trash after removing the PSU from it. This case is so crappy that I'd never use it myself, and feel bad even giving it away. The only saving grace is that the included PSU is a Antec "Smart Power 300W" which is a decent PSU.

 

[hans007]

i have the black one (actually the "system builder version" cs200b that they sell at compusa for $25), and well when my hard drives are being accessed a lot, the side panels rattle.

i bought a plusview1000amg to replace it, my garbage server will end up in this fairly cheap case.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

The Antec SLK 1650B was my first case. The quality of the material SUCKS. But, it does a good job cooling your PC (my athlon xp never went above 35c w/ 120mm fan).

I decided to get a Lian Li PC-6070B (super great quality).

 

[theMan]

i think you mway have gotten what you paid for

 

[Zap]

As everyone else said, the "budget Antec" is indeed budget.

If you want something built like a tank but still inexpensive, get a Compucase. Directron sells them for $40 plus shipping, available in black/silver and beige. They come with a 300W HEC power supply that is pretty decent and quiet. The chassis is the exact same one as the Antec SLK-3700AMB. The front looks different and doesn't have a door over the drive bays. I hate doors over the drive bays, but that's just my opinion.

 

[jimmyj68]

How come this post has been resurrected? I did this more than a month ago. What I learned was you indeed get what you pay for in "budget" Antec cases. If you go too low in a case with a power supply, you are really paying for the quality Antec power supply. Don't expect great things from the case materials. But for $50 bucks you get an outstanding case in the 3000, but you'll spend at least another $50 to get a quality power supply.

 

[Zap]

Blame it on hans007.

 

[hans007]

yeah i accept the blame, just posted since i just got the cs200b and well frankly thought it was a terrible case with its wobbling panels.

 

[cbehnken]

You know you can get the Coolermaster Centurion 5 for $50.00 plus shipping without PSU. Very sturdy case too.