[Newegg] Antec GX500 mid-tower case - $25AR

[SteveGrabowski]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129191

Seems like a pretty good deal to get a case with two 120mm top exhaust fans and one back exhaust 120mm pre-installed, as well as room for two 120mm front intakes (not included) with a dust filter. This also has a dust filter for the power supply, and you can mount a side 120mm intake fan for the video card. It also has 15" of video card clearance. Build quality isn't like getting an NZXT case or anything as it seems to have quite a bit of plastic and cable management is a negative due to not a ton of room behind the motherboard, but with mounts for 6 120mm fans, a huge video card clearance, and dust filters on all the intakes other than the side, as well as two front USB 3.0 ports it seems like a good deal for someone on a budget.

 

[JTsyo]

Looks like a great case. I was planning on using it for my next build but with Skylake so far out, I'll hold off for a bit before picking it up.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

The biggest downside of it is it doesn't have clearance for a lot of CPU coolers like the Hyper 212 EVO.

 

[cbn]

The biggest downside of it is it doesn't have clearance for a lot of CPU coolers like the Hyper 212 EVO.

I noticed that Antec lists 158mm as the maximum height for the cooler. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is 159mm.

However, when I did my internet search users reported the Hyper 212 Evo did fit inside the case:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2304741/hyper-212-evo-antec-gx500.html

(One of the users mentioned he thought the 158mm limitation existed only if a 25mm thick side fan was installed)

 

[cbn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129191

Seems like a pretty good deal to get a case with two 120mm top exhaust fans and one back exhaust 120mm pre-installed, as well as room for two 120mm front intakes (not included) with a dust filter. This also has a dust filter for the power supply, and you can mount a side 120mm intake fan for the video card. It also has 15" of video card clearance. Build quality isn't like getting an NZXT case or anything as it seems to have quite a bit of plastic and cable management is a negative due to not a ton of room behind the motherboard, but with mounts for 6 120mm fans, a huge video card clearance, and dust filters on all the intakes other than the side, as well as two front USB 3.0 ports it seems like a good deal for someone on a budget.

Sounds like a good case for the money. Thanks for posting that deal.

One plus over the NZXT Source 210 is the dust filters.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Sounds like a good case for the money. Thanks for posting that deal.

One plus over the NZXT Source 210 is the dust filters.

I ended up ordering this. On the plus side the cooling is great, and the incredibly annoying resonance my power supply made with my old Antec case is completely gone thanks to the sound damping foam under the PSU.

On the negative side the cable management is bad. It's really tough to fit stuff behind the motherboard tray. It makes it even more difficult with my power supply's cables, which are really rigid and tough to make work (Antec Neo Eco 620C). So the inside of my case is a mess. I guess you can't expect everything when you buy one of the cheapest cases on newegg though! haha

Side panels are pretty thin, but don't seem to bend easily. Lots of plastic.

 

[DesiPower]

Antec fanboy here and love the design on this case, good cable management at this price is a rarity. Currently running P280!

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Antec fanboy here and love the design on this case, good cable management at this price is a rarity. Currently running P280!

Haha, I'm an Antec fanboy too. I have been using their PSUs since the turn of the century and they're amazing. I don't think this case is worth the current price of $57 shipped, but for $30 it's pretty awesome.

 

[sammykhalifa]

Antec fanboy here and love the design on this case, good cable management at this price is a rarity. Currently running P280!

I'm still using a giant beige mostrosity of an Antec Performance II since about 2002 or so. I really really want something new this time but am having a hard time justifying it! The thing's about 35 pounds, is gonna last forever, and is ugly as sin.

 

[cbn]

I ended up ordering this. On the plus side the cooling is great, and the incredibly annoying resonance my power supply made with my old Antec case is completely gone thanks to the sound damping foam under the PSU.

On the negative side the cable management is bad. It's really tough to fit stuff behind the motherboard tray. It makes it even more difficult with my power supply's cables, which are really rigid and tough to make work (Antec Neo Eco 620C). So the inside of my case is a mess. I guess you can't expect everything when you buy one of the cheapest cases on newegg though! haha

Side panels are pretty thin, but don't seem to bend easily. Lots of plastic.

Thanks for the mini-review.

Hopefully we see this sale price return (so the GX500 can join the ranks of all the other classic go-to budget enthusiast cases that frequently go on sale).

 

[cbn]

I don't think this case is worth the current price of $57 shipped, but for $30 it's pretty awesome.

For $30 AR, this GX500 has three included 120mm fans and dust filters.

For $30 AR (when on sale), the NZXT Source 210 has only one included 120mm fan and no dust filters.

So from an airflow standpoint, I'm thinking this GX500 is probably best in class (for $30 sale price enclosures) at this time.

(I did some price history checking on the GX500 at Newegg and yes, the case has been at the $29.99 AR level several times before. So we should be able to expect it at $29.99 again in the future. In fact looking at the following 180 day price history (scroll down after clicking link) it has even dropped to as low as $24.99 AR --> http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-case-gx500?history_days=180)

Of course, there is that cable management issue you have mentioned for folks with PSUs with thicker and more rigid cables. (eg, I have Antec Neo Eco 620C as well)

 

[JTsyo]

Deal is dead FYI

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Deal is dead FYI

Oops, I forgot to mark it as such

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Of course, there is that cable management issue you have mentioned for folks with PSUs with thicker and more rigid cables. (eg, I have Antec Neo Eco 620C as well)

Yeah, cable management is hard with that PSU. I love everything else about the Neo Eco 620C, but I couldn't get the backside of the case on when trying to do proper cable management behind the tray. And I couldn't get the CPU 8-pin power cable to bend properly when I threaded it through one of the holes for the fan power cable in back. But I can't complain too much as the PSU is awesome and the cooling from that case is great with two 120mm fans in front added. If I was really worried about a pretty build I would have bought a modular power supply and an NZXT S340 (that's gotta be the best looking budget case on the market). Plenty of airflow so my 970 hits 1500MHz easy even despite me having the heat cranked up in the house.

 

[cbn]

Plenty of airflow so my 970 hits 1500MHz easy even despite me having the heat cranked up in the house.

That is good to hear.

I bet this GX500 would be a really good budget enclosure to pair with the various 28nm R9 cards especially when they all go on clearance sale/closeout just prior to the launch of the 20nm Video cards. (ie, a budget priced enclosure that would be capable of handling the thermals of a budget priced, but high TDP, video card)

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Deal is back, but now it's only $25AR. Even with its faults in cable management this is a steal at $25.

 

[cbn]

I wonder what a good budget priced PSU would be for this case? (One of the targets being cable management)

 

[spdfreak]

I wonder what a good budget priced PSU would be for this case? (One of the targets being cable management)

Antec 380 is a great PS. Depends on what you are running of course but I've used many 380's for mainstream system builds and never had a problem with any of them. 25.00 after rebate...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033

 

[lupi]

I'll be looking in the near future for a case for my media pc that can hold at least 5 hard drives easily in the hard drive bay slots(I.e without modifying those in the CD drive area for smaller drive size etc.), any recommendations?

 

[DesiPower]

I'll be looking in the near future for a case for my media pc that can hold at least 5 hard drives easily in the hard drive bay slots(I.e without modifying those in the CD drive area for smaller drive size etc.), any recommendations?

Any full size tower would do that. Depends on our other needs like quality, noise, cable management, budget etc. I have P280, it has 6 3.5 bays, 2 2.5 bays for SSD, are all occupied. I additionally have a 2X5.25 to 3x3.5 bay adapter, running two HDDs on that one. The case is HUGE, and I can easily sit another 4 or 5 drive cage on the floor.

I am Antec fanboy, but Fractal Design is very popular these days, Cooler master and Thermaltake also make decent cases. Lian Li used to be very popular but they are expensive and gone down in popularity. I would go for Antec or Fractal Design only, look for a Full tower, "silent" case

 

[WT]

I'm still using a giant beige mostrosity of an Antec Performance II since about 2002 or so. I really really want something new this time but am having a hard time justifying it! The thing's about 35 pounds, is gonna last forever, and is ugly as sin.

I just tossed my Antec 830SX in the recycling pile this week. It was only taking up space and wasn't being used.

Trying to decide on the GX500 (adding the side windows jacks the price up $20 !!) or going with a local CL purchase of a Tt Snow Commander for $30. I am so done with black cases that I am leaning towards the local CL white case.

 

[JTsyo]

The deal is live again.

 

[jonno]

I'm still using my SX830 beige case too!! On about my fourth build in it. No reason to replace, tho I wish it took larger fans to quiet it doen a bit (all 80mm).

 

[SteveGrabowski]

I just tossed my Antec 830SX in the recycling pile this week. It was only taking up space and wasn't being used.

Trying to decide on the GX500 (adding the side windows jacks the price up $20 !!) or going with a local CL purchase of a Tt Snow Commander for $30. I am so done with black cases that I am leaning towards the local CL white case.

If you want a side window a GX500 is a poor choice. It's not easy to do nice cable management. I'd much prefer the NZXT S340 for a windowed budget case that will make your build look nice thanks to tons of cable management room in back and no 5.25" drive bays in the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cNWOgbEXMI

There is also a white version of the NZXT S340.

 

[cbn]

Antec 380 is a great PS. Depends on what you are running of course but I've used many 380's for mainstream system builds and never had a problem with any of them. 25.00 after rebate...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033

I was just thinking about that PSU too. (Cables looks pretty flexible)

That is a nice deal too @ $24.99 AR FS (I don't remember seeing them drop that low)

Thanks for posting. :thumbsup: