Why is everyone so nuts about the Antec SX830?

[shiner]

I looked into buying one but didn't like it as well as the InWin S500 that I have used to build several systems. I think the Antec's front bezel is flat out ugly and it's too damn tall for most people.

On a related note....

I have seen people mention the Enlight 7237 several times in a positive light so I bought one for the last PC I built and thought it was average at best. It may be a great case to mod but straight out for the box I wasn't impressed.

Of course I guess everyone has their favorites...

 

[jsbush]

Antec case is really good, and it's not ugly, have you seen it for your self? The pictures of it are not nearly as nice as the real thing. I like it way better then my In-Win S500 and A500. It is tall it's a 3/4 tower case.

I love it so much cus it's really easy to get into it the rails for the 5 1/2 inche are way better the the ones on the s500, plus really good airflow with 4 fans (even though I only have three). Great power supply, lots of room to work in, really well made slide out hard drive trays. Really solid.

I wouldn't recomend the SX830 over the S500 for the average user, but for the overclocker or for a workstation or a low end server this is a really the case to get.

 

[Stealth1024]

If you need a larger power supply go for the Antec SX840 over the SX830.

 

[Playmaker]

Hmm, I was pretty close to getting an SX830 for my new comp, but now you got me thinking. I don't want a full tower, but I don't want a small mid-tower, so I like how it's in between. I'd put 2 80mm high output sunons in front and 2 high output 80mm sunons in back. I'd then cut a hole on top for a chimney, probably 92mm, and 2 more on the side, probably 80mm. Back and chimney out and side and front in of course. Would this be a good idea and provide balanced airflow? or is that In-win case better?

 

[Bludhound]

I LOVE this case. Excellent build quality, and I like all the little touches that Antec put on this case, like the slide out 5.25 drives, etc. Coupled with my Enermax PS, and I have a great setup.

-BH

 

[GryphonKlaw]

This is my first PC that I am building and I love this case.

With just two fans in the back my CPU temp is between 30 - 48 C. I have a 1.1 Ghz T-Bird on KT7-RAID with the AMD given thermal compound.I want to put Artic Silver. Those holes in the front are great. My environment temperature is about 29-38 C. I am getting some more fans.

On the AMD website, they suggest that putting 2 case fans in the front and two in the back is actually sometimes bad.

 

[anton]

I have that case , but "server version" or something like that ... and I love it , no ugly anel in the front , there's a door ; ) ... and u can lock it up

 

[hydrobum]

Damn! Before I even got to it, UPS returned my "damaged" case.
There goes my Christmas present for myself.... :|:Q

 

[lagvoid]

i just recently got the sx1030 model case and i think its the best looking case ive ever seen.

 

[AMD4ME2]

I too thought the antec sx830 looked sorta ugly.. but the features won my heart and I ordered one.. now I think its a very slick looking case.. the pictures don't do it justice at all, the front bezel is actually quite attractive to me now. I just finished adding an air filter(cut up furnace filter) to the front bezel. Now I just need that MSI Turbo board to come out! I haven't built one in over a year and im feeling the itch bad!

 

I have the 1030x and i LOVE it.
How does the front bezel come out to add a filter?
Or you just put it right on the fan holder?

 

[R0b0tN1k]

I don't know about the 1030, but on the 830 there are just 2 clips under the removable top bezel that you hold and push it downwards. The front panel wires keep you from removing it completely, but it's enough to put something in there.

 

[dadx2mj]

Playmaker I think it would be a crime to chop up an SX830 I put the 2 fans in the front intake spots and my case temp is the same as ambeint room temp. Everybody is right the pictures don't do it justice. I think you would be hard pressed to buy this much case for $150 and they go for only $80

 

[Smbu]

I don't have the SX830, but I do have it's bigger brother the SX1030B and it's great. The SX1030B has one extra 5.25" bay and 3 extra 3.5" internal bays compared to the SX830. I have great airflow w/all 4 fans in place. Plus I like the black color of the case, which, is sure to go great w/my system once I get my black IBM P96 monitor, damn slow UPS. Also the SX1030B has a swing cover to hide all of my beige colored drives, so they don't clash w/the black.

 

[AMD4ME2]

to get the bottom part of the bezel off the top part has to be off as well... then you just slide it downward.. there are two clips up top that you might have to pull towards you slightly to get it to slide... it pops right off and has a perfect place to put filter material..

 

[Mday]

the Enlight 7237 is good because it's cheap and does not suck. it's screaming to be modded.

i don't consider the antec case my fave, nor it is one of them. but it does not suck.

there are just so many cases out there that suck like hell, we just want to remind ourselves that there are cases that don't suck out there. also, we have a tendency to recommend what we have that does not suck.

my sc750a is just sitting here being still expensive. ;-)

 

[Lalakai]

I've been looking at the SX830 and 1030 also. They seem to be solid cases with good ps and an excellent layout. My only complaint was a fixed motherboard tray. Found another site that looks like they have excellent cases with some mods already done. Since none of these have removable motherboard trays, I'm going with the 292-3333 from AMK.

AMK 292-3333 check their site and look at the cases, the 18" 292 (there's a recent review at PC Extremes that covers this case in more detail).

still trying to find someone who already has one or has dealt with this company, so if anyone has some info I'ld appreciate it. thanks.

edit=clarification and a bit more info.

 

[Jhhnn]

Shinerburke-

I agree with you that the sx-Antecs are not the case to use when building for most users. Too Big. Your choice of the S500 Inwin is excellent for that purpose. The Enlights find favor for the reasons already mentioned, but are pretty dated. I am intrigued by the new Inwin, S508? Seems like it would cool easier, something that becomes more important as system speed/heat output continues to increase.

The popularity of the sx-Antecs is well deserved among enthusiasts. They have lots of room to work and for all the stuff we like to cram in them without being ridiculously huge. They breathe extremely well, and require no mods (other than fan selection) With the included PSU, they are a bargain, the only thing that comes close is the FongKai FK320, another jumbo mid-tower.

Ugly? Not really, just different, kinda like a Bull Mastiff..... Definitely not just another beige box.

 

[subhuman]

My opinion, but Inwin cases suck. I used to be all over them, they are still floating around, but fitting a tall HSF or Slot1 processor under the power supply on the Inwin A500 is ANNOYING. I have an ASUS slotket holding a 700mhz@933 chip in my brother's system, and it flexes the motherboard slightly to get it to fit under the powersupply.

I also cut my fingers on that thing... GRR.

 

[Playmaker]

Jhhnn, a super-midtower with 4 external 5.25s and 2 external 3.5s with another 3.5 inside is the config I want. I was thinking of getting a the Chenbro Genie since I could fit 2 120mm fans for the front intake. Well, since it would cost me almost $200 just to get it in its stock config I was going to get the Enligh 7237 instead and live with just 120mm for intake since it's a bit shorter. To get to the point, what do you mean by dated? What do the newer cases have over it? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[shiner]

Forgot to add...my personal case is the Fong Kai 603 and I love it!!!

 

[Jhhnn]

I just meant that the Enlights haven't changed much. The relatively recent addition of the rear fan mount and the removable side panel are the only changes I can think of for the 7237. Updated, for sure, but a relatively old design that doesn't address the need for more cooling for newer hardware really well.

Once you install that 1200 T-Bird, GF2, dual 7200rpm RAID-0 drives and a burner, you'll probably want to mod it to keep the temps down.

And that's OK, if that's what you want.

 

[Maximus96]

i got a sx1030 as well...the case is very nice, except one thing...to take the heatsink on or off my kt7 raid...i would have to either remove the enntire mobo or remove the powersupply...i guess removing the powersupply would be easier...but then again, i probably won't be removing my heatsink all the time...i do that now just to make sure everything is working right cus its a new machine...