So my P180 won't stop falling apart...

[cr0ssfire]

The title says it all. In case you missed the little mini-rant I posted earlier in Gbaby1008's thread (where he was looking for case ideas and thinking about the P180), here it is again to explain my little situation:

"You know what? Don't even think about the P180. As nice as it would be if Antec's QC was better, the P180 I've had has been nothing but trouble from the start. Let me go through the list of problem I've had to go through with this case:

*The front door didn't close right and bulged out. To date, I've gone through SIX front doors, and none of them close properly and/or bulge. This includes the newer revisions of the doors!
*The layers of the side panels started coming apart. I've had to ask for several pairs of replacement panels, and my current pair of panels are starting to come apart as well.
*After I gently nudged the spoiler into place, the plastic hooks snapped and I had to ask for a replacement.
*The top screw hole on the rear left panel is drilled too high - just enough so that screwing something in it is a royal pain

To Antec's credit, their CS has been extremely prompt and considerate. However, every time I've asked for a replacement part it takes at least a week - many times more than a week - for the slooow UPS shipping to arrive - and the past two Aluminum revision front doors I've requested have both arrived with the doors warped and unable to close out of the box. The most recent one wouldn't even fit on the case no matter how I struggled to get it on. The one before it arrived with both of the door magnets almost totally unglued right out of the box.

I hate this case. If I could sell it and buy something else comparable I would - but I wouldn't feel honest selling it to someone as it is. I spent hours cabling in it and it keeps falling apart so frequently that I never just get to enjoy using it. For as many problems as I've had with it they should send me a working replacement black front bezel and side panels so I could have a P180b (but that'll never happen). I'm kind of just losing the will to keep asking them for replacement parts since I basically already know what I'll get.

Just save yourself some trouble and go with a manufacturer with a better track record. I hear Lian-Li is pretty nice."

So, in short, my original parts fell apart and the replacement parts fell apart over and over again, with the latest replacement parts arriving at my door having already fallen apart. That's completely unacceptable, so I've decided to spend money I don't really have at the moment to get something from another manufacturer. Maybe you guys can help me make a smart purchase this time around, eh? :beer:

I'd like the purchase to ideally come in at around $100. Anything less than that and you're going to miss out on things, and anything more constitutes highway robbery in my book. This is what I'm looking for in general:

*Black or predominantly black
*Mid-tower (compact is always good)
*Dual 120mm fan mounts at minimum (doesn't have to come with all the fans)
*Window preferred
*Unique, contemporary design to set it apart from other cases
*Nothing made by Cooler Master or Antec. I'm 0-2 this summer with cases - a bad CM Ammo 533 and now the P180 - so unless it's something really extraordinary I'd rather not deal with those two companies.

So, got any ideas? Recommend me a case, and if I end up going with it I'll give you 10% off one item on any of my current or future FS/FT lists. :thumbsup:

 

[natethegreat]

Maybe it's not the cases, I have both cases your complaining about and have been very happy with both.

CM Ammo 533:
pic1
pic2

Antec P180:
pic1
pic2

Well I have been looking at this case for one of my boys, I think it might work for you:
NZXT Apollo

And here is a review too: techgage.com

edit:Fixed link to pic

 

[Operandi]

The only thing that I can think of that fits your budget is the Lian Li PC-7B. The Lian LI PC-V600 is also very nice (and very compact) but is a bit outside your price range, and is limited to low profile CPU HS/Fs.

 

[cirthix]

antec super lanboy. not black, but it's light, reasonbly strong, very well laid out, good ventilation, and it's small.

meh, brand names, whatever.

 

[Brahmzy]

I love my P180B.

I think it's user error.

 

[AntiStatic]

it aint user error. the P180 is one of the biggest pieces of crap ever built and for some reason AT bandwagons the hell out of it. I owned one for a few weeks then got rid of it. It was a plastic junk not built with serious computer users in mind.

check this one out OP- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112099

stay away from plastic cases

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: AntiStatic
it aint user error. the P180 is one of the biggest pieces of crap ever built and for some reason AT bandwagons the hell out of it. I owned one for a few weeks then got rid of it. It was a plastic junk not built with serious computer users in mind.

check this one out OP- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112099

stay away from plastic cases

I ordered this exact case about 2 hours ago. I'll get it maybe tomorrow or friday so I'll post my review & pics later

 

[nycdude]

Originally posted by: DannyLove

Originally posted by: AntiStatic
it aint user error. the P180 is one of the biggest pieces of crap ever built and for some reason AT bandwagons the hell out of it. I owned one for a few weeks then got rid of it. It was a plastic junk not built with serious computer users in mind.

check this one out OP- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112099

stay away from plastic cases

I ordered this exact case about 2 hours ago. I'll get it maybe tomorrow or friday so I'll post my review & pics later

I like this case too. Lian Li cases are top notch in terms of quality. I have the silver pc-60 myself and its an excellent case. With 2 toddlers pushing buttons left and right, I decided to try the TT Tsunami Dream since it has a door.

 

[cr0ssfire]

You know what? That Lian Li sounds pretty good right about now. After looking it over, everything I initially thought would be a con turned out to be a pro.

It's not as sturdy as steel...but that means it's much easier to transport back and forth from college.
The front ports are on the bottom...but at a LAN, it's really nice to have them right there on the table to plug in a keyboard and mouse.
There isn't an 80mm blowhole fan included...but I can buy a nice quiet one rather than paying for one I don't want.
It doesn't have any "bling"...but I think at this point I'd rather pay for something high quality that functions well on a regular basis rather than something expensive with things that serve no purpose other than to get two seconds of attention.

I'm just surprised that plastic monstrosities made by Plastec - er, Antec - are in the same price catagory as a Lian Li. I think I'll go with the model with the window. Operandi, Antistatic, nycdude...if any of you see something on a current or future FS/FT list of mine you want I'll give you 10% off.

 

[Zepper]

Aerocool Masstige or CoolView? Unless you hate doors, I'd get the Coolview as it comes with their "GateWatch" sensor and fan control panel at no extra charge. Look and see how much they charge for one separately.

.bh.

 

[krotchy]

I second Lian-Li cases. I have a PC-767 at home (aside from needing a P4 cable extender, it is excellent)

At work I have used 2 PC-101 and 1 PC-201, and they are a complete joy to work with, and are totaly silent. Check out www.monarchcomputer.com for random deals on Lian-Li cases. Otherwise your best bet for lian-li cases is from www.performance-pcs.com

 

[JollyTime]

Originally posted by: natethegreat
Maybe it's not the cases, I have both cases your complaining about and have been very happy with both.

CM Ammo 533:
pic1
pic2

Antec P180:
pic1
pic2

Well I have been looking at this case for one of my boys, I think it might work for you:
NZXT Apollo

And here is a review too: techgage.com

Nice look on the P180 there! What's your opinion on the Zalman fan control? Better than letting the mobo run the voltage?

 

[natethegreat]

Originally posted by: JollyTime
Nice look on the P180 there! What's your opinion on the Zalman fan control? Better than letting the mobo run the voltage?

Couldn't be happier with it. You can control the fans through bios or speedfan or whatever, but that would be so much more work than just turning a dail when you want more or less cooling. I guess the only thing I can knock it for (and it's a non-issue for me) is that it only supports rpm monitoring on 2 channels. I actually have the VF-900 connected to the 5v/12v switch and run it at 5v until I load a game an then I just flick the switch and its at 12v How easy is that?

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: natethegreat

Originally posted by: JollyTime
Nice look on the P180 there! What's your opinion on the Zalman fan control? Better than letting the mobo run the voltage?

Couldn't be happier with it. You can control the fans through bios or speedfan or whatever, but that would be so much more work than just turning a dail when you want more or less cooling. I guess the only thing I can knock it for (and it's a non-issue for me) is that it only supports rpm monitoring on 2 channels. I actually have the VF-900 connected to the 5v/12v switch and run it at 5v until I load a game an then I just flick the switch and its at 12v How easy is that?

It supports RPM monitoring on all 4 of the regular channels. That's what the lights are. If they're on, its showing you the fan speed.

 

[natethegreat]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: natethegreat

Originally posted by: JollyTime
Nice look on the P180 there! What's your opinion on the Zalman fan control? Better than letting the mobo run the voltage?

Couldn't be happier with it. You can control the fans through bios or speedfan or whatever, but that would be so much more work than just turning a dail when you want more or less cooling. I guess the only thing I can knock it for (and it's a non-issue for me) is that it only supports rpm monitoring on 2 channels. I actually have the VF-900 connected to the 5v/12v switch and run it at 5v until I load a game an then I just flick the switch and its at 12v How easy is that?

It supports RPM monitoring on all 4 of the regular channels. That's what the lights are. If they're on, its showing you the fan speed.

then how many rpm's are my fans running in this pic? The leds blink in response to voltage, not rpm's

edit: actually I was wrong about it only supporting rpm monitoring on only 2 channels...

from Spcr's review of the Zalman ZM-MFC1

The 2 cables with white colored connectors feature an additional extension of the rpm signal and ground lead that can be connected to a motherboard or other RPM monitoring device. That's if your fan has a 3-wire connector and provides RPM output. Imagine that, a fan controller that will let you monitor rpms out-of-the-box! Just be careful to plug the connector with 3 wires into the Zalman and the connector with just 2 wires into the motherboard. If you do it in reverse, your fan will get no power! Note that all 4 knob-control channels can be RPM-monitored; you just need to get 2 more cables like these white-colored ones and have RPM monitoring devices to plug them into.

So it supports it on all 4 channels, just not out of the box

 

[smopoim86]

I have a lian li v2000b and really like it, although it's "highway robbery" in your book

(i didn't pay retail for it)

 

[Aries64]

Originally posted by: cr0ssfire
"...I'd like the purchase to ideally come in at around $100. Anything less than that and you're going to miss out on things, and anything more constitutes highway robbery in my book".

Fair enough, everyone is entitled to their opinions, has their own sense of values and priorities, ect. However, seeing how you have gone through all this agony and hassle with the P180 I think you should be asking yourself how much is higher build-quality, (and ultimately up-time) worth to you?

Was the lower price of the P180 worth all the pain and anguish you have been through? I think not, regardless of the excellent CS from Antec. In my book quality and design aesthetics are more important than saving a few bucks.

One of my mottos' is "Inferior quality is foolish economy". Remember that. If at all possible, I suggest a little more "in-store" research on your part so you can actually see and touch what you are buying before you plop down your money. I don't care how many glowing reviews a product gets, because opinions and results can vary widely.

Good luck.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Well, I did try to do some in-store research and I based that little ideology based on my findings. There's a CompUSSR about an hour or so from where I live, so before I bought the P180 I drove out there and checked it and a few other cases out in person. Whenever I can, I do like to see things in person before I buy them.

There were plenty of CompUSSR-branded cases made of cheap plastic and they didn't feel like anything more than generic knockoffs. The Centurion 5 that I saw looked kind of nice but the overall build quality seemed cheap and flimsy to me so I ruled it out. They even had a few Thermaltake cases out on display, but I didn't really like the idea of having a door that wasn't double-hinged, so I didn't consider their Shark or Tsunami . However, the P180 on display that I saw looked impeccable minus the fingerprints it had from others touching it. The side panels looked shiny and sturdy, the door didn't bow out any more than a mm or so in the center, and the case felt very solid when I picked it up. I even rapped my knuckles on the side panel to hear a satisfying "thud" instead of the usual clanging I got from my old Foxconn case.

That said, it seemed like a good idea at the time based on what I saw. Nobody there - not even the technicians - had the slightest idea I was talking about when I asked their opinions on the P180's airflow, chamber configuration, construction, et cetera so I had a favorable impression after seeing it there and I decided to buy it.

It's interesting to note that I recently went back there to pick up a black 5.25" bay storage box and a P180 was there on display. The left side panel had come apart to such a degree that the top layer bulged out about a centimeter and a half and the door looked like someone had purposely bent it. The keys and manual were nowhere to be found and it looked like someone had snagged one of the 5.25" drive bay covers. Coincidence? Who knows. I did learn a valuable lesson, however, coming out of my first build - plastic in a case is a very bad thing, and you don't necessarily have to empty your wallet to get high-quality aluminum from a maker like Lian Li.

Now all I've got to do is figure out what kind of blue lighting would go well with my soon-to-arrive PC-7b Plus II.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: cr0ssfire
Well, I did try to do some in-store research and I based that little ideology based on my findings. There's a CompUSSR about an hour or so from where I live, so before I bought the P180 I drove out there and checked it and a few other cases out in person. Whenever I can, I do like to see things in person before I buy them.

There were plenty of CompUSSR-branded cases made of cheap plastic and they didn't feel like anything more than generic knockoffs. The Centurion 5 that I saw looked kind of nice but the overall build quality seemed cheap and flimsy to me so I ruled it out. They even had a few Thermaltake cases out on display, but I didn't really like the idea of having a door that wasn't double-hinged, so I didn't consider their Shark or Tsunami . However, the P180 on display that I saw looked impeccable minus the fingerprints it had from others touching it. The side panels looked shiny and sturdy, the door didn't bow out any more than a mm or so in the center, and the case felt very solid when I picked it up. I even rapped my knuckles on the side panel to hear a satisfying "thud" instead of the usual clanging I got from my old Foxconn case.

That said, it seemed like a good idea at the time based on what I saw. Nobody there - not even the technicians - had the slightest idea I was talking about when I asked their opinions on the P180's airflow, chamber configuration, construction, et cetera so I had a favorable impression after seeing it there and I decided to buy it.

It's interesting to note that I recently went back there to pick up a black 5.25" bay storage box and a P180 was there on display. The left side panel had come apart to such a degree that the top layer bulged out about a centimeter and a half and the door looked like someone had purposely bent it. The keys and manual were nowhere to be found and it looked like someone had snagged one of the 5.25" drive bay covers. Coincidence? Who knows. I did learn a valuable lesson, however, coming out of my first build - plastic in a case is a very bad thing, and you don't necessarily have to empty your wallet to get high-quality aluminum from a maker like Lian Li.

Now all I've got to do is figure out what kind of blue lighting would go well with my soon-to-arrive PC-7b Plus II.

You bought it from CrapUSA that's why

 

[cr0ssfire]

Well, actually I bought it from Upgradesource (although I realize the structure of what I said seems to say otherwise). You'd have to be REALLY desperate to buy a case from CompUSSR with all their markups...

 

[cmdrdredd]

either way the 9 P180's I've worked with have never had any flaws like what you mentioned. The ONLY thing I ever saw happen was the magnet on the door pulled the power button out on one of them. A simple fix with some super glue

 

[Aries64]

So you ordered a PC-7b Plus II, eh? The V1000 is the first Lian Li case I ever dealt with, so my experience with Lian Li is very limited. However, if the V-Series is any indication of the overall quality of the rest of the Lian Li line (and I think it is) then I think you'll like your new case. I've never liked plastic on any case - IMO it just looks cheap.

Until the Cooler Master TACs' caught my eye I had always used heavy-duty steel cases, but no more. Prior to buying my original V1000 I was using Wave Masters'. At the time I bought my Wave Masters' (I own two) I thought "Wow, this is really nice build-quality". And, compared to most of the other case manufacturers' out there, it is. But when you compare a Cooler Master to a Lian Li there is no comparison, price put aside.

Its' just unfortunate that you had to go through that mess with your P180, especially when so many others' out there rave about them. To each his/her own. One caution now that you are getting a Lian Li - you will be spoiled from here on-out. Enjoy your new case!

 

[pavilion]

Originally posted by: natethegreat
Maybe it's not the cases, I have both cases your complaining about and have been very happy with both.

CM Ammo 533:
pic1
pic2

Antec P180:
pic1
pic2

Well I have been looking at this case for one of my boys, I think it might work for you:
NZXT Apollo

And here is a review too: techgage.com

Wow! That is very neat...nice job!

 

[lenjack]

I have the ealier version of the p180 and never had a hint of a problem.

 

[450R]

Do report back on the PC-7B II! Looking at getting one myself.