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Antec SLK3700AMB Mid-Tower Case w/ 350W SmartPower & 120mm Fan

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The front vents are lined up from the top to bottom at the end of the internal drive cage so any air coming into the case will pass over the drives. I'm not using an intake fan, but my power supply and exhaust fan are drawing plenty of air through the case. I placed my HDD in the middle slot so cool air would pass over it.

Edit: Just for grins I tried the 7V fan mod shown here and the fan is now moving more air but isn't producing any more sound that I've noticed. The dedicated fan lines on the TruePower 430W must really be super low-powered if this 7V mod is able to speed things up. 😕 CPU temp dropped 2 degrees according to Sandra! I had a couple of 4-pin connectors and some wire laying around from tailing a couple of Panaflo fans last year so I thought what the heck. Following those directions was super-easy. Glad I did it!
 
Another update from techstore.com. Looks like it's still on backorder! Dammit, i want this case. I'm about to just order it from somewhere else.

These items on your order 395330 are waiting to be shipped:
Qty Part No Description
[1] [535111TD] [CHAS ATX12V MID 350W P/S 4 5.25 7 3.5 MET BRNZE]
You will be notified when these backordered item(s) ship. If you would like to cancel an item from this order, then please email service@techstore.com with the order number and item part number that you would like to cancel. Backordered items usually ship within one week. We can only hold an item on backorder for up to three weeks, after which the item may be removed from your order. You will be notified if the backordered item is removed or when the item ships and your order is complete. If part of the order ships, then you will be charged for the entire order. You will be credited for any canceled portion of the order.
If you would like to cancel a backordered item or the entire order, please email credit@TechStore.com with your order number and part number you wish to cancel. If you refuse delivery after this order ships, we may charge $25 or a 15% restock fee, whichever is greater.
 
Found the case SLK3700AMB for $47.00 + $20.95 shipping at TechSavings.com. However, they have an really bad rating at resellerratings.com (4/10). Just an FYI.

I need a case badly!!

 
This case sounds really interesting. But I don't see it in beige. Is there any other case like it in beige?
 
It shipped! Woohoo! Techstore.com emailed me saying my case shipped! 😀


From Techstore email:

These items on your order 395330 have shipped:
Qty Part No Description
[1] [535111TD] [CHAS ATX12V MID 350W P/S 4 5.25 7 3.5 MET BRNZE]
via FEDEX on Mon Nov 11, shipping_tracking # **************
 
Congrats tmchow. 🙂 You're gonna love it. I moved mine from the top of the desk to the right side on the floor and the reduction in noise was so great that I stuck the included 120mm fan on a regular 4-pin connector and all I can hear is the air moving through the case, and it's moving plenty. Idle temps on my P4 1.8A OC'd to 2.4GHz are now 35C and about 45C to 47C after an hour of UT2003. All my buds who have seen the case had nothing but good things to say about it.

bhess - Unfortunately Antec doesn't make this puppy in beige. 🙁 If you've got the cash, you can go with the more expensive 1040 or 1030 series in beige, but they don't have 120mm fans and are not as quiet IMHO.
 
Originally posted by: DoobieOnline
Congrats tmchow. 🙂 You're gonna love it. I moved mine from the top of the desk to the right side on the floor and the reduction in noise was so great that I stuck the included 120mm fan on a regular 4-pin connector and all I can hear is the air moving through the case, and it's moving plenty. Idle temps on my P4 1.8A OC'd to 2.4GHz are now 35C and about 45C to 47C after an hour of UT2003. All my buds who have seen the case had nothing but good things to say about it.

bhess - Unfortunately Antec doesn't make this puppy in beige. 🙁 If you've got the cash, you can go with the more expensive 1040 or 1030 series in beige, but they don't have 120mm fans and are not as quiet IMHO.
Click to expand...

What about front firewire? I know this case doesn't have it, but could the bezel be modded?

 
BigEd - the front bezel has plenty of room for a firewire mod if you can find the parts to accomplish it. If you know of an existing kit for doing that, let me know where to check it out!
 
Originally posted by: DoobieOnline
BigEd - the front bezel has plenty of room for a firewire mod if you can find the parts to accomplish it. If you know of an existing kit for doing that, let me know where to check it out!
Click to expand...



Good question. I know you can get the drive bay cover plate type devices, but I'm trying to find something like the set up on my Evercase. It only has usb ports, but there are knock outs for firewire and audio. Modding/cutting out a place in the front bezel isn't a problem. Securing it to the metal case behind the bezel is the trick. I'll let ya know what I find out.....

 
Thanks for the reply Doobieonline.

I have a question for everyone buying this case though. Since it's "bronze" and not black or beige nothing will match it. It looks like the front slides up to get access to the CD drives so it doesn't matter huh?

I'm looking to build a very quiet pc and this seems to be the case for that. When someone gets this can they comment on the PS noise please?
 
I'm looking to build a very quiet pc and this seems to be the case for that. When someone gets this can they comment on the PS noise please?
Click to expand...

This whole thread is filled with info about noise 🙂 scroll up and read it! 😛
 
Originally posted by: bhess
Thanks for the reply Doobieonline.

I have a question for everyone buying this case though. Since it's "bronze" and not black or beige nothing will match it. It looks like the front slides up to get access to the CD drives so it doesn't matter huh?

I'm looking to build a very quiet pc and this seems to be the case for that. When someone gets this can they comment on the PS noise please?
Click to expand...
I was able to see this case today @ CompUSA. Well, actually, it was the smaller one with the 300 watt power supply for $69.99. However, in real life, the color looks more silver than bronze to me. I thought it looked really sweet. The case is a good case, but not constructed quite as well as my SX-830, which is built like a tank. The door on this new Antec case does slide off, but it doesn't feature the neat little handle/latch like the 830/840/1080, etc. cases. Again, though, for $67.00 - shipped, this is quite a good deal. CompUSA wants nearly that much for a 350 watt power supply.

A couple of nice features that I noticed about the mini bronze case that I saw: Antec provides a nice (and thick) case badge that says "Antec" on it. The case badge was taped to the inside bottom of the case that I saw. You'd just have to use a little adhesive to properly mount it to the front of this case. Also, on the external rear of the case, there was a little plastic comparment labeled "Parts" - or something like that. This little plastic holding area would be great for storing extra screws, LEDs - or, whatever small parts you have that you would like to keep near your PC for future installations or upgrades. 😉

All in all, Antec seems to have their act together (well, actually Chen Ming (sp??) - because these cases are really starting to look sweet. A few years ago, we had to settle for beige rectangular boxes - but, that's not the case anymore.

Oh, and in regards to the comment about the CD reader, writer and diskette not matching - it's not really too bad. The good thing is that with this case, you can just close the door and not have to look at the drives. However, for those individuals who need their gear to match, then there are a couple of options:

1) Paint the face plates of your CD drive and your floppy drive. Or,
2) Purchase aluminum coverings for your CD drive and your floppy drive. CompUSA sells these items for about $6.00 each. They have the cover for a Mitsumi floppy drive and also for quite a few CD rom and DVD drives. However, they don't have the cover for the Lite-On drives - which could be a problem because of all the Lite-On drives that exist out there.

Good luck - and happy moddin' or upgrading. 🙂
 
Okay, got the case today and transfered everything over from my old Antec case to this one. I have no idea what model my old antec case is, so don't ask 😉

Impressions:
[*]Awesome color -- it's a dark silver (almost gray), not bronze at all IMO
[*]Build quality is unreal -- everything is sturdy on it. Gotta love those rubber grommets in the lower HD cage
[*]Tons of room inside. Lower HD cage is awesome because it puts the HDs right next to my motherboard IDE connectors. Don't need 24" cables anymore 🙂

Sound:
[*]Whoever said this case is quiet has got to be on drugs! This thing is pretty loud compared to my old case. However, I'm 100% positive it's because of the 120mm fan -- that thing is huge and moving a serious amount of air. I'm going to have to do that 7V fan mod for sure now. Considering DoobieOnline is raving about the mod and how it reduced the noise, I'm certain it'll alleviate my noise concerns.

Bad things:
[*]2 front USB ports are pretty much useless. My motherboard doens't have any internal USB connectors to hook up to it. Good news is that I just bought a USB 2.0 PCI card. Bad news is that while it has 4 external USB ports, there is only 1 internal ports making 1 of the front USB connectors useless still 🙁
[*]Heavy -- With my ATX mobo, 2 CD drives, 3 HDs and 3 PCI cards, this thing is really heavy. I almost ruptured a disc in my back because I didn't expect it to be that heavy. Hands down, this is 25% heavier than my old Antec case which was 25" tall! Being this heavy can be seen as either good or bad. Good because you know they are using sturdy and solid materials. Bad because it's so heavy, I hope you don't have to carry it to many lan parties 🙂


 
2 front USB ports are pretty much useless. My motherboard doens't have any internal USB connectors to hook up to it. Good news is that I just bought a USB 2.0 PCI card. Bad news is that while it has 4 external USB ports, there is only 1 internal ports making 1 of the front USB connectors useless still
Click to expand...
tmchow, Thanks for your mini-review of this case. I'm going to be making my purchase quite soon. In regards to your USB issue with the front 2 ports, any *new* motherboard that you purchase should have the connectors on the motherboard. While that doesn't do you a lot of good with your current board, it does for future upgraders who are getting new motherboards anyway.

Oh, does the 350 watt Antec power supply have the P4 motherboard connector on it?

Thanks! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: tmchow
Okay, got the case today and transfered everything over from my old Antec case to this one. I have no idea what model my old antec case is, so don't ask 😉

Impressions:
[*]Awesome color -- it's a dark silver (almost gray), not bronze at all IMO
[*]Build quality is unreal -- everything is sturdy on it. Gotta love those rubber grommets in the lower HD cage
[*]Tons of room inside. Lower HD cage is awesome because it puts the HDs right next to my motherboard IDE connectors. Don't need 24" cables anymore 🙂

Sound:
[*]Whoever said this case is quiet has got to be on drugs! This thing is pretty loud compared to my old case. However, I'm 100% positive it's because of the 120mm fan -- that thing is huge and moving a serious amount of air. I'm going to have to do that 7V fan mod for sure now. Considering DoobieOnline is raving about the mod and how it reduced the noise, I'm certain it'll alleviate my noise concerns.

Bad things:
[*]2 front USB ports are pretty much useless. My motherboard doens't have any internal USB connectors to hook up to it. Good news is that I just bought a USB 2.0 PCI card. Bad news is that while it has 4 external USB ports, there is only 1 internal ports making 1 of the front USB connectors useless still 🙁
[*]Heavy -- With my ATX mobo, 2 CD drives, 3 HDs and 3 PCI cards, this thing is really heavy. I almost ruptured a disc in my back because I didn't expect it to be that heavy. Hands down, this is 25% heavier than my old Antec case which was 25" tall! Being this heavy can be seen as either good or bad. Good because you know they are using sturdy and solid materials. Bad because it's so heavy, I hope you don't have to carry it to many lan parties 🙂
Click to expand...
Sol

SOLUTIONS:

If you're building a new system , make sure your motherboard has internal USB connections (like on the ECS K7S5A)

if you don't do or want to do the 7v thing for the fan, just buy a quieter 120 mm fan.

My concerns are other ANTEC cases have firewire port in addition to the usb ports, AND how is the power supply? 🙂
 
tmchow, Thanks for your mini-review of this case. I'm going to be making my purchase quite soon. In regards to your USB issue with the front 2 ports, any *new* motherboard that you purchase should have the connectors on the motherboard. While that doesn't do you a lot of good with your current board, it does for future upgraders who are getting new motherboards anyway.

Oh, does the 350 watt Antec power supply have the P4 motherboard connector on it?
Click to expand...

wje: Thanks for the info about new motherboards and USB connections. The power supply does have this white power connector but I wasn't sure what it was for. Must be the P4 power connector 🙂

My concerns are other ANTEC cases have firewire port in addition to the usb ports, AND how is the power supply?
Click to expand...

Power supply seems fine... I bet if I turn off the 120mm fan, case would be dead silent.
 
Originally posted by: tmchow
tmchow, Thanks for your mini-review of this case. I'm going to be making my purchase quite soon. In regards to your USB issue with the front 2 ports, any *new* motherboard that you purchase should have the connectors on the motherboard. While that doesn't do you a lot of good with your current board, it does for future upgraders who are getting new motherboards anyway.

Oh, does the 350 watt Antec power supply have the P4 motherboard connector on it?
Click to expand...

wje: Thanks for the info about new motherboards and USB connections. The power supply does have this white power connector but I wasn't sure what it was for. Must be the P4 power connector 🙂

My concerns are other ANTEC cases have firewire port in addition to the usb ports, AND how is the power supply?
Click to expand...

Power supply seems fine... I bet if I turn off the 120mm fan, case would be dead silent.
Click to expand...
I've been running my Antec SX-830 without any cooling fans for over a year now. Personally, unless you're a serious (and I mean serious) overclocker, I don't see a whole lot of benefit in adding all of that airflow through your case. Sure, you might prolong the life of some components. However, I don't keep anything longer than a year or so, therefore, I don't need to prolong anything.
 
I've been running my Antec SX-830 without any cooling fans for over a year now. Personally, unless you're a serious (and I mean serious) overclocker, I don't see a whole lot of benefit in adding all of that airflow through your case. Sure, you might prolong the life of some components. However, I don't keep anything longer than a year or so, therefore, I don't need to prolong anything.
Click to expand...

My Harddrive, motherboard and CDROM are 3 years old 😉
 
Hey tmchow, without a doubt the increase in noise you're hearing is the airflow of the 120mm fan. At full speed, it moves a LOT of air and the exhaust vent holes definitely produce some noise as air passes through. I stuck my 3700 on the floor to the right of my desk and it's quiet enough over there that I'm running the included fan at full speed now. I'm still going to cut the exhaust vent out and install a wire grille back there, though. I highly recommend the 7V 4-pin mod that I linked earlier. You'll still get decent airflow and it will make that puppy almost silent. Try unplugging the 120mm fan and running your system with the side panels closed. It won't hurt your system to run it for a few minutes like that - even if you're OC'ing. You'll get a good idea of how quiet it will be with the 7V mod. Your last case must have used very thin steel because the 3700 is WAY lighter than the Antec 880 it replaced. 😉
 
I've been wanting to put together a REAL quiet box to use as a home server. Decided to go with one of these 3700s. 120mm fans, grommets on HDD cage, door, fan filters. Lot's of low noise potential and bang for the buck.

I put a 1.1A Tualatin Celeron with the retail heatsink (with fan 7-volted) on an Asus Tusl2-C MoBo. ATI Radeon LE (no GPU fan), Seagate Barracuda IV HDD, Antec True380 PSU.

Cut out the rear fan grill and popped on a 7-volted 120mm Panaflo L1A and a fan guard.

Installed everything and fired it up. DAMN!!! This is by far the quietest rig I've ever built. You can hear ABSOLUTELY NO NOISE from this rig unless you put your ear about a foot away from the rear fan. And even then it's just a tiny whisper of 7-volt fan noise. I ran Prime95 on it all day and CPU temp maxed out at 47C, case temp at 31C. Ambient temp was in low 80F range in here yesterday. Another chilly Fall here in Sunny SoCal....

I had such great luck with this rig I'm probably going to try a quiet P4 setup next. Maybe a Zalman flower for the CPU, ?? for the vidcard, additional 7-volted 120mm L1A in front of the HDD's.
 
RalfHutter,

Thanks for your contribution regarding how you made your "quiet PC" with this case. It sounds impressive. 🙂
 
Bump again because they are back in stock. But the price increased to $46.20.

But newegg and TCWO have both upped their price. They must be selling a lot of these cases and jacking up the price.
 
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