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

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: 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

The LED's are indicative of fan speed. IF you have a fan connected that has an rpm connection. Low, flashing blue is slowest, then steady blue, then red.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Originally posted by: 450R
Do report back on the PC-7B II! Looking at getting one myself.

Sure thing. I'll write up a little review and post it here when it arrives tomorrow.

 

[RKS]

FWIW while Antec service was great and I received new side panels and a revised front door; the P180 will soon be retired to my parents home and I'll will get a LL also. I am looking at the 2100V series.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: RKS
FWIW while Antec service was great and I received new side panels and a revised front door; the P180 will soon be retired to my parents home and I'll will get a LL also. I am looking at the 2100V series.

Same here. They replaced the door, and a fan bracket that was broken when I got it. No problems with the service.

 

[milleron]

I was a very early adopter of the P180. I got one during the first few days they were available. I've never had a single problem with it, and I STILL think it might be the finest computer case ever produced. Perhaps Antec's quality control went south after the initial production runs, but if I had to buy another case today, I'd get another P180.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Well, my Lian Li PC-7b Plus II came in the mail today after the UPS guy finally got around to stopping here some time around 6 in the evening. I'm sorry to say that my enthusiasm for the case has very much been curbed having looked it over.

When I took it out of the package, it looked magnificent (although I learned quickly that it shows fingerprints very clearly). There's something about its appearance that just sets it apart completely from what's out there. Not only that, but it looked different than what was pictured at Performance PCs. This revision's window had the ventilation holes on the bottom left corner for the new blower fan that's included with the newer cases. I'm not sure what model it is or where to buy it, but the model it takes is definitely NOT the BS-01. But hey, that's a good thing - I think the new design looks very efficient, even if I can't find anywhere to buy it.

Then I took a look a good look at all the window and noticed a series of small scratches around the top left. I ran my finger across the area...to find it smooth. I took off the side panel entirely and ran my finger along the inside of the area to confirm my suspicions - the scratches were on the inside. I'm really not sure how on earth that happened considering that nothing but a few flyers and a cardboard box taped to the HDD rack were on the inside, but they're definitely there and noticeable. They'd be even more noticeable with the dual blue cold cathode kit I picked up. Not cool, and very surprising considering the rep both Performance PCs and Lian Li have.

So I examined the front panel. It was easy to take off, unlike the P180. But when I looked at the front fan area, there was no filter to be found! The Plus I model featured a dust filter on the Front 120mm area, so I'm really not sure why it was taken out in the Plus II model. For a case in this price range, a manufacturer like LL skimping out on a simple dust filter is really a letdown. Buying one online only costs a dollar or so...plus 6 or 7 dollars extra for the shipping! A $105 case should come with a simple filter, Lian li. For shame.

The bottom ports worked like a charm, opening with a simple snap with little words written on the inside of the flap to let you know which port is which port. I'm not really sure how someone who owns a Lian Li case could get an audio jack confused with a firewire jack, but I'll play along.

Using screws to put in the drives was really nice and let me position them however I needed. It was more difficult than using the drive rails, but if it eliminates the use of plastic then it's A-okay with me.

Well, if they weren't going to include a filter the least they could do is put a few quality fans in the case, right? I decided to plug one in to my Ultra-D and give it a listen. When I plugged it in and punched the on-board power button, I winced as the fan spun up to such a speed that I immediately unplugged it to avoid having to listen to it any longer (a "high performance" fan, no doubt). The fan was so obnoxiously loud that I regretted having paid for it as part of the total price. I would have gladly given the both of them up to bring the price down. LL clearly did not have the quiet computing crowd in mind when they stuck these two screamers in the case.

The rest of the case is largely unexceptional. It all boils down to the Pros and Cons:

Pros
*Lightweight
*Looks like nothing else on the market
*Has a window that possesses an actual function
*Doesn't use drive rails
*Removable front 3.5" cage is convenient
*Front ports are positioned well and come with a protective flap to prevent dust buildup
*Room for top 80mm blowhole
*In light of the included 120mm fans' noise, no 80mm blowhole fan included
*Capacity for considerable ventilation (dual 120mm fans, side blower fan and top blowhole)

Cons
*Doesn't include a front fan filter
*Included fans sound like tornados (and have very limited market potential in case you want to sell them)
*Scratched window
*Finish shows fingerprints easily
*More thumbscrews could probably be included

Although the Pros outnumber the Cons, overall I'm going to have to give this case a tentative thumbs down. I'm somewhat disappointed.

EDIT: I wonder if I have some kind of a jinx on hardware. Everything I get seems to be damaged or defective. The LL arrived with the window scratched, and now my Ultra-D just blew out on me for no apparent reason so I'm back on my laptop. Terrific.

 

[cmdrdredd]

maybe you should just give your computer away to someone who knows what they're doing? j/k

 

[Neurodog]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
maybe you should just give your computer away to someone who knows what they're doing? j/k

Ouch...

I was going to buy the P180 myself but I might just buy another Antec Sonata II

 

[Soul Colossus]

I just got a P180B and couldn't be happier with it. My previous case was a Sonata II (supurb case minus the tacky chrome cover on the USB panel and the difficulty in mounting a front intake fan). I went with the P180B cause I needed more fan options and space and it's been excellent. It was even a pleasure to build despite taking more time to decide how to go about it and to wire it up (I eagerly await my modular PSU). Everything about my P180B shows solid build quality.

The only problem I've had with it is the door doesn't always lock in tightly so I have to slide it out and pull it back in place again, but it only does this when I do it with one hand while reaching into my desk's computer cubby. If I have it out of the cubby and use both hands then it's fine, so it isn't much of a valid complaint. I -really- wish it had the swing door and the snapping lock/handle like the Sonata II cause that kicked ass. I also would like it if the front cover came completely off like the Sonata II (covers are utterly useless) but at least it snaps back 270 degrees; same goes for the front ventilation covers.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Well, if the front door on the P180 is really bugging you then you can in fact take it off. That's one of the many things I learned about the case over the course of my personal RMA hell.

If memory serves me correctly - I've since sold my P180 - all you have to do is grab the top "lip" of the front assembly near where the plastic hinges are and pull up. It takes a bit of effort to get it lifted enough to pull the door and the attached hinges out, but with a little persistence you'll have it off in no time. I learned that little trick myself when I got frustrated with my door bowing out so frequently.

I must say, a large floppy door like the P180's is one of the things I miss least about my new PC-7b Plus II. It's actually a very nice case once you take it all in, really - with a cold cathode kit it looks like a million bucks even without all kinds of UV watercooling insanity.

 

[Jibboom]

I own a P180 at the moment. I've never had any problems with it though, especially not the quality. The only thing I don't like about it is the weight... oh, and that "cooling duct" that seems to do nothing at all, even with a fan installed in it.

 

[Pens1566]

Yeah, no one uses the duct. It's not even in the revised, newer version.

 

[bigboxes]

Call me a lover of the P180 as well. I have been very happy with the original P180 (silver) which I bought for use as my file server. Having undergone a recent X2 upgrade I have replaced my aging Cooler Master case with a P180B Black case. The door is stronger than the first version (as well as the magnet) and they got rid of that stupid vga intake (I had ditched the one that came with the silver case after a month of use). The P180 is an excellent design both in cooling and noise. Granted there are a few areas that could use improvement. Hopefully, Antec will listen and make improvements on the next upgrade/model. Two thumbs up from me!