can you beat ANTEC SONATA II for the money?

[GRW]

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply - Retail
link

looking to build a super cheap system with perhaps a frys or newegg combo deal

I like and trust ANTECs' power supplies and I think 450watts will do the trick for me as I'm going to try and get one of AMDs' low power chips and one SATA II drive and a DVD burner I don't think i can beat this deal...any thoughts?

I may wait a week on mobo combo to see if AMD drops their prices like I've heard they're going to... but I'm buying an a Cavalry usb/eSATA external drive today and I saw this case and thought i would throw it on to my order and maybe save on shipping cost

 

[zagood]

If you're going to Fry's anyway...
http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2007/03/30/23796.html

It's the black P150. No PSU, but no rebates and no shipping hassles.

-z

 

[GRW]

thanks , for quick response and the idea ZAGOOD, but I'm in SAN DIEGO, SOCAL and I don't think that SOLO has a power supply (they usually say what the wattage of supply is when they do include one)...
but I'll give frys a call and see what they have in stock and on sale...I missed a deal last year at COMPUSA for an antec case that was only 25 bucks or so with a 450 watt power supply

 

[zagood]

Just go down there...I'm in SD too, and the customer service via phone sucks at the one off Aero.

Also the frys-electronics-ads site doesn't always match up with their sales.

-z

 

[zagood]

Oh, also, you might want to drop in at CompUSA. I checked out the one in Encinitas, their cases are 40% off (closing sale). Haven't checked the one off Balboa yet.

-z

 

[stevty2889]

I like my sonata II cases, but the smartpower PSU's that come with them aren't that great. One of mine just died, not even a year old. They are using lower quality components in those smartpowers.

 

[GRW]

thanks for feedback , stevty...
hmmm I thought Antec had a reputation to protect ...
called frys ...waiting for a call back...and checked compusas web site ... so far i can't find a better deal ..going to store isn't feasible unless I have a line on something

 

[zagood]

Hmmmm...for CompUSa I'd check the website, find the cases that say they're carried in store (you'll see it on the right), make a list, call the store and see which ones they have in stock and how much. Prices should be 40% off what's listed on the website.

-z

 

[RallyMaster]

Antec SmartPowers are utter junk if you plan on putting a lot of load into them. Plenty of us have experience with those things failing and being RMA'd time after time until we give up and buy something like a Corsair HX520W.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Antec SmartPowers are utter junk if you plan on putting a lot of load into them. Plenty of us have experience with those things failing and being RMA'd time after time until we give up and buy something like a Corsair HX520W.

:thumbsup:

Or a PCnC Psu like me

 

[GRW]

thanks everybody for the feedback I guess Antec is slipping or I don't put anywhere near the load on my machines that you all do ...
I would rather have somethimg reliable (without breaking the bank, of course)...

BTW, FRY's did call me back and they DO have that Antec SOLO case deal and it does have a 450 WATT power supply but they are out of stock so I'm going to get a raincheck.
a very knowledgable Telesales guy named Art H. helped me... if you're calling FRY's in SD for info do yourself a favor and ask for him...

just got back...

I picked up that Athlon 5000 deal and 1GB kit of Patriot DDR2 800 for $290 out the door....

I almost walked out with the Ultra GRID with 500Watt v series PSU for $75 AR but I ran short on cash so I'll have to go back or find a better deal at Compusa like Z suggested...
or perhaps resurrect one of the funky old old cases I have laying around from their desuetude and put my focus on the power supply ...
again thanks much

anyone like the Ultra V series Power supply?

 

[GRW]

I do like the idea of having plenty of headroom with a decent power supply....I remember reading a comparison review many years ago on Anandech that rated Antec the best at the time which influenced me greatly...guess I need to get a bit more current ...lol

how the mighty have fallen

 

[GRW]

another possibility ...rosewill case with apevia 500W psu plus free ship $50 AR

 

[RallyMaster]

Apevia = Aspire = Assfire/Expire (not a good thing)
Ultra V Series is easy to obtain for cheap but certainly not top of the line. If you're running a Core 2 Duo with a high powered video card, get something better.
I honestly think it would be good to go for a Rosewill case (ask Zepper) and a Corsair PSU.

 

[swtethan]

the smartpower 2.0 has a squeal to them, how do i know? i have had TWO of them (different systems) the first one died, so i thought it was just a bad ps last time.... NOPE same squeal, diff system.

 

[Boyo]

You really need to quit messing around with those cheap PSU's. Get a SeaSonic or Corsair or Enermax.

 

[GRW]

thanks for input everyone...revamping budget to accomodate recommendations...*sigh* ...spend more on PSU and look for a deal

 

[snowdogg187]

yeah, it really sucks that psu's are getting so damn expensive. then again all the components seem to be sucking more and more power and running hotter

 

[Phlargo]

<quote>
yeah, it really sucks that psu's are getting so damn expensive. then again all the components seem to be sucking more and more power and running hotter
</quote>

Blame the video cards! What the hell is it with these crazy video cards using 200 watts on their own. Ugh.

 

[Phlargo]

Oh... btw - I've installed like 10 Sonata IIs in client computers and I've had one power supply failure - after about 4 months. Antec was perfectly willing to replace the offender. So far, so good.