Antec Nine Hundred Mid-Tower Case

Reviews: Cases

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Max Slowik
Kurtis
Antec
Feb. 10, 2007

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Quality Check

Our quality check basically consists of three things: Structural Integrity, Installation, and Safety. Structural integrity testing is where we apply pressure to the case from different directions and check to see if the frame can be easily bent or twisted out of shape. Installation is the process of installing the various system components and making sure that installation goes smoothly. Lastly, the safety testing is a result of the installation process. After installing everything, I should be left without any open wounds.

Structural Integrity

The Nine Hundred is tailor-made for being moved around; the only thing missing is a handle. It's incredibly sturdy without being too heavy. Even the feet are thick, shock-absorbing rubber. The sole flaw is that one screw-hole in the hard drive cage arrived stripped. On the other hand, the remaining seven screws hold the drive cage fast.

And it has that great Antec paint job, in addition to the durable plastic, to keep it looking good even if it isn't treated so well.

Installation

Without any tool-free hang-ups, putting a computer into the Nine Hundred is a little tedious, but it's without a doubt, secure. It's also not very large, all said and done, so the roomy feel to it is all a product of simple, or elegant design.

Safety

There are no rounded corners nor pinching clips to cite as flaws, but the major strength of the Nine Hundred is also its flaw: the airflow. After using the case for a few days the lint and dust started to accumulate quickly over every (well-cooled) component inside. Without any filtration, the Nine Hundred requires regular cleaning maintenance well above the norm.

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Page 4 of 5

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: The Inside
Page 4: Quality Check
Page 5: Conclusion

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12 User Comments

1 - Posted by PsychoSnowMan on February 11, 2007 - 4:51 pm

Beautiful case, great article. But could we get some shots of the case running with everything installed and the lights on?
Not a complaint, just a suggestion.

2 - Posted by Max Slowik on February 11, 2007 - 6:25 pm

I can get a hold of a camera this weekend, toss some parts back into it, and shoot it.

Right, tomorrow's Monday. Oh Hell, it's all the same. The photos won't be great, because unlike Kurtis, I lack |=0+0 S|<1||Z.

Also, thanks.

3 - Posted by Kurtis on February 11, 2007 - 9:33 pm

Normally we do that, and I suppose I should have put a disclaimer in the article somewhere, but here's why we didn't:

I personally take all product photos here in my photo studio before I forward products onto the respective reviewer. I've installed hardware just for photos in cases myself, but I decided to stop doing that because it takes me FAR too long to finish taking photos when I actually install hardware in the case.

With that said, in our case reviews, we always install hardware and actually use the case before we review it. We're sending Max a camera and a photo backdrop, so in the future we should have photos of all the hardware installed in case reviews again.

4 - Posted by daytroxative on February 13, 2007 - 1:58 am

I work as a tech. I've built quite a few of these cases with decent gaming setups, and we always try to roll in 10 or so of them in stock. Great selling item. People really like it's utility, and not looks, although i personally like it. It's true, it's one of the coolest (temperature-wise) cases you can get. We have like 5 other 200mm cases, this one by far has the best design. Looks pretty cool to me with the blue LEDS on the front through the perforated grill. Right now i own a Cooler Master Centurion case, with the same kind of grill, I have blue LEDS everywhere, (cpu/vid/front/back (maybe i'll modify the PSU or buy the crap ocz gamexstream :S) it's still not as clean as the antec fully setup with the whole LED scheme.

This is also a very deep case, for it's relatively mid-size it can fit most things under that side panel. Keep in mind about the power supply position when choosing your power supply, it's absolutely imperative you check the length to the cpu header on your motherboard before choosing one. I've fit an Enermax Galaxy Power supply 1000watt like a breeze (This is a fairly long one). My favorites are Silverstone(with 120mm)/Seasonic.

I've seen the same problem on the hard drive cage, the stripped screw. something about the metal, they are all easy to strip. I think even the motherboard/chassis standoffs tend to strip. Now when i build them i use a set of pliers and try to clamp the metal around the screw (with screw in place) while tightening it in. making sure they're nice and snug. Not really stripped i guess i could stay, Maybe the holes are made oddly, or just bad luck with the metal.

The tray and upwards facing front-panel is awesome for my needs (Computer on the floor), and it's worth using the 120mm add-on for the side panel. Lights look cool in there, The front comes to you looking cool. I don't even have one of these, but i would consider buying one just from experience.

5 - Posted by Kurtis on February 13, 2007 - 9:10 am

thanks for the input daytroxative. welcome to the forums, by the way. :)

6 - Posted by Max Slowik on February 14, 2007 - 3:51 am

I didn't, by the way, get my camera back from my dad's. . .

For a tech guy, I'm sort of analog. I suppose I can shoot it with my FILM camera and use my NEGATIVE SCANNER to post the photos ;)

7 - Posted by daytroxative on February 14, 2007 - 3:26 pm

I will have one built sometime this week. I have a camera i can take some shots with, it will be a decent system, high-end parts - e6400, enermax liberty + asus p5w DH mobo + more. It will even have raid, my camera should be decent enough for some good shots. Pentax E10 - or should i say prunetax. I'll post them on the forums and link it here in comments.

8 - Posted by Kurtis on February 14, 2007 - 10:32 pm

Cool, thanks daytroxative. :)

9 - Posted by Kurtis on February 15, 2007 - 5:07 pm

Note: I'm posting this on daytroxative's behalf:

The parts inside include:

- WinTV NOVA-S-Plus digital satellite TV card.
- Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Ultimate Gamer Tower Computer Case..
- Bytecc (BT-618) USB 2.0 Internal 5.25" Memory Reader/Writer w/ USB, IEEE1394 and SATA.
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz (1066MHz) 2MB L2 Cache socket-775
- Pioneer DVR-112D 18X DVD-writer, black - OEM
- 2 x Western Digital (WD3200KS) Caviar 320gb SATAII 7200RPM 16MB Buffer (OEM) - in raid 0 (stripe)
- ASUS PW DH Deluxe Socket 775 Intel 975X + ICH7R Chipset 1066 FSB DDR2 800/667/533 Dual Gigabit Lan 8-Channel Audio Firewire Dual Design Support Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- OCZ (OCZ2P8002GK) DDR2-800 PC2-6400 Platinuk XTC 2GB (2x1024MB) Dual Channel Kit
- Foxconn nVidia 7950GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphic Card.

I have included before & after cable management, different angle views + i show the case while powered on.
some immediate comments i have about it, is this MOBO + the front panel = alot inside a mid tower. idle CPU temperature is 30 degrees on the stock intel cooler. This is a pretty insane computer for a customer. Although this mobo isn't the most impressive to me. It is however the only mobo you can use to power on your pc via remote! Sorry for the hastle, i'm just at work and probly wouldn't get around to it myself very quickly. 20 mb worth in pictures :O i hope you have big inbox and can accept large attachments, it's split across 5mb x4.

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/kurtis/daytrox...

10 - Posted by Max Slowik on February 16, 2007 - 4:19 am

You get a new 'puter, Kurtis?

11 - Posted by Kurtis on February 16, 2007 - 11:43 am

^^^

12 - Posted by Max Slowik on February 16, 2007 - 11:56 am

Good thing I have an eye for detail. I should do news writing. And shit.

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