Anandtech reviews the P-180 & Sonata II in case roundup

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:18 pm

Anandtech reviews the P-180 & Sonata II in their mid-tower roundup

http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling/sh ... spx?i=2525

The P-180 takes home the silver in their reviews. It's interesting to note that their one major complaint about the P-180 seems to be the PSU location, which is a frequent concern here too.

Devonavar · Post by **Devonavar** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:53 pm

<cough> that's a review?

Did I miss the discussion of airflow? Did they even mention why the PSU is mounted at the bottom in the first place? And where do they get the idea that they can treat that bizarre "points-based" rating system as a way of determining the "winning" case ... even after warning that it has little real-life significance?

To be fair, I realize it is a round-up, not an individual review, but it doesn't look like much effort was put into understanding the design of the case — for good or bad. The criticism about cable length is justified, but he doesn't consider why the lower chamber is there in the first place!

Grrr... I expect better of Anandtech.

=assassin= · Post by **=assassin=** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:23 am

The review was handy for providing some more piccies at different angles than I've seen already for the Sonata 2.

moritz · Post by **moritz** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:37 am

I thought it was a fair review, better than I would have expected to see in a round-up of that size. The only thing they should have done better is simply remove the fan in the bottom, leaving room for the HDDs in the back instead of putting them in the top portion of the case. Since they are using an actively cooled PSU, the active fan in the bottom isn't necessary, and putting HDs in the top is such a shame in the P180. I think maybe Antec should have just shipped the case without the bottom fan in the first place...

Also, I don't think I'll ever understand why Antec doesn't just put a ATX power extension cable into the box. Virtually every review mentions the problems with cable length - and rightly so, because it is a real problem.

bobov · Post by **bobov** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:28 am

I figure out the DynaPower F3323 is actual a FongKai FK343

http://www.mypccase.com/noname5.html

$66 for a FK343 without PS.

Is FK343 still a good case?

ecsdude · Post by **ecsdude** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:51 am

bobov wrote:I figure out the DynaPower F3323 is actual a FongKai FK343

http://www.mypccase.com/noname5.html

$66 for a FK343 without PS.

Is FK343 still a good case?

It's still a good case, IMO, but I'm wondering if the DynaPower F3323 comes with exactly the same thing as the FK343.. looks like it but how to be sure. BTW, with shipping it comes out to about $104...

Also, regarding the Anandtech case roundup... ThermalRock Eclipse gets gold award while P180 gets silver?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:43 pm

Greetings,

Does anybody else see the similarities between the ThermalRock and the SLK-3000B?

The P180 is the quietest, and it's only sore point is the GPU temp, but the other temps are excellent.

It's too bad the Lian Li doesn't actually perform better...maybe if didn't have all those holes...

I like it's "flipped" concept.

HammerSandwich · Post by **HammerSandwich** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:46 am

Devonavar wrote:Grrr... I expect better of Anandtech.

You've obviously not been reading their case reviews. They've been an embarrassment to the Anandtech name from the beginning.

Vulcan · Post by **Vulcan** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:42 am

NeilBlanchard wrote:Greetings,

Does anybody else see the similarities between the ThermalRock and the SLK-3000B?

The P180 is the quietest, and it's only sore point is the GPU temp, but the other temps are excellent.

It's too bad the Lian Li doesn't actually perform better...maybe if didn't have all those holes... I like it's "flipped" concept.

The Lian Li can actualy cool very well. Firstly, reverse both fans. Adding a blowhole to the top is also very benefcial.

mpgalvin · Post by **mpgalvin** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:06 pm

HammerSandwich wrote:
Devonavar wrote:Grrr... I expect better of Anandtech.
You've obviously not been reading their case reviews. They've been an embarrassment to the Anandtech name from the beginning.

oh snap

Please, Hammer, don't hurt 'em!