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View Full Version : Antec Nine Hundred Reviewed

Richie P
10-19-2006, 02:49 PM
Antec Nine Hundred reviewed here



This case is the best ever released by Antec, they have outdone themselves, this thing leaves the hugely popular P180 series at the starting line. It looks awesome, it's quiet, it cools superbly, and has everything you could want from a PC case. This isnt just a gamer case as described, it really blows you away, and will look brilliant anywhere you put it.

I'm gradually coming around on this case. Didn't like it at first, but it's seriously growing on me. :) May well cosider this over a P190...
gr8golf
10-19-2006, 04:31 PM
I've been waiting to see if others who've bought the case like it. This review really indicates that it is very quiet and cools well. They have them in stock at the local CompUSA so I think I'll stop in and check it out. Gotta be able to disable those LED's on the front fans tho.
Richie P
10-19-2006, 04:51 PM
I dunno...I'm really not one for the neon and funky look (I like the P180!) but those led fans do finish of the front of that case quite nicely...

Gonna be a serious toss up between this and a P190. Got a P180 on the way a the moment, so might not do anything at all but hey. :D
LordofDoom
10-19-2006, 04:55 PM
I like this case. I give it a 5/5 at first looks :)

-Satan
Praxis1452
10-19-2006, 06:21 PM
I really hate this case. I hate all windows that try and use some odd shape. Just show the bottom half or top half or all. It doesn't need to be a V or something else! all the holes in the front totally ruin it for me though. I mean compared to a Lian-Li it's just so fugly.
gr8golf
10-19-2006, 07:34 PM
I really hate this case. I hate all windows that try and use some odd shape. Just show the bottom half or top half or all. It doesn't need to be a V or something else! all the holes in the front totally ruin it for me though. I mean compared to a Lian-Li it's just so fugly.

I'm not a big window guy at all - never had one on a case before. Mine sits in a computer desk that only shows the front of the case so I'm not too worried about that. I kinda like the openness of this case. It seems like it would just increase a lot of airflow through the case. I really need to swing by CUSA and see one in person.
dig412
10-20-2006, 12:31 PM
Looks a bit too industrial for me.
DTU_XaVier
10-20-2006, 12:39 PM
It could be a killer for me :).. So many (quiet) fans included could be a good argument for purchase :)..
Best Regards :toast:
Hardware_Guru_1
10-21-2006, 04:09 AM
Very Nice case that. One may have to treat oneself to it.
Max Tractor
10-21-2006, 11:56 AM
Reminds me of the 2 robotic dogs from red dwarf. Surley they could have managed a internal shiny type look
vengance_01
10-21-2006, 02:31 PM
This looks to be the best Air Cooled case ever. This is a case that should last for quite some time. My 5 year old Modded Cheiftech SOHO Case is getting long in the tooth. Might be time to grab a new case.
syne_24
10-21-2006, 03:21 PM
I'm not feeling the whole appearance either. Doesnt seem very smooth like or aerodynamic look.
vengance_01
10-21-2006, 03:29 PM
I'm not feeling the whole appearance either. Doesnt seem very smooth like or aerodynamic look. Some people like looks, others like functionality and I for one prefer that over looks. Thats why I have had my old SOHO case for so long, B/C it works. Plain and simple.
markopoleo
10-21-2006, 08:17 PM
Sad to say most good cases look like crap now-a-days. Lucky manufactors are tuning into the "voltron cases are stupid".
afireinside
10-21-2006, 10:17 PM
I love this case other than the side panel, which is hideous. I'm probably going to get it though. Would an mcr220 fit in the front or is it rad box time?
gr8golf
10-21-2006, 10:50 PM
I bought one tonight - I'm eyeballing my pretty Coolermaster case and this one and trying to decide if I really want to go with it. The cooling potential is awesome on this thing.
alpha0ne
10-21-2006, 11:15 PM
Very nice case but a little too small :)
gr8golf
10-22-2006, 08:47 AM
Of course - I bought it, and got 3/4 the way through the transition/install from my other case and then discovered that the POWER ON cable is too short to reach the pins on my DS3. WTF is that! I don't know if I got one that is screwed up or if this is a design flaw on Antec's part. The other front panel wires (reset, LED's) are long enough - WTH happened with this power on one?
Hardware_Guru_1
10-22-2006, 11:06 AM
Of course - I bought it, and got 3/4 the way through the transition/install from my other case and then discovered that the POWER ON cable is too short to reach the pins on my DS3. WTF is that! I don't know if I got one that is screwed up or if this is a design flaw on Antec's part. The other front panel wires (reset, LED's) are long enough - WTH happened with this power on one?

This was a very common issue with the P180. The Ninehundred can use a shorter cable, the P180 needs an even longer one. :eek:
gr8golf
10-22-2006, 11:23 AM
This was a very common issue with the P180. The Ninehundred can use a shorter cable, the P180 needs an even longer one. :eek:


Never saw that - but I never paid attention to the P180 threads or reviews. How could Antec possibly miss this? My other complaint was that the bottom mounted PSU has to stretch the 4 pin power connection up over stuff to reach the plug on the DS3. I'd really like to get some 120's blowing on my stuff, but I'm not impressed with some of the compromises. I guess what I want is my existing case with 120mm fans. :rolleyes:
Sneaky
10-22-2006, 11:44 AM
I guess what I want is my existing case with 120mm fans. :rolleyes:


if you want a case like yours but with all 120mm fans - take a look at the new Silverstone TJ-09 ;)


B: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=103_168&products_id=20866

S: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=103_168&products_id=20865
afireinside
10-22-2006, 09:51 PM
Ordered one from Provantage earlier, can't wait for it to arrive. Even if it's steel and slightly unattractive, the performance looks awesome!
iViper
10-23-2006, 04:23 AM
Ordered one from Provantage earlier, can't wait for it to arrive. Even if it's steel and slightly unattractive, the performance looks awesome!

You wont be dissappointed mate. This is the best air cooled case ever. Opens a can of whoop ass on the P180's and most Lian Li's as well.

:D
deadlydude
10-23-2006, 06:55 AM
Nice case...lots of air...love the top tray with headphone/usb ports. Modular bays for custom placement of HD and other devices.

Two problems so far:
1) Fan control. Each fan has a three position switch on a short lead. can only be set by opening case...no rpm line for monitoring...all use a 4 pin molex vice three pin (I guess no need to plug in motherboard since there is no rpm monitor wire any way.) I'm seriously thinking of replacint the fans. I have an aftermarket front panel fan rpm and temp monitor "thingy" that is useless with these fans.

2) I like the power supply on the bottom but now it is harder to dress the wires..for instance the 12volt motherboard connection wire has to go to top of MB and barely makes it on a straight line (Gigabyte 965P-DS3), hardly any strain relief.
gr8golf
10-23-2006, 09:48 AM
Deadlydude - so does your power button wire make it all the way down to the pins on the DS3? I'm trying to figure out if mine is jacked up or it was designed that way.
deadlydude
10-23-2006, 10:44 AM
I had no problem with any connections that go to the power/rst header at the bottom of the MB. There wasn't a lot of strain relief though...check to see if they aren't bundled up in one of the tie downs up at the top of the case.
afireinside
10-24-2006, 03:32 PM
Got mine just now, wow that was fast!

Ok first off, watercooling this will be a :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:. The front fans, hdd bays, and mesh covers are all one piece. The 120mm fan in the midddle also will not work when you have HDDs in the bay. So you can either have 6x 3.5" or 3x 3.5" with a 120mm intake blowing to a 120mm over graphics cards.

Top power/reset as well as usb/firefire/audio will not reach the mobo without just hanging there. will need some sort of extender to make the wiring clean. Also there's hardly any room to put the usb/firewire/audio if you don't want it. I had a hell of a time hiding the audio wires.

Case window is rather flimsy. The window also serves as the side fan mount and feels like it will snap when I hold the side panel on the windowed part.

Finally, watercooling will be hard. The case looked a lot bigger in pictures. I don't think I will even have room for a 50z with an OCZ PSU and 3 HDDs installed at the bottom. Also not being able to fit a dual fan rad up front puts a big hole in my plan as well. I'm sure you could mod this thing though.

All in all it's another very high build quality case from Antec and looks to be the best case money can buy if all you care about is cooling performance. I'll have pics in a bit and a mounted system tomorrow hopefully when my watercooling stuff comes.
afireinside
10-24-2006, 04:12 PM
http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1116.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1117.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1118.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1119.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1120.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1121.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1122.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1123.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1124.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1125.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1126.jpg

http://afireinside.evilspork.net/AFI/antec900/IMG_1127.jpg
TSXmike
10-24-2006, 04:15 PM
interesting...
Max Tractor
10-25-2006, 10:22 AM
The best thing about the internal steel finish is it pretty forgiving to finger marks. The case looks alright
ochw
10-25-2006, 10:24 AM
i like the look of that
Max Tractor
10-25-2006, 10:46 AM
Would you buy it, mores the point?
Revv23
10-25-2006, 12:58 PM
I like it but i hate the idea of bottom mounted psu's.

The only time thats okay is if its got stock rad mount on top.
GMX
10-29-2006, 08:31 AM
Ordered one from Provantage earlier, can't wait for it to arrive. Even if it's steel and slightly unattractive, the performance looks awesome!


Whats wrong with steel cases? Heavy? can rust?

I love steel, that rigid feeling, but it's not too good when you live near the water.
cloud_171
10-29-2006, 09:57 AM
Ahh this case caught my eye when I was in fry's might need to get one to try it out. It just looks like a smaller version of the Armor and with a 200mm fan on top instead of the side. Wish I had my Armor case here since I would love to compare it .
Phosphate
10-29-2006, 08:32 PM
Ahh this case caught my eye when I was in fry's might need to get one to try it out. It just looks like a smaller version of the Armor and with a 200mm fan on top instead of the side. Wish I had my Armor case here since I would love to compare it .

Well to me having a 200mm on the top makes more sense than the side so I definitely like that move by Antec.

Too bad the side widow (side panel altogether) looks a little distasteful. Hopefully they will come out with a solid panel (no window) like they did for the p160.

All in all I think I would get a case like this for my next computer build since I want to stay exclusively with air cooling.
FLMJIGGY
10-30-2006, 11:44 AM
Looks very nice. What's this going for?

Would love to see this after you place your stuff in there!