| Article Index |
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| Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case Review |
| 2 - Inside the Case |
| 4 - Conclusion |
| All Pages |
What’s Inside?:
Inside the Three Hundred we find the motherboard area gives ample room for any standard size ATX motherboard (up to 12” x 9.6”) with the power supply situated at the bottom of the case below the motherboard area. Any standard size ATX power supply will fit here without a problem, even ones that are longer than normal, but there’s no power supply included as standard.
The front area of the Three Hundred is top to bottom drive bays, with 3 x 5.25” bays up top, and a total of 6 x 3.5” hard drive bays underneath, which should be more than enough for 95% of system builders out there. The hard drives will remain well cooled in the Three Hundred, with the front of the case allowing plenty of air flow through (drawn through by the rear/top fans) and if extra cooling is required for the hard drives, 2 x 12cm fans can be installed right in front of the 3.5” drive bays.
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The cooling fans inside the Three Hundred, which consist of a 14cm fan in the roof and a 12cm fan in the rear, are both Antec Tri-Cool items. So fan speed and noise is a matter of choice thanks to their 3-way speed switches. Even for higher end systems, a low speed fan will give sufficient air flow given the size of the fans and the well designed and non-restrictive fans grill/holes they’re attached to. They’ll pull enough air through the front to keep the hard drives cool, I think the only addition you may make to this case is installing a fan in the allocated spot in the side panel if you have some hefty graphic cards installed in there, to help dissipate the heat a bit better.
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{mospagebreak title=3 - Installation}
Installation:
It’s in the installation of all the components that we really see where in the market the Three Hundred is placed, and it’s certainly nothing like its big brother.
The motherboard in the Three Hundred is installed with standard brass stand-offs like most cases, but unlike many other Antec cases, there’s no drive slides to be found in the Three Hundred for either the hard drives or the 5.25” drive bays. Everything is to be screwed in to the chassis itself. Antec do provide a bag full of thumb screws for the installation of the hard drives, in an effort to make it a somewhat tool-less exercise.
This is not altogether a bad thing not having drive slides, sure it’s a bit inconvenient when you have to take a drive out, but seriously how often to most people replace the drives in their systems? Once every year or two? And/or only IF they die? Having them screwed in is far more secure, especially if the case is going to be transported or moved around at all. Even moving the case from one room of the house to another can be a bit sketchy if everything’s held in with only plastic slides. So yes it feels a bit cheaper than some other cases out there (maybe because it is?), but it’s really no worse off in terms of build quality.
One thing the Three Hundred also misses out on compared to a lot of its Antec counterparts and many other cases on the market, is any sort of sound deadening or vibration prevention. Many other cases give rubber grommets around hard drive screws, around the power supply etc… but the Three Hundred has none of this whatsoever. So it’s likely little harmonic vibrations will find a way of appearing at some time when this is in operation.
Next to the hard drive bays there is a small attempt at cable management included by the way of some tie-down points complete with easily reusable nylon ties, to help keep any unused or overly long cables out of the way. A feature that’s always welcome on any case, big or small.
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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
