New Antec Case - "2650BQE"

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:34 pm

Anyone seen this.

Doesn't do anything for me, looks like a slightly gussied up SLK2600, but that's just my 2¢. YMMV!

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:53 pm

What the difference between that and the 3700BQE?

2 less 3.5 inch drive bays? is that it?

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:55 pm

Call me crazy, but it doesn't look all that different from the 3700BQE. Only the internals are different. And since there is no sideways drive cage, there may actually be better airflow than with the 3700BQE.

And of course, that would allow room for Aphonos-style drive suspension rather than using Sorbothane.

geordie · Post by **geordie** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:10 pm

My thoughts exactly. Especially since getting sorbothane in the UK is a PITA

PhilgB · Post by **PhilgB** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:22 pm

I like it. Ive been looking for something similar, IF those stupid plastic things are removable. Here, the plastic thing on the edge of 5 1/4" bay and the plastic box at the back, anyone know if they can be removed? Im glad they got rid of that 3 1/2" 'shelf'.

shathal · Post by **shathal** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:05 pm

Hmmm - 1 x 120 mm fan (back), 1 x 80 mm fan.

Personally, I'd prefer having 2 x 120 mm fans. Should be quieter, no?

AndrewC · Post by **AndrewC** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:12 pm

It looks like a SLK2600 with grommet hard drive mounts and a 120mm fan mount in the rear. The plastic box can be removed, but I'm not sure about the plastic drive rails. I found those quite useful and not sure why you would want to remove them. I've owned a SLk2600 and found it quite a bit cramped compared to the SLK3700; there's almost no way to remove the powersupply in an 2600 without removing the motherboard as well. Overall a nice case and now that it has a 120mm fan it should have much lower case temps and much better airflow, one reason why I moved to the 3700.

idealcrash · Post by **idealcrash** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:29 pm

Can anyone load the 'Back' and 'Package' pictures?

JimK · Post by **JimK** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:32 pm

idealcrash wrote:Can anyone load the 'Back' and 'Package' pictures?

No, glad it's not just me.

PhilgB · Post by **PhilgB** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:21 pm

Not the plastic rails, I dont mind those. But the vertical plaster edging. What purpose does it serve?

mg1394 · Post by **mg1394** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:36 pm

davidstone28 wrote:What the difference between that and the 3700BQE?

2 less 3.5 inch drive bays? is that it?

Which translates to 2" of height for the case. (I guess that is what makes it a 2600 series)

And it has a hole in the side

Magic · Post by **Magic** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:44 pm

Not only 2" less on the height of the case, but also 2" less depth of the case. That's actually pretty significant...not for us maybe, but for other people!

mg1394 · Post by **mg1394** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 5:26 pm

Ah yes, 2" less depth is good - the AMB/BLQ seem to have wasted space in the depth dimension. Sorta become fond of the AMB color, though.

lucienrau · Post by **lucienrau** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:02 am

If I hadn't bought a 3700 AMB recently I certainly would have looked at one of these. I never really use more than 2 hd and no floppy so I don't need all the space of the 3700, but at the time it was one of the few good choices with a 120mm exhaust.

Maybe I can pawn mine off in a system for my brother... He's getting sick of his system noise and I have enough parts sitting around, it could work out to a good upgrade for me.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:40 am

Hello:

Check the "Mechanical Drawing" PDF:

http://www.antec-inc.com/pdf/drawings/SLK2650.pdf

The expansion cards *stick out* at the back -- is this more like the LAN Boy? The intake grills are not huge, though one of them is directly in front of the HD bays.

And there seems to be an intake tube like the Evercase's?

HokieESM · Post by **HokieESM** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:40 am

Unless you're a compulsive upgrade-r (and you like to pull out your components often), I think this would be great. I have a 3700AMB and while I like it quite a bit, its actually a bigger case than I need. I was turned off by the standard 2600AMB because of the rear 80mm... but this fixes that. I currently use a front 80mm in the AMB (using Ralf's idea <bow to Ralf>), so this isn't any different. Plus, it would allow an easy hard drive suspension (right into the airflow of the 80mm) for those who would like to do so.

I'll anxiously await a review from one of the SPCRers.... as I'm building a new rig in August, I'm always open to new ideas.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:41 am

...duplicate post....

The Edit button says Edit/Delete this post -- how does one delete their own (duplicate) post?

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:51 am

AndrewC wrote:It looks like a SLK2600 with grommet hard drive mounts and a 120mm fan mount in the rear. The plastic box can be removed, but I'm not sure about the plastic drive rails. I found those quite useful and not sure why you would want to remove them. I've owned a SLk2600 and found it quite a bit cramped compared to the SLK3700; there's almost no way to remove the powersupply in an 2600 without removing the motherboard as well. Overall a nice case and now that it has a 120mm fan it should have much lower case temps and much better airflow, one reason why I moved to the 3700.

AndrewC nailed it.

Personally, the lack of a front 120mm fan doesn't bother me, as long as the ventilation is good. I never use a 120mm fan at the front of any of my systems anyway. I use a 92mm, max and sometimes an 80mm just for cooling the HDDs.

Sorry, it just doesn't do much for me though. The SLK2600/2650BQE is smaller (as in "hard to work with"), less well-designed (snap-locks for optical drives, silly box on the back) and more cheaply built (it's basically the same qualty/construction as an el-cheapo generic case) than the typical Antec/Chieftec type of case.

For case quality/construction I'd rate it like this:

#1 - Antec SX10x0/Chieftec Dragon, Sonata.

#2 - SLK3700/6A19/D8000.

#3 - Antec SLK2600/1600/Lanboy.

Eh, again, my 2¢, it's just not a case that fits my needs. Your needs may well be different and it may be a good case to build a smaller profile, quiet system with!

mg1394 · Post by **mg1394** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:40 am

Could you please comment more on the following statements for my education:

"less well-designed (snap-locks for optical drives, silly box on the back)"

what is bad about the snap-locks for optical drives?

what is the box on the back for?

"more cheaply built "

what parts is this referring to? since the 3700 is what I have now, I don't have another comparison in the Antec line? I guess I'm asking what is the effect I would see from "more cheaply built."

Thanks for your help.

NARC · Post by **NARC** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:08 am

This looks like it's coming in around $65 USD - seems like a pretty nice price point to me... certainly worth looking into.

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:17 am

NARC wrote:This looks like it's coming in around $65 USD - seems like a pretty nice price point to me... certainly worth looking into.

Yeah, but for $10 more, you could get a 3700AMB

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:54 pm

mg1394 wrote:Could you please comment more on the following statements for my education:

"less well-designed (snap-locks for optical drives, silly box on the back)"

what is bad about the snap-locks for optical drives?

They don't hold the drives as well as screw-in drive rails, and they only hold the drive on one side. The other is resting on a few small ledges. This isn't good for vibration.

mg1394 wrote:what is the box on the back for?

Tools!?! Who needs a toolbox attached to the back of their case?

mg1394 wrote:"more cheaply built "

what parts is this referring to? since the 3700 is what I have now, I don't have another comparison in the Antec line? I guess I'm asking what is the effect I would see from "more cheaply built."

Thanks for your help.

Thinner steel, sharp edges, less structurally well designed (flexes and vibrates more). The SLK1600 and SLK2600 are cut of the same cloth as the 2650BQE. Go to a "mom 'n pop" computer store and look at their $20 generic cases. You'll get the idea.

mg1394 · Post by **mg1394** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:30 pm

I understand each of your points, and agree that this case is not for me.

I've been very happy with the 3700AMB, but would (unlike you) prefer a somewhat smaller case. I never need more than a single 5-1/4 device (DVD recorder) and 2 HD units and one PCI (once in a while, two), so much of the "roominess" is wasted on me and the computers I build.

However the quality of all the factors you mentioned is of utmost importance. Too bad the manufacturers don't see a market for the few of us willing to pay more for "less". (and I don't need their included PS either.)

Anyway, thanks again for your help.

shathal · Post by **shathal** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:54 pm

Hmmm - judging by what you list, would a desktop chassis be potentially something for you?

mg1394 · Post by **mg1394** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:54 pm

Sure - I look at them all. And they all have stupid (my opinion) design decisions or the same, above mentioned quality problems. And I'll keep reading, asking and looking. And I try one of what I see now and then. Most SFF cases are getting reviewed here, and I read carefully.

Farnsworth · Post by **Farnsworth** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 4:36 am

HokieESM wrote: I currently use a front 80mm in the AMB (using Ralf's idea <bow to Ralf>), so this isn't any different.

explain?!?

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 5:49 am

Farnsworth wrote:
HokieESM wrote: I currently use a front 80mm in the AMB (using Ralf's idea <bow to Ralf>), so this isn't any different.
explain?!?

Even though the SLK3700's have the provision to mount a 120mm fan up front, I never use one. They're not needed for case cooling and are overkill (too noisy, even at their quietest) for HDD cooling, which is all I actually use them for.

I generally use a 5V 92mm Panaflo L1A or perhaps a 5V 80mm L1A mounted to the front fan grill to spot cool the HDD(s). You need very little air to actually cool the drives so there's no reason to overdo it with too large (and noisy) of a fan right up front nearest your ears.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 6:31 pm

Hello:

sthayashi wrote:
NARC wrote:This looks like it's coming in around $65 USD - seems like a pretty nice price point to me... certainly worth looking into.
Yeah, but for $10 more, you could get a 3700AMB

And the Evercase 4252 is $23 *less*! And it has space for up to 4 HD's -- and a front 120mm -- and it breathes better, too.

NARC · Post by **NARC** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 1:59 pm

NeilBlanchard wrote:Hello:

And the Evercase 4252 is $23 *less*! And it has space for up to 4 HD's -- and a front 120mm -- and it breathes better, too.

I'm still cutting my teeth here

, but I am assuming that you are replacing the stock PSU?
The BQE might be a good package for someone not looking for absolute silence and willing to make a trade-off for convenience.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:49 pm

Hello:

NARC wrote:
NeilBlanchard wrote: And the Evercase 4252 is $23 *less*! And it has space for up to 4 HD's -- and a front 120mm -- and it breathes better, too.
I'm still cutting my teeth here , but I am assuming that you are replacing the stock PSU?
The BQE might be a good package for someone not looking for absolute silence and willing to make a trade-off for convenience.

Point taken -- though NewEgg used to sell them sans the PS -- and they should be encouraged to do so again! I bought my first Evercases this way for only $24 -- and I think they had *free* shipping!!

I found out a tip on posting sugestions to NewEgg -- do *not* use a double dash -- like those!

I am always using them and when you try to post a suggestion with 'em -- it fails...

New Antec Case - "2650BQE"

New Antec Case - "2650BQE"

Check the "Mechanical Drawing" PDF

oops...

Thank you for taking the time to reply

The Evercase is less $

Re: The Evercase is less $

Re: The Evercase is less $