Want to order Antec P180 -
- Thread starter KDOG
- Start date
I own a P180, but I have a couple things to say
First off, for your PSU, if that's smaller than an OCZ Powersteam you won't have too many problems installing it, but if it is, you might have to go ninja lol
The first time I set everything up, took me an hour or two, but I did it fast because I wanted to get my system up and running, did it again the next week, took 4 hours, and I build computers almost every day. So if you do get it, take your time installing everything and make sure all the cabling is perfect.
If you have a long graphics card (especially using PCIe power connector, might just be for Powerstream though) don't expect to use the top HD mounts (I prefer the bottom ones anyways).
The door WILL not be flush with the front power buttons (which can be fixed)
The case has decent area to work with, but plan accordingly
I replaced my front and rear exhaust fans and couldn't be happier, I am a heavy overclocker but wanted something I could bear in my room, got some 120x38 Panaflo Quiet Fans (the 31DBA ones)
Overall it is an amazing case and I don't think you will have many problems with that PSU, if it has one of those bottom intake fans (the one that would usually be directly above the CPU) then the PSU will have to be mounted so that the fan is facing upwards, no big deal
First off, for your PSU, if that's smaller than an OCZ Powersteam you won't have too many problems installing it, but if it is, you might have to go ninja lol
The first time I set everything up, took me an hour or two, but I did it fast because I wanted to get my system up and running, did it again the next week, took 4 hours, and I build computers almost every day. So if you do get it, take your time installing everything and make sure all the cabling is perfect.
If you have a long graphics card (especially using PCIe power connector, might just be for Powerstream though) don't expect to use the top HD mounts (I prefer the bottom ones anyways).
The door WILL not be flush with the front power buttons (which can be fixed)
The case has decent area to work with, but plan accordingly
I replaced my front and rear exhaust fans and couldn't be happier, I am a heavy overclocker but wanted something I could bear in my room, got some 120x38 Panaflo Quiet Fans (the 31DBA ones)
Overall it is an amazing case and I don't think you will have many problems with that PSU, if it has one of those bottom intake fans (the one that would usually be directly above the CPU) then the PSU will have to be mounted so that the fan is facing upwards, no big deal
Spike
Diamond Member
- Aug 27, 2001
- 6,770
- 1
- 81
I agree with most of what you said but am confused with that bolded comment, my door is completly flush with the sides, no warping at all. I have heard that can change over time but so far (4 weeks) it has not changed.
I also did not take the time for a proper build so my wiring is less than ideal. I plan to take some time this weekend to go through and rewire the case for better airflow and a cleaner look. For cooling I have a pair of yate-loon DS12 fans for intake and exhaust, my SPII 500w is the only fans in the lower compartment, I replaced the northbridge with a Evercool VC-RE running @ 3000 rpm and my opteron 165 @ 2.52 is cooled with a SI-120 and a panaflo M1A.
In web surfing mode (all fans at 6v) this case is dead quiet from more than ~2 feet away, and that is in a completly quiet house in a quiet neighborhood so I am not exagerating. When I go into gaming mode (the front and rear exhaust fans to 12v) it is slightly noisy though more along the lines of a stock dell (and no, not the dells with the funked up fans that drive you nuts). I only turn the cpu on full when I am priming for 20+ hours so that always stays quiet.
Take your time when you build the pc, it takes alot to get the setup right with the P180 but when it is done well it will sing (though sing silently
)-spike
My door was warped when it arrived. My vendor (NCIX) was aware of problem, and sent me a replacement 3 days later. Door swap was brainlessly easy, and resulted in flush door.
The cabling might be tricky, depending on PSU chosen... Some PSUs don't have cables (see my rig below) which can reach all the way from the bottom of the P180 to the 4pin 12V connector on the motherboard. Extenders might be required ($3-10) for this 4 pin cable only.
The case is beautifully constructed, but does take longer than usual to set everything up...check out www.silentpcreview.com for a review and pics of one person's setup. It took me several hours, but was worth it, I think.
Junk the VGA duct...apparently it just amplifies any fan noise in it, without improving cooling performance.
MikalCarbine257:
"Overall it is an amazing case and I don't think you will have many problems with that PSU, if it has one of those bottom intake fans (the one that would usually be directly above the CPU) then the PSU will have to be mounted so that the fan is facing upwards, no big deal"
I *really* think that is bad advice. Really. Don't do this.
Power supplies with "bottom fans" often use big, slower moving fans, expecting rising hot air to help move it into the PSU. Inverting you PSU will usually void your PSU warranty (it does on both of my Seasonics), and result in the fan not being able to efficiently pull rising air *down* though the PSU. The P180 PSU bracket is built with approx 1.5cm space above AND below the PSU, so top or bottom fans won't affect installation. The only thing you might want to do is tape up the ductwork leading out of the case *around* the PSU. so that air being pulled into the PSU is pulled from inside the case - improving the lower bay's HDD ventilation.
-Adrian
The cabling might be tricky, depending on PSU chosen... Some PSUs don't have cables (see my rig below) which can reach all the way from the bottom of the P180 to the 4pin 12V connector on the motherboard. Extenders might be required ($3-10) for this 4 pin cable only.
The case is beautifully constructed, but does take longer than usual to set everything up...check out www.silentpcreview.com for a review and pics of one person's setup. It took me several hours, but was worth it, I think.
Junk the VGA duct...apparently it just amplifies any fan noise in it, without improving cooling performance.
MikalCarbine257:
"Overall it is an amazing case and I don't think you will have many problems with that PSU, if it has one of those bottom intake fans (the one that would usually be directly above the CPU) then the PSU will have to be mounted so that the fan is facing upwards, no big deal"
I *really* think that is bad advice. Really. Don't do this.
Power supplies with "bottom fans" often use big, slower moving fans, expecting rising hot air to help move it into the PSU. Inverting you PSU will usually void your PSU warranty (it does on both of my Seasonics), and result in the fan not being able to efficiently pull rising air *down* though the PSU. The P180 PSU bracket is built with approx 1.5cm space above AND below the PSU, so top or bottom fans won't affect installation. The only thing you might want to do is tape up the ductwork leading out of the case *around* the PSU. so that air being pulled into the PSU is pulled from inside the case - improving the lower bay's HDD ventilation.
-Adrian
Antec's webpage for this case recommends the TruPower series...so what you're saying is just go ahead and mount it normally, fan facing down?
Spike
Diamond Member
- Aug 27, 2001
- 6,770
- 1
- 81
Yes, mount it on the bottom. Or get a PSU like the Antec SmartPower series that have dual 80mm fans on either end. Only the interior fan on my SP 500w turns on so it pulls air through the lower bay with no noise escaping. The air coming out of that bay is actually warm as opposed to the cool air coming out of the upper bay but my HDD temps seem fine.
-spike
If the PSU is meant to be mounted with the fan down, mount it that way. If the manual says you can flip it, feel free to do so...keep in mind, the PSU designers may not have looked into this option, because you would never do this in a typical ATX case. Anyway, if they explicitly say you can flip, feel free...otherwise...fan down.
with regards to the P180 case and the antec TPII with the bottom fan, this is what I have as well.
For those who have not seen the inside of the case, the power supply is mounted at the bottom of the chassis, but its on a raised platform and there's about an inch of space from the bottom of the case to the power supply platform. There's plenty of room for air to be drawn in from the vent holes in the back, into the power supply.
For those who have not seen the inside of the case, the power supply is mounted at the bottom of the chassis, but its on a raised platform and there's about an inch of space from the bottom of the case to the power supply platform. There's plenty of room for air to be drawn in from the vent holes in the back, into the power supply.
It makes no difference whether you mount any PSU normal or sideways or upsidedown!![/quote]
is that right? why don't you qualify that response with something approaching fact? Ceryainly Seasonic will not warranty an "upside down" PSU. If the other manufacturers *do* allow it, list them - otherwise cut out the unsubstantiated BS.
Jan 26th edit: JEDI has informed me via proivate message that he emailed 6 companies, including Seasonic, about mounting the PSU fan upside down (fan facing up). He has told me that the companies do not mind if the PSU is mounted in this orientation. The installation manual still says that only one orientation is valid, so I suspect that for warranty purposes, the fan down is still the only acceptable orientation...of course, its unlikely that it will *really* ever cause you a problem, or that anyone would find out, but... In the end, recommended orientation is still "fan facing down" -A
If you haven't touched it the door feels flimsy to me, I really didn't like it. Too bad everything else about it seems great.
Just lock it up if the door bothers you, from personal use I don't turn off my pc nor do I have a lot of cd/dvds to load so it was quite simple for me to keep it locked 95% of the time. Also, my 7800GT is like full size and it instantly blocks the VGA duct. With my Seasonic 500W, I mounted it normally as it has that 120x38 antec tricool there in the bottom section.
Alternatively, take the door off altogether. It is *incredibly* easy to do - squeeze the top & bottom plastic inserts - and still looks great. A bit more noise *might* come out, but I can't hear it in my case.
I went away for the weekend, left the heat off and left a window open. When I came back, the aluminum in the center of the door was bowed enough for me to stick my fingers in between the two layers of the door, lol.
I can use the bow in the door as a rough temperature gauge for my apartment, now. The colder it gets, the bigger the bow.
Doesn't bother me, though, is only noticeable when I'm looking for it. Quite often the door is completely open anyways, folded back along the side.
I can use the bow in the door as a rough temperature gauge for my apartment, now. The colder it gets, the bigger the bow.
Doesn't bother me, though, is only noticeable when I'm looking for it. Quite often the door is completely open anyways, folded back along the side.
I believe Antec are now making doors for the p180 that won't bulge. They have metal on the inside as well so they keep their shape.
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