Updated Antec NSK3300, the new NSK3400

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:25 am

It seems that Antec updated the NSK3300 case (designation NSK3400). What are the differences? A change in the PSU, from a 300W model to a 380W one. They don't mention what kind of PSU it is but I doubt that it's a SFX model like the NSK3300 had.

Source: http://www.matbe.com/actualites/15082/antec-nsk-3400/

BillyBuerger · Post by **BillyBuerger** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:27 am

At first I was going to say that it almost couldn't be an ATX psu due to the short depth of the case. But then I found this....

I wonder if it's a custom PSU still. Same mounting locations as ATX, but a little shorter. If you put any other standard ATX PSU in there, you'd have to have a very short optical drive I'd think.

qviri · Post by **qviri** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:35 am

I dunno. Going by this picture, it seems to be full length. My other question is: on other pics, I can't really see if that PSU has intake vents along the top; if it doesn't, why have so much vent area in the top of the case? Unless that's for 120 mm fan PSUs...

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:50 am

Yup, looks full length to me. Antec should be commended on the decision - there are simply few silent SFX power supplies.

=assassin= · Post by **=assassin=** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:15 pm

I also think it's a good move - it's a nice little case, and if it's the same PSU as in the NSK 4400, then it's a nice one.

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:15 am

oh SNAAaaaP. I just bought a NSK3300. When is this coming out? Looks like a worthwhile foundation to put a nice C2D uATX system in when the mobos arrive. I'll stick w/ my NSK3300 and see how loud it goes at load.

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:08 am

rei, you could just mod your 3300 to take a full ATX PSU. NSK3400 on the cheap.

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:18 am

It's currently available in Japan for 100 â‚¬. ETA for ROTW is unknown ATM.

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:08 pm

i'm not mod-talented in the least and am somewhat lazy at cutting that back part not to mention the bottom of the top enclosed space and wouldn't know how to start.

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:39 pm

Ah well. At least the SeaSonic psu is quiet.

TheRove · Post by **TheRove** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:30 pm

Replace the dual 92mm exhaust mounts with a single 120mm one and you have the perfect mATX case imo.

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:57 am

TheRove wrote:Replace the dual 92mm exhaust mounts with a single 120mm one and you have the perfect mATX case imo.

Exhaust?

jamesbundy · Post by **jamesbundy** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:23 am

Psu cable routing was somewhat unfortunate on the NSK 3300.
Looks like Antec rerouted the psu cables on the NSK3400, allowing for a large tower heatsink to be mounted on the motherboard. Whip out your Ninjas!

Very smart little case!

TheRove · Post by **TheRove** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:28 am

rpsgc wrote:
TheRove wrote:Replace the dual 92mm exhaust mounts with a single 120mm one and you have the perfect mATX case imo.
Exhaust?

Intake... I meant intake! Should I edit my post?!?!

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:30 am

Yes, you should. And dual 92's cover more area than a single 120, as well as providing more targeted airflow to the graphics card.

hjm · Post by **hjm** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:24 pm

It looks that the new NSK3400 has same size as NSK3300. Take a look at these pictures:

._________

Upper is NSK3300 (image from Antec's website), the lower is the NSK3400 (image from the French site www.presence-pc.com).

The NSK3400 looks really promising. I'm about to start building a new PC from scratch and I wanted to have a quiet and small case. NSK3300 looked to be a good solution but after all I figured that its power supply would not be good enough. Hopefully NSK3400 has normal replaceable ATX power supply.

Erssa · Post by **Erssa** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:09 pm

Wow, this looks really nice. Judging from the pics I found after following BillyBuerger's link, it can take a psu with "bottom" fan, because the top of the case seems to have bigger air grills. This could very well be the perfect case for me. I hope Antec releases it shortly.

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:15 pm

Send them an e-mail. It's already available in Japan, shouldn't take long to be available worldwide (I guess).

wpb · Post by **wpb** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:44 pm

I am very interested in this new case. I want to build a SFF PC and I love Antec cases, but I wasn't too thrilled with the 3300's PSU. I've been watching for a U.S. release, but haven't seen it yet.

hjm · Post by **hjm** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:09 am

I got a reply from Antec that NSK3400 will be available in Europe late February/early March time frame. But no info about the PSU which I tried to ask as well.

Aris · Post by **Aris** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:01 am

eh. its OK.

i think i still prefer the 3300.

The stock SFX psu is very very quiet. With a low power system, its barely audible under any circumstance.

Also, i dont like the new PSU cabling location. I'm sort of anul retentive when it comes to visible cables, and it would be impossible to route the power cables in the 3400 so you cant see them.

People were complaining about the old PSU cabling location because you couldnt fit large CPU heatsinks on a mobo with the way it came. I just made a quick 5min mod to the plastic sliding cover, and i can fit any heatsink i want. Its not that bad, and imo, better than this new implimentation.

Also, i didnt like the one small strip of vents on the top of the 3300, and i REALLY dont like that they put more on the 3400. I wish they would have made it with no top vents whatsoever.

------------------------------------------------------------

Overall the 3400 seems to tailor more towards higher performance, higher heat output, higher power usage systems. Seems to contradict SPCR standards.

Hopefully they still sell the 3300 also. The stock PSU is wonderfull, and more than enough power for me. I'll be using the 3300 in all of my future system builds from now on.

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:22 am

[Mod comment: can you post thumbnail links to these photos, please?]

Source. (Caution, the rest are of the 3300)

[Mod comment: can you post thumbnail links to these photos, please?]

bendit · Post by **bendit** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:36 am

99% of real folks who own computers don't take out dremels and make a "small" mod to their case. Only a small % of enthusiasts even MOD their cases. Telling folks the answers to their issues is to make a "mod" is barking up the wrong tree, imo.

This looks to be a big improvement. I have the 3300 and found that even putting an a/c Alpine cooler in this thing was a pain. It seems to me that there is no mount for a top HD on the 3400. But with esata coming quickly, I believe that one drive mount at the bottom is fine. As for a 120mm intake, that's overkill in a system like this. The SFX psu in the current rev of this case is fine, but the cables are too short. I believe that antec listens to folks like us, and got this one right.

regards

Saribro · Post by **Saribro** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:56 am

Those extra top vents are actually kinda nice: Take a PSU with a bottom fan, turn it upside down, add minimal ducting (few cm wide cardboard plate probably) and the PSU airflow is completely isolated.

BillyBuerger · Post by **BillyBuerger** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:24 pm

Saribro wrote:Those extra top vents are actually kinda nice: Take a PSU with a bottom fan, turn it upside down, add minimal ducting (few cm wide cardboard plate probably) and the PSU airflow is completely isolated.

PSU airflow is already isolated aside from CD/DVD and optionally hard drive heat. Which should be very minor unless you have a crazy hot HD and CD/DVD.

I personnaly be concerned about the fact that a 120mm fan with the fan facing up would not have much space between the fan and the vent holes at the top. That seems like it would be rather restrictive for airflow, creating more turbulent noise and may also cause the PSU to run hotter and possibly ramp up the fan. That's why I'm sure they went with the 80mm straight through PSU. The vents are probably there so that it CAN work with a 120mm fan PSU or in case someone uses up both drive bays leaving little room for air to get in through the front. But I think it would be better if they were not used.

kike_1974 · Post by **kike_1974** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:01 pm

At least the NSK3400 has given me the idea of how to mod my NSK3300 to use a standard ATX PSU if I ever need a replacement for the included SFX PSU. Before I saw this case I was thinking that I would need to cut a hole under the optical drive zone of the case for cable routing.

But this idea is better, so I just need to dremmel a hole in the side of the upper zone just like in the NSK3400 and voila. Or at least that is what I think... it should be easy to mod the NSK3300 to get a NSK3400.

tempeteduson · Post by **tempeteduson** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:43 pm

Notice that, in addition to the new cable-routing opening on the side, the hole in front of the PSU has been retained. Although there is no longer a sliding plate there, one should still be able to route wires through it if desired. So, the 3400 should be at least no worse than the 3300 in this respect. And I like being able to use an ATX PSU (however short) without cutting a hole in the back.

[see bottom photo above, showing the back of the PS]

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:50 am

NSK3300 vs NSK3400:

NSK3300:
[see photos near top of thread -- if you can post thumbnail links to these larger photos, then please do so.]

NSK3400:
[see photos near top of thread -- if you can post thumbnail links to these larger photos, then please do so.]

kike_1974 · Post by **kike_1974** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:16 pm

This looks like a game... find the 10 differences

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:14 am

One thing I never understood about the NSK3300/3400 - why not have an HDD mount on the front case panel? It works for my sister's Emachines T1100.