Differences between Antec cases?

[screw3d]

I am interested in these Antec cases:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=281&manufactory=1516&DEPA=1

from this link, can somebody tell me what's the differences between the SX1040B and SX1040BII cases? I cant seem to find any info on Antec's website nor on newegg itself.

Are these 2 cases recommended? Any other recommendations for casings that cost about $100? aluminium preferably?

 

[RDMustang1]

SX1040B

SX1040BII

Their 'SX1040B' is the normal Antec SX1040B

Their 'SX1040BII' is the new Antec PLUS1060 which has a better power supply, a slightly different looking case (same design though) and front accessable usb and firewire ports.


I have the Antec SX1200 and Antec SX600 and love them, just bought the Antec PLUS660 for a new system and can't wait to get my hands on it.. These cases are great, easy to work with, very durable, etc..

If you're looking for aluminum, you can get this exact case in aluminum (still has a plastic faceplate), but it is made by Chieftech.. I think you can find it at directron.com for slightly more than the regular version.

 

[FlowerMan]

You can find certain Lian Li's for $100 or less.

 

[screw3d]

From newegg, i can't seem to find any Lian-Li's priced less than $100. The cheapest i've come across is $110+ minus PSU. Gotta stinge as a student...bummer

 

[AntecCSR]

SX 1040BII is the PLUS case (front usb/firewire, air filter etc) with a SmartPower power supply (not TruePower) and the standard side panels, not the fan vented ones.

AntecCSR

 

[SP33Demon]

AntecCSR,

Can I buy one of the cases w/out the power supply?

Thanks...

 

[lenjack]

Why not check Antec's website for the specs?

 

[mechBgon]

Antec's site doesn't list the PerformanceII models yet.

 

[sumrtym]

None of the Performance II series come with TruePower supplies and some have dropped the standard side case fan. If you're wanting one of the Performance Plus series, I'd suggest you start looking as they're dropping out of sight quickly. (out of stock, Antec has no more...phasing out).

 

[mechBgon]

Phasing out the Performance Plus series? Or the original Performance series?

The way it looks to me, Antec is going to use the same chassis for a base model (Perf. 2 with single-fan SmartPower PSU, no side intake) and also a deluxe one (Perf. Plus, with dual-fan TruePower and side intake on black models and one of the beige ones (PPlus 1080)). The front USB/FW outlets help differentiate them from Chenming/Enermax/Chieftech a little bit (not to mention being rather useful to some of us).

The new SmartPower PSUs are labelled with 220W combined power for the 300W, and 230W combined for the 350W, from looking at Newegg's photos of the Perf.2 cases. That's a welcome boost in my eyes. If they crank out a Performance2 SX635IIB (black) with no side fan hole, I think I'll have to get one.

 

[sumrtym]

They're phasing out the Performance Plus series. Performance II WILL use the front USB and Firewire ports. Difference is NO TruePower supplies and possibly dropping the side case fan as standard (have to buy door with one).

 

[AntecCSR]

There is some misguided speculation here about some of Antec's latest
product moves. I hope I can quickly and simply clarify them:


1. Performance Plus is NOT being replaced by Performance II. All of the
original Performance Plus models are being discontinued because Performance
Plus is going to exclusively feature our new Antec Metallic Gray (AMG)
color. Performance Plus will have two models, the mintower (PLUS660AMG) and
the workstation (PLUS1080AMG). Both models have a TruePower power supply
and the side-vent fan standard. Those of you who have not seen our new
color owe it to yourself to check it out. Unfortunately, the only way to
really see it is in person, the pictures on our website can't do it justice.


2. Performance II is a new product line basically designed to replace the
original Performance Series (not Performance Plus). It features a
traditional power supply design, instead of TruePower, but the cases do have
the new feature set (Front USB and Firewire, filter, etc.) that was
originally introduced in Performance Plus. This line is intended for
general use and is not aimed at the high performance user, and is more
popularly priced.


3. We have streamlined our traditional power supply line, discontinuing all
the old models (at one time we had three different 300 watt models). This
line is now called Solution Series and is clearly positioned, in terms of
performance and price, below our TruePower line. It will have 250, 300, 350,
400 and 450 watt models.


4. TruePower is are flagship power supply line. It is the market leader in
terms of performance. We have received dozens of outstanding independent
reviews of this product. TruePower does not increase heat in the system.
Those that experience that problem, as has been pointed out here, likely
need to evaluate the cooling scheme in their system, while remembering that
higher power power supplies tend to generate more heat than lower powered
ones. And that typically when going for silence you typically lose airflow from whatever
source you are using.

Does that make things clearer?

AntecCSR

 

[mechBgon]

Aaargh! AntecCSR, sorry to attack the messenger, but that's bad news for me. I proposed building 16 new computers at work using the PPlus 660B, and now you're discontinuing it after just a few months? Aaaargh! We now have ten of the cases... guess I'd better buy another 6 as soon as Fiscal will let me. :| Even Antec's dark-grey "black" case doesn't match black CD-ROM drives or floppy drives, although it's tolerable. I can't quite imagine metallic-grey cases matching either beige OR black drives, so I don't know what your marketing guys are thinking. Sure, the 1000-series has a door over the drives... and it's a bit of a nuisance to me, personally. With an intended life cycle of 5 years of office usage, the doors will get broken off by the users eventually.

Sorry to rant at you, thanks for the heads-up anyway. Will there be black Performance II models? And has Antec ever considered making their black cases a darker shade of black? I don't think anyone would be sorry to see them darken it to the shade that matches black drives properly.

 

[AntecCSR]

Actually I've seen black drives in the Metallic grey and it looks pretty cool. Beige doesn't look bad either, but the black looks better.

I'll find out about the 6 series in black for the Performance II.

So far each time we've tried to get the black to match drives, the cases looked like crap (it's a technical term, really). Our KS388B, was the last production model we tried (people hated it compared to the KS280B). Beyond that though we're still working on ideas that will make it work.

AntecCSR

 

[sumrtym]

Antec CSR:

Thanks for the clarification. Perhaps you need to spread that around to ALL the Antec CSR's though. It was from a CSR that directly told me that the Plus was being phased out and the II was the replacement, but exactly the same except for a naming/marketing change (which isn't the case). That was within the last week.

Appreciate you passing on the correct info! Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

AntecCSR, what would be cool is "crinkle" paint, if you know what I'm talking about there. Crinkle-finish black might work.

 

[sumrtym]

Anybody see that spray paint at Wal-Mart that creates a leather-like surface (looks like leather material)?

Where was it I saw that case mod with an RPM gauge that measured system load....just need it on the front and the case painted in this leather-look. lol