[PC Hardware Review] Antec Sonata Case

[Ghryphen]

I bought the Antec Sonata case on recommendation and I have to say this is an awesome case. It is really quiet, it has a huge 120mm fan that runs at low speed to keep the noise down. Otherwise, there doesn't appear to be any noise canceling features that are beyond any other case, but dang if they found a way to make it silent. The hard drives slide nicely in from the side of the case using crew on cradles that snap into place within the case, this is much nicer than trying to slide a drive in across the motherboard face and then trying to get the screws in from each side of the case while fumbling dropping the screws into the case. The front of the case has covers over the slots that are easily removed with your fingers, snapped into the back of each faceplate are two rails that you attach to your CD-Rom / Floppy drives; once the rails have been attached you just slide them into the face of the case and they snap in. There is a ton of power in this case, if you run out of connectors you must have hardware spilling out of the case. The shell of the case is a nice gloss black with a lockable side panel and lockable front door that covers the power switch and drives.

Only a few dislikes; I don't really care for black cases and because the front panel is plastic, it is not as glossy as the rest of the case. It also shows dust well against the dark paint. The front drive inserts are a little ugly with the big finger holes around each one for their easy removal, however the case door covers this. These nitpicks of mine are the only thing keeping it from a full 5 stars.

Homepage
http://www.antec-inc.net (http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_details_enclosure.php?ProdID=15138)

Rating ( 4.5/5 Stars )
:rate_full :rate_full :rate_full :rate_full :rate_half

[Aluscia]

Nice case.

[Stang]

Paint it :D, Im sure Winston would love that :lol.

[Torque]

I agree on black cases, but I like the case.

[Ghryphen]

Just an update: I have bought my 4th Antec Sonata Case :D

[Aluscia]

As in, 3 broke, or...?

[Ghryphen]

As in I like it so much I have bought my 4th for use in building a computer.

[Aluscia]

I see.... maybe I will pick one up the next time I build a compy (won't be any time soon).

[Stang]

How many have you bought now? Hes built a few computers for family and ourselves. I remember the last one he bought I saw the UPS girl throw the box when she was looking for our items in the truck. Gryphon opened it and luckly was able to fix the door from the throw. I hope she's not on the route again as more stuff we might have come.

[Aluscia]

wow... UPS... super... : / They're the company that lost my First Year Music History Midterms... the TA UPS-prioritied them from Toronto to Hamilton (a 45 minute drive)... and they got lost. So basically, the prof had to up everyone's Midterm mark (because he had the marks listing, but no hardcopy) by 10%, and not fail anyone... It really sucked for me, because I was one of 2 people who actually aced it.

[Stang]

Damn!