Antec Sonata or Antec 3700BQE

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exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
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Going to build a rig with:

Epox EP-9NDA3+
A64 3000+ Socket 939
1GB Mushkin PC3200 RAM
74GB Raptor 10000RPM
80GB WD Cavier 7200RPM
DVDRW & DVD-ROM
Gainward Ti4200 128MB DDR Geforce 4 (will probably upgrade eventually, not high priority now)

I plan on OC'ing the 3000+ a bit and my concern with the Sonata is that from reading posts it seems to run hot. I don't care how flashy the case looks. I was originally going to go with a Cooler Master Stacker but the price finally did me in and the fact that the Antecs come with a nice PS sold me (and will save me $100 over the stacker).


Would you recommend the Antec Sonata or the BQE?

UPDATE: Just when I thought I had made a decision SVC has a nice sale on the Cooler Master Centurion's. Anyone have experience with the Centurion 5 Link?
 
M

Mucker

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2001
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E

exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
977
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Originally posted by: Mucker
If you can live with 80mm fans, this is the best deal going IMO: http://www.compusa.com/product...code=297029&pfp=SEARCH

The 400w PSU is a good one. I would recommend the 3700AMB otherwise over the Sonata or BQE because the hard drive cooling is better. Good deal here with free shipping here: http://www.monarchtechnology.c...gd=341d314d317d312d313

I owned a Sonata and built 2 3700AMB's. Other than the great PSU in the Sonata, I liked the AMB better......

m :)
Click to expand...

Very nice deal on the Soho, only drawback is no front panel sound output :( It's even in stock at my local store so no shipping cost...hmmm...now I have another case to research....
 
N

Nessism

Golden Member
Dec 2, 1999
1,619
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Originally posted by: Mucker
If you can live with 80mm fans, this is the best deal going IMO: http://www.compusa.com/product...code=297029&pfp=SEARCH

The 400w PSU is a good one. I would recommend the 3700AMB otherwise over the Sonata or BQE because the hard drive cooling is better. Good deal here with free shipping here: http://www.monarchtechnology.c...gd=341d314d317d312d313

I owned a Sonata and built 2 3700AMB's. Other than the great PSU in the Sonata, I liked the AMB better......

m :)
Click to expand...



Agree! I own a Sonata and don't understand all the hype. Fortunately, it was fairly cheap and came with a rebate so I'm happy. That 3700 for $65 shipped is about as good a deal as there is right not on a quality case and PS.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
I like my 3700AMB. One complaint - the stupid plastic fan clips. They caused me more noise than they prevented. The fans I used (Evercool aluminum) didn't fit in quite right (cheap plastic case fan clips weren't made precisely enough) and so they vibrated. I broke out the titanium drill bits and drilled normal-spaced holes and mounted my fans properly. No more vibration, no more useless plastic.
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
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The Sonata will be fine. I have a 9NDA3+ and 3000+ @ 2.1GHz with a Zalman CNPS7000A and it runs at 35C load according to Epox's utility. If you OC let me know how it goes because I can't get mine past 235HTT with the same Mushkin RAM.
 
erikistired

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
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i like my super lanboy. i know it's flashy but i think having the front 120mm fan where it is instead of how the sonota is makes more sense. my system is just as cool as my dragon was with 5 80mm fans.
 
M

Mucker

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2001
2,833
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I just replaced my Sonata with the Super Lanboy (got it for $39.99 when CompUSA had their deal). I really like the SLB. It is actually easier to get a MB into it than the Sonata. The Sonata has a rail inside that makes it a little tight. I didn't like the front 120mm fan placement either on the Sonata and the BQE suffers the same problem. The AMB has the correct front fan placement and is really a very nice case all around. If you have your own PSU the SLB is quite good if you can find it cheap. ...

m :)
 
E

exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
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Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I'll probably be happy with whichever one I chose so I think I'm going to go with the Sonata (even though it's $30 more including shipping) because of the front audio and firewire ports as well as the high end PS.

MDE, those are good temps, glad to see someone else with an almost identical setup that has no problem with the sonata.
 
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reidc

Senior member
Sep 6, 2002
377
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I got a Sonata running with Intel 915Pbl, 3.4 Gig, 1 Gig DDR-2, Asus X600XT, a 250 SATA Maxtor, a 160 Gig Maxtor, and an 80 gig WD800.

My temps now are 50 degrees C for CPU, Zone 1 32, and Zone 2 32 degrees. I also have the second 120mm fan from Antec on the back of the drive cage pulling air across the drives.

Chris
 
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reidc

Senior member
Sep 6, 2002
377
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Thanks exorr! I really wasn't sure where they stood, as this was my first time working with something hot.

My last machine was an Enermax case with Gigabyte 8IHXP with 2.4 and PC1066. I never really worried about heat.

Another thought about the difference between the Sonata and 3700BQE-
I REALLY wanted front mounted audio and IEEE as well as front USB. I didn't really have a need for IEEE right now, but while I was building a new machine- you might as well do it! I received a "set" of front ports buried in a 3.5 inch bay with my Intel board, but it looked cheesy.

I am happy with the Sonata.


Chris
 
S

sigpop

Member
Jan 5, 2005
109
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I have an AMB sitting here, haven't purchased the other parts yet. I'd like to get sound ports and firewire on a front panel. i plan on getting a mobo that has a bunch of usb headers and hopefully a few firewire b headers.

do the transfer panels just have cords that route the rear ports to the front or do they have connections for headers on the mobo? any suggestions?
 
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exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
977
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76
Just when I thought I had made a decision SVC has a nice sale on the Cooler Master Centurion's. Anyone have experience with the Centurion 5 Link?
 
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roninmagik1

Member
Oct 20, 2004
83
0
66
I've had the AMB for a while, and it's a great case! But I think sort of long in the tooth....I just bought a BQE which was on sale at BB yesterday, and i really like the way it looks, as well as the front usb ports. (wish it had firewire though). Plus it's smaaller than the AMB case. If you don't mind me asking, what factors made you decide on the EPOX???
 
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Mucker

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2001
2,833
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The Centurion looks pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bottom mounted front I/O. That seems to be my biggest beef with many high end cases. I like the CM Stacker where you can place the I/O mount anywhere. Just a suggestion, I would concentrate on getting a quality future-proof PSU. Get the best one you can afford, and build the rest of your components, including the case, around that. I think you will be better off in the long run.........

m :)
 
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exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
977
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76
Originally posted by: roninmagik1
I've had the AMB for a while, and it's a great case! But I think sort of long in the tooth....I just bought a BQE which was on sale at BB yesterday, and i really like the way it looks, as well as the front usb ports. (wish it had firewire though). Plus it's smaaller than the AMB case. If you don't mind me asking, what factors made you decide on the EPOX???
Click to expand...

I have always used ePox and love the quality of their boards. The EP-9NDA3+ has great features for not that large a price tag. I needed a board with Firewire and this was one of the more inexpensive socket 939 boards with that.

But mainly, it's the best ePox I could find with everything I wanted for a good value. I did look at other boards a little, but in the end I couldn't go against what I've always used...:)
 
E

exorr

Senior member
Jul 22, 2001
977
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76
Originally posted by: Mucker
The Centurion looks pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bottom mounted front I/O. That seems to be my biggest beef with many high end cases. I like the CM Stacker where you can place the I/O mount anywhere. Just a suggestion, I would concentrate on getting a quality future-proof PSU. Get the best one you can afford, and build the rest of your components, including the csae, around that. I think you will be better off in the long run.........

m :)
Click to expand...

By future proof do you mean getting a PSU that not only is good now but 6 years down the road can still be used? If so, what do you think a good PS is to do this with? Would the Sonata's 380W be one?

I do a full upgrade every 2 years, don't do much upgrading in between with the core components. So to be future proof it would need to last me at least 4 years (2 upgrades)...
 
M

Mucker

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2001
2,833
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I am not really in the know on alot of PSU's. I had an Antec 380 True and it was solid. It should do a good job for you if you're not running alot of power drawing peripherals. The 380 is getting a little long in the tooth, it is nearly 2 years old. Not saying this isn't a great supply, it is. I just bought an Antec 550 True that should get me down the road for at least a couple of years. I found it on the FS/FT forum for $80 shipped and put it inside a $39.99 Super Lanboy. I couldn't be happier......

Besides solid power, I think some of the things you want to look at in a PSU are the connector types: does it have SATA, 24 pin or 20 pin ATX, SLI capable, etc.. The power gurus here will surely help you out in that dept.

m :)
 
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