Antec 900

[Qutlass]

I love the 900 case, but i have it in my room and at nights the lights are a bit to bright for me. Is is possible to cut a wire or something and kill the lights?
The hum of the fans i can deal with, so i just want to make the case dark.. Is this possible or do i have to start looking into replacement fans and a fan controller, because i also like the tri-cool aspects of the current fans. Thanks


Qutlass

 

[trOver]

Are you talking about the lights from the LED fans?

 

[VooDooAddict]

You have quite a few options ....

Either:
$8 each for the non-LED Tri-Cools
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835209005

Then you can keep the LED fans as backups or sell them.

Or you can go in there and try to snip the LED wires on your existing fans. Be sure to only snip the LED wires.

You could get a fan controller and more expensive fans ... but if you are happy with the cooling and volume of your current fans it seems an unnecessary expense.

 

[chizow]

It doesn't look like it'd be too hard to cut the LED wire, as the lead into the main wires are pretty clearly indicated. Other, and better option as mentioned is to get replacement non-LED fans. Can probably get even money on if you go non-LED Tri-Cools or even make some money if you go with something like Yate Loon 120mms. The Tri-Cool function is nice for first time adjustments, but after that its not really useful for most people. I wouldn't want to dig in there and switch every time I wanted to adjust noise levels.

 

[RallyMaster]

Replace them all with Yate Loon D12SL-12 Black. Done.

 

[Qutlass]

Thanks for all the help.. Came home and just did the quick thing, snipped all the LED wires. Looks great in black. Might look into those Yate Loon's when it comes time to rewire the box for overclocking, but thats not until I can find the Ultra 120+ in stores.

Qutlass

 

[TBSN]

How has the Antec 900 case been so far, besides the annoying lights? Is it really loud with all that mesh grill or can it be made to be a quiet-ish computer?

 

[catalysts17az]

i hear you on that Ultra 120++++++ (sorry i had to emphasize the +++++++++, oops i did it again) i am too also interested in what you have to say about the antec 900. i am about to choose a case and it either between the 900 or the cooler master stacker 830. there is a 100 dollar price difference but my question is this if you could would you buy another 900? and would you recommend one to your best friends or family members? what really catches my attention to this case is the 200mm fan at the top and the 2 (120) in the front. Please post back soon.

 

[Qutlass]

Right now I have all the fans running on the lowest setting and you can hear a just a slight hum from the front two fans. You can probably make it a quiet computer with a couple new 120mm fans. The top fan is awesome, keep my computer cool.. If i can get some other fans to match the db levels on it, you would never know the comp is running, especially with the LEDs clipped. Keep in mind im running and E6600 and a GTX (which is also remarkably quiet) in my case also and my temps dont climb above 33c on the cpu and i'f i'm reading speed fan correctly case temp is 39. Might have to confirm tht with some testing. Just loaded up prime for a couple mins and the cpu temp shot up to 45c on stock intel cooler.

This is my first good computer I've put together and its simply because i'm building it for myself to last awhile. I would recomend this case to anyone and if you want to quiet it down, just replace the default 120mm fans. Like I said, I'll be cleaning up the wiring in when I get the new heat sink, cause i only want to pull the MB one more time if I have to and do it right. Oh, and it can get cramp in there, if you dont do some cable management. hehe

All praises for the 900! Everything is brought to gether with a Westinghouse LVM-37W3 37. I'm in heaven!!!


Qutlass

 

[chizow]

The 900 is an excellent case and more than a few with much pricier cases jumped on them and never looked back when they were going for $60-80 after IR and MIR at Fry's and CompUSA. There are a few complaints in terms of wire length, cable management and PSU placement but the case is extremely quiet with all fan settings at low.

None of the fans are louder than my very quiet TT Big Typhoon cooler and 8800 GTS fan and overall there's only a slight increase in audible noise from adding 5x120mm and 1x200mm. The difference in temps from my Lian-Li PC-65+ though was incredible. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but it was around 10C CPU, 14C ambient, 25C Raptor, and 10-22C for my 8800GTS (was always 80-82C idle or load).

I would definitely recommend getting 2 additional 120mm fans for the side window and pass-through fan behind the middle drive cage. If you plan to populate the middle cage, you won't be able to use the pass-through fan. Half-size drives like a rheobus or card reader might be ok though. The side fan is really key since it blows cool air right on your GPU and NB while providing air flow around the CPU for the 120mm and 200m exhausts.

If you're looking at this case and you're really concerned about appearance and cable management, it might be worthwhile to spend a bit extra on a modular PSU with sleeved heads. That should help a lot in terms of wire management. There's also a lot of people who use a dremel to modify some of the cages so they can run wires on the back of the mobo plate, but I'm pretty happy with what I was able to do with just zip ties.

 

[zagood]

Special on Yate Loon 120mm black at SVC.com right now...buy 3 or more for $3.00 each.

Go get em tiger.

-z

 

[TBSN]

Do you think we could see some pics of your 900 cases, or is there another link that has pics of set-up computers in a 900 case? I'd love to see what it looks like, and how people manage the wiring inside this case...

 

[catalysts17az]

i agree with TBSN lets see some pics. but i would not go with a modular PSU just for cable management. google ACRyan and you will find sites that sell the pins and molex plastics to customize your wire sizes, cheaper, but takes longer and if your a DIYer then not a big deal. they also sell the tools to complete the job. as a matter of fact here is their website.
connectex kit:
http://www.acryan.com/_connectx/connectxkit.shtml

click here for their pins:
http://www.acryan.com/_connectx/index.shtml

i hope these links help you guys with your customizing!

 

[TBSN]

So, do people basically plan out how the wiring is going to go, then cut the wires so they just reach the connections? What is the advantage of using connectx, why not just use the included pins and connectors?

When I build my PC (soon) I want it to be wired very neatly, so all this PSU customizing stuff is peaking my interest...

 

[catalysts17az]

Made a mistake try this website to purchase the stuff as the above links will only show you products, go to this website to purchase:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php

click here for the molex pages:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=174

Click here for the tools:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=272

click here for the molex coverings:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=164

I hope this makes up for my screw up above! Chiao!

 

[catalysts17az]

TBSN, people do plan out first, i did. put everything in your case and connect everything in then start deciding what needs to be shorten and cutting the appropriate length. the only reason why people would use connectx is for customizing ( they choose the color they want, i got green, it looks slick) but your right, you don't have too. but you HAVE TOO buy the pins ($10 for a bag that will do your whole computer, just get the bag and every pin you need comes in it). pins are a one time crimping piece of metal (one time use). you'll see what i mean when start cutting, and take it slow cut one wire at a time before you pull all your wires out.

 

[catalysts17az]

TBSN i forgot to tell you make sure you give your computer some shake down (1 month minimum) before you start customizing. in other words make sure your PSU works! before you cut!!!!!!!!!!! i do believe you loose your warranty so buy quality here are links to two PSU i am using:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002

both are made by FSP but OCZ puts there name on it and both are damn good high quality PSU that wont empty your wallet.

 

[TBSN]

Cool, thanks for all the info, catalyts17az. I was looking at the Gamestream as one possible PSU to get, or possibly one of the Seasonic s12's. As for the case, well, that's what I'm still trying to figure out. I'm pretty sure that I want to get an antec P180b, and hope I get lucky and get one of the ones with the mobo tray with holes in it...

 

[chizow]

Modded Antec Nine Hundred Cases at Xtreme Systems

Likewise, I'd advise against modifying components to fit any single build since that'll limit your ability to port them down the line. I'm completely satisfied with this case and don't plan to buy another one, but then again I thought the same thing when I bought my Lian-Li PC-65+ over 3 years ago.

As you can see, the PSU on the Nine Hundred mounts on the bottom in a highly visible spot. I can sleeve the wires, as I did with my old TrueBlue 480W, but that isn't going to clean up the stalk that comes out of the PSU. Modular PSUs with sleeved wires are about $30-$50 more for a similarly priced unit which is worth it imo.

Edit: oops, realized it sounded like I was for modding interchangeable components for specific case builds, which I'm not. If I cut down my PSU to fit my Lian-Li, I would've had to buy a new PSU since the 4-pin power connector barely reaches the connector in my Nine Hundred.

 

[Qutlass]

Originally posted by: chizow
Modded Antec Nine Hundred Cases at Xtreme Systems

This is the guide i'm going to follow when i'm ready to clean up the insides. Got my dremel ready to go. Just need to find out what length SATA cables I'll need to route the hard drive behind the motherboard.
I'm using this power supply.


Qutlass

 

[jjzelinski]

I'm contemplating purchasing the 900, and if I did I would proabably fabricate an "L" shapped panel to put between my PSU and the drive cage and cram my PSU wiring in there. I'd also cut a circular hole in the panel with a gasket (both for protective and asthetic purposes) that the cables would emerge from. Otherwise, that's a big nasty rats nest down there.

 

[chizow]

Ya that's my only real complaint, but I would've just sprung for a modular PSU with sleeved wires if I knew I was moving into a Nine Hundred. I have at least 2 leads that aren't used at all, which would clear up most of the mess down there if I could just detach them until needed.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Cool, thanks for all the info, catalyts17az. I was looking at the Gamestream as one possible PSU to get, or possibly one of the Seasonic s12's. As for the case, well, that's what I'm still trying to figure out. I'm pretty sure that I want to get an antec P180b, and hope I get lucky and get one of the ones with the mobo tray with holes in it...

I went with the Corsair 620HX fits the P180B with motherboard holes quite nicely.

 

[catalysts17az]

its a good looking PSU with modular cables, i believe you will be quiet happy with it as corsair is a quality company as well.