| Article Index |
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| Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case Review |
| 2 - Inside the Case |
| 4 - Conclusion |
| All Pages |
More than just the poor little brother of the famed Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer case, the Antec Three Hundred gives you a
somewhat basic case with lots of space and cooling at a very reasonable price.
fThe Antec Nine Hundred case, dubbed (by Antec) as the “Ultimate Gaming Case”, has been a massive success for Antec, due mostly to its size, quality, features and relatively low price compared to many of its competitors. Capitalising on this newly formed brand name of ‘Hundred’, Antec have released a new case to cater for those lower end gamers who still want a case with a bit of functionality and style. Selling online for just over AU$100 without a power supply, it certainly seems like value for money considering it’s an Antec product, I guess we’ll find out.
Appearance:
The Three Hundred follows in a similar vain to its big brother, but rather a bit more understated than the flamboyant and edgy Nine Hundred. The Three Hundred keeps the same matt-black finish all round, as well as the black mesh drive covers on the front of the case – top to bottom. There are 9 drive covers/spots in total, however 6 of them are one solid piece of see-through mesh to allow air flow, with only three actual drive covers up the top of the case. Our review sample had one cover already missing out of the box, but i'm told by Antec that they are thankfully supplied with all three.
Even though the drive covers are all the size of a 5.25” drive bay, only the top 3 positions actually have 5.25” drive bays behind them, with the bottom 6 acting as little more than stylish air filters for two 12cm fan points mounted in front of the internal 3.5” drive bays. And filter it does, with a fine mesh filter sitting behind all the lower drive covers to keep dust out, a very nice touch and always a welcome inclusion in any PC case (front air filters are something the larger Nine Hundred case doesn’t actually have). There is no externally accessible 3.5” drive bay, so a floppy drive is out of the question without special mounting brackets – not that anyone really cares about a floppy drive anymore.
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The top of the Three Hundred is flat and smooth except for a 14cm fan grill cut-out towards the rear, certainly a contrast to its brethren’s rather busy roof-top which even housed its own storage compartment. The I/O ports and power/reset switches are found in a rather slim panel at the front of the case. Just your basics here, 2 x USB ports, Audio Ports and Power/Reset switches. No eSATA, not even a FireWire port, a bit of a disappointment I must say, but better than nothing I suppose.
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At the back of the Three Hundred we have the power supply compartment situated at the base, enough expansion slots to accommodate a full height ATX motherboard, and a 12cm cooling fan near the top, perfect for cooling down the CPU area, and big enough to draw air through the entire case when coupled with the 14cm fan up in the roof.
Lastly there are the Three Hundred’s side panels. There’s no Perspex windows cut into these ones, just a solid black piece of a sheet metal with a cut-out for a 12cm fan next to the expansion card area of the system, although no fan is actually included in this spot, rather just an open and efficient mesh grill.
There’s certainly nothing revolutionary about the Three Hundred it terms of its appearance, but everything comes together nicely to give quite a classy, though possibly a bit boring, overall feel to its design.
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|198.208.16.xxx |2008-03-12 12:01:38 Stuart Lowe - What it needsI believe this case needs one more thing to be perfect - some holes in the back for water pipes. If it had that I'd order one now...
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|71.141.105.xxx |2008-04-08 20:27:22 Guest - Centurion 590You should check out the Cooler Master Centurion 590, which was also just recently released. For around 10 dollars more you get not only your ports for watercooling, but modular drive cages (ala Antec 900), firewire port, toolless elements, and an included two 120mm fans. Not to mention, it's a bit more stylish than the Antec 300.
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|213.123.139.xxx |2008-04-25 01:56:32 dakn - Centurion 590It's a nice case but it has too many 5.25" Drive Bay's compared to 3.5", which is what's so good about the Antec. Who ever needed 9 Burners!?!?! never got why they have it this when in cases..
the 300 is the perfect home server too :)
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|205.155.68.xxx |2009-08-13 01:41:37 Tom - BuilderYou can buy adapters with predrilled water tubing and fitting holes that slip into an empty back panel board slot. Try FrozenPC.com
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|205.155.68.xxx |2009-08-13 01:41:44 Tom - BuilderYou can buy adapters with predrilled water tubing and fitting holes that slip into an empty back panel board slot. Try FrozenPC.com
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|24.150.25.xxx |2008-05-03 08:42:49 dominic - will it fit an 8800gtx?just wondering, did it fit a big video card without losing an hdd slot?
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|99.236.168.xxx |2008-05-03 12:36:02 matt zehr - it fitsi had an 8800gts g92, and now have hte longer 9800gtx and both fit without problems behind the hard drives
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|90.190.235.xxx |2008-09-02 05:09:10 Alo - It does ofcoh cmon dont be a noob. ofcourse it does if you buy right motherboard that fits the graphics card,it cant depent about the case LOL!
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|24.21.232.xxx |2008-05-06 19:09:34 WIpboy - I'm all over it....yeah, holes are pretty hard to dremel/drill..ROFL. IF that's the only thing from stopping you, I don't think you should be into water cooling..seriously..
I see this as the poor man's 900. I'm sizing up my 3x120mm rad tomorrow at the local PC shop, to see if it can hang on the back, if it fits I'm taking it.
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|88.77.251.xxx |2008-05-28 12:01:26 TStarGermany - 14cm -exhaust- fan?i might be wrong, but the fins of the top fan look like they will drag the air in ? and where are the dust filters for the top and side fans ?
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|67.165.213.xxx |2008-06-04 10:00:01 Notso - Yes, you are wrong.The top fan is indeed an exhaust fan. The blades (fins?) turn in a clockwise direction and as the leading edge is lower than the trailing edge the air will move upward. Also the leading and trailing edges of fans are curved to the rear from the hub to the tip in order to reduce noise.
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|88.76.229.xxx |2008-06-10 19:49:09 TStarGermany - I knowi bought the case and the fan indeed pulls out the air.. unfortunately i dont know where to buy a dust filter case or a grid for a 14cm fan :(
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|67.165.213.xxx |2008-06-11 03:34:54 Notso - Top Fan Dust FilterThe top fan rock catcher (it won't filter anything smaller than gravel) can be augmented by placing a piece of common fiber glass screen between the fan and the case.
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|87.208.104.xxx |2008-07-04 21:20:22 Tim - Lol?Why would you need a air filter for a exhaust fan? Doesnt make any sence.. that will keep the dust inside rather then out lol?!
Also the top van is indeed a exhaust not intake
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|71.56.216.xxx |2008-07-05 03:21:25 Notso - Filter for top exhaust fanUnless you run your computer 24/7 the top exhaust fan will allow dust to enter the system if it isn't corrected somehow. If you don't want to remove the top fan to install a filter between the fan and case, place something useless (a mouse pad) over the opening. Just don't forget to remove it on start up!
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|72.148.208.xxx |2008-07-30 00:50:13 Guest - NAThe "Hundred" series of Antec cases are meant to move lots of air. The Nine and Twelve Hundred cases dont proved filters as they impede air flow. Why the Three Hundred did, is beyond me. If you want filters then look the tons of other cases out there. These are meant to cool lots of hot equipment like a game rig tends to be, but on a budget. You simply have to get used to dusting every month or two. If you take care of your cables this should be a quick simple job with a can of air.
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|71.56.216.xxx |1999-11-30 00:00:00 Notso - Antec 300 FiltersTo rebuke NA (guest), do your homework before you post! The 1200 has filters just like the 300 on the front for the 3 intake fans. In addition, if you ever bothered to actually look at the case you would have noticed that the side perforations are covered with plexiglass on he inside, and the side intake fan has a FILTER. The purpose for these changes came from complaints of the 900. I have a friend with a 900, and he was having to clean weekly to prevent dust buildup temp increases. I installed some simple mesh filters for him. The dust problem was gone and internal temps were nominal.
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|71.125.112.xxx |2008-06-27 15:18:50 Steve - Just got one - Love it.Room to grow.
Running twenty yo thirty degrees
cooler at idle than my old(8yrold)
Antec case.
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|58.164.60.xxx |2008-08-03 12:47:16 New Computer User - CPU CoolingI've just bought a computer from the net with this case and a core 2 duo 8400 CPU. However, it doesn't come with a CPU cooler. This case review says that the top fan is "perfect for cooling down the CPU area", but people have told me that i still need a CPU cooler. Can somebody please help me?
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|80.222.203.xxx |2008-08-03 22:15:39 somebody - cpu coolerYou absolutely need a CPU cooler or your processor won't work (or in the worst case scenario it will be broken). The top fan is just for cooling the CPU cooler :)
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|84.84.217.xxx |2008-08-04 09:06:23 Cerberus™ - Don't try withoutI agree, get the cooler that fits onto the CPU or you might quickly burn your CPU. Don't think to "try for just a second and see" without one: some CPUs may burn up within a minute.
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|71.56.140.xxx |2008-08-05 13:47:40 Ross Manning - YoYou still need a heatsink for your processor. The top fan is perfect for cooling the CPU "area" and not the CPU itself. The CPU needs a dedicated cooling solution, such as the heatsink. A case fan, is not enough to cool a CPU, period. Much too hot, it needs dedicated cooling. So the top fan is good for taking a few degrees off the CPU temperature possibly, and cooling the surrounding motherboard areas.
Ross Manning
http://www.pc-gurus.net
For more tech tips and advice, join my site today.
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|88.78.23.xxx |2008-08-13 15:49:16 TStar - rear fanholehas anyone removed the mesh at the back fanhole ? i'm having a real hard time with the nasty air sounds at the back :ß
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|90.190.235.xxx |2008-09-02 05:20:01 Alo - Showing it to friendmy friend is building a pc and im showing this case to friend. he will buy it i think. looks cool ppl!
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|76.3.148.xxx |2008-10-06 09:10:11 jay are - can it?can the antec three hundred fit matx?
im wondering cuz i wanna buy this 1 foxconn motherboard.
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|68.190.114.xxx |2008-12-07 03:36:38 Mike - Great CaseI bought this case and love it. Great case for the budget gaming machine. I had some vibration noise, but went thru and tightened all the screws (especially in the front of the case - have to take the front panel off to get to them) and it helped a ton. Very cool temps with the case as well. Would recommend.
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|75.164.198.xxx |2009-01-04 14:51:55 Alex - Great cheap caseAwesome case, but I would recommend buying 2 120mm fans for the front. Fits my 4850 just fine :). Overall, excellent case.
To answer the questions that some asked:
1. Yes, it will fit an mATX board.
2. You should always use a CPU cooler, no matter what. The Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro is good, and only $25 USD.
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|118.136.73.xxx |2009-02-25 02:17:34 radical - Mrsome say up there 8800GT may fit depends on the motherboard. so what about Lan Party and 8800GT, can it fit without sacrifice the HDD slot? regards
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|91.185.124.xxx |2009-03-20 09:14:48 Shon - Less warranty on three hundred than usuaI was surprised when I realised that the importer gives only 1 year warranty on this case and the manufacturer warranty is 3 years.Obviously the most week point of this case is the off/on and reset button. So if you push to hard the very poor quality plastic button will break.It is happening that I push 2 or 3 times and do not get respond.Only in correct spot easy push will result my comp on.So I send the E mail to to Antec and no answer so far. I was wondering is the warranty issue involves cash agreement between the importer and manufacturer so if the importer reduce the time warranty ge
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|70.119.172.xxx |2009-06-28 05:52:04 Chris - damndidn't know those were reusable cable ties! I think I threw those out!
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|112.202.111.xxx |2009-08-04 20:18:57 Digital Dreamspace - Great review...Great review. But lacks the preview of inner side of the cae.
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|205.155.68.xxx |2009-08-13 01:50:05 Tom - BuilderSorry, that's FrozenCPU. Look here: http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g30/c101/s762/list/p1/Liquid_Cooling-F ittings_Accessories-PCI_Pass_Thru-Page1.html
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|205.155.68.xxx |2009-08-13 01:50:11 Tom - BuilderSorry, that's FrozenCPU. Look here: http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g30/c101/s762/list/p1/Liquid_Cooling-F ittings_Accessories-PCI_Pass_Thru-Page1.html
