How Is the Antec 300?

TomBrooklyn · 11-29-11, 11:43 AM

Is the Antec 300 a good case?

I saw one in a store and it felt pretty sturdy.

I want to build a computer:
With a video card, probably a GTS 450.
up to four hard drives (in future)
up to two optical drives
place to put USB 3 front connector.
don't want any lights on it.
like a basic businesslike look.

notarat · 11-29-11, 12:17 PM

Check out the mod thread for the Antec 300, located at:

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=664679

And you'll see the people who have one are very impressed with it. Plus, you may get the itch to mod one too! If you do, post pics! We all love to see mods.

More threads

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=685367

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=614686

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=663657

Marshmallow64 · 11-29-11, 01:50 PM

It's a great bang for your buck case with plenty of air flow.

TomBrooklyn · 11-30-11, 02:28 PM

OK. Thanks. I don't know about modding though.

magik_missles · 11-30-11, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshmallow64

It's a great bang for your buck case with plenty of air flow.

Most definitely great cooling bang for the buck. I grabbed the Illusion edition with the extra LED fans last year on newegg. I like the LED fans, but could care less if they were lighted or not.

The airflow is great and the case truly is pretty sturdy. I am running a GTX460 and a Xigmatek Gaia cooler and have enough room for both.

My only nit-pick is the lack of cable management options out of the box. It does have an area to the side of the drive bays to stash wires, but that's about it. I am contemplating cutting some holes to make cable routing easier.

TomBrooklyn · 05-21-12, 10:56 AM

.

Well, I bought one, and I built a computer with it.

Now I found out I can't fit any of the mainstream mid to high end graphics cards into it, unless I move hard drives out of the way. And even with that, they are barely going to fit; and it's going to be pretty tough to fit them in and manage cables etc. The big cards block at least one hard drive bay; or maybe two of them. If two, that would just about eliminate the ability to crossfire for someone like me who uses multiple hard drives.

I have 4 HDs in there already, and I just got started. This doesn't look like it's going to work out very well. Maybe I'll be able to stack some hard drives up where the optical drives usually go.

It's pretty much going to be a mess.

What have all the other Antec 300 builders done about video cards? I don't understand how this case became so popular, and why this problem with fitting video cards hasn't been widely discussed and cautioned about.

TomBrooklyn · 05-21-12, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magik_missles

My only nit-pick is the lack of cable management options out of the box. I am contemplating cutting some holes to make cable routing easier.

I didn't grok this cable management issue until I got the computer built and started stuffing it with components. I have five drives in it now, with at least two-three more planned; and now I see. I got cables running all over the place and it's pretty messy; and I haven't even gotton a single video or any other PCI card in it yet.

This was not a good case choice for me.

MongGrel · 05-21-12, 07:56 PM

Antec cases in general I've been fond of myself for awhile, never have used a 300 but have a pretty heavily modded 1200 and have my wifes built in an older 900 I used before I went full tower and they are solid cases.

To be honest all I could say it return the thing get a 900 or a Full Tower 1200 or a HAF and never worry about buying a case in the near future if you have the room to plunk one down

TomBrooklyn · 05-22-12, 05:29 AM

I like the solid feel of this case. It is better built than a lot of other cases I saw in this budget price range. The problem I'm having is basically it's just too small for the size of the mainstream mid to high end video cards today.

It's not worth it to me to return it. I bought it at MicroCenter and it's too long and expensive a journey to make it worthwhile, plus I got a very good deal on it, so I wouldn't be getting a lot back. I'll see if I can live with it, or I'll just have to get another case and move everything over.

Aldakoopa · 05-22-12, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomBrooklyn

I like the solid feel of this case. It is better built than a lot of other cases I saw in this budget price range. The problem I'm having is basically it's just too small for the size of the mainstream mid to high end video cards today.

It's not worth it to me to return it. I bought it at MicroCenter and it's too long and expensive a journey to make it worthwhile, plus I got a very good deal on it, so I wouldn't be getting a lot back. I'll see if I can live with it, or I'll just have to get another case and move everything over.

I'm sure there might be a few cards that won't fit in the case at all because of length, but since you have a case full of hard drives, which not everybody fills up all their hard drive bays, you have more limited room than normal. You will probably want to look into getting a bigger case, especially one with good wire management available.

jason4207 · 05-22-12, 10:01 AM

I have the 300 and love it, but I only need a single HDD. I keep all my data (12HDDs) in my server.

With that many HDDs you really need a full size tower if you also want a decent gfx card.

freakdiablo · 05-22-12, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomBrooklyn

What have all the other Antec 300 builders done about video cards? I don't understand how this case became so popular, and why this problem with fitting video cards hasn't been widely discussed and cautioned about.

Probably because I never had a problem with it. I have a 5850 in it now, a 4850 right before it, and a hard drive in one of the drive bays right next to it, no problems.

Even with my NAS, with 6 hard drives in it, space doesn't seem to be a problem.

'Cuda340 · 05-22-12, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomBrooklyn

What have all the other Antec 300 builders done about video cards? I don't understand how this case became so popular, and why this problem with fitting video cards hasn't been widely discussed and cautioned about.

It was a good value case at the time.......Now Antec's Three Hundred Two has taken over that spot.

Same great air flow......better cable management & can handle video cards up to 12" plus......

Three Hundred Two

11-29-11, 11:43 AM	Thread Starter #1
TomBrooklyn Member Join Date: Oct 2008	How Is the Antec 300? Is the Antec 300 a good case? I saw one in a store and it felt pretty sturdy. I want to build a computer: With a video card, probably a GTS 450. up to four hard drives (in future) up to two optical drives place to put USB 3 front connector. don't want any lights on it. like a basic businesslike look. Last edited by TomBrooklyn; 11-29-11 at 11:48 AM. Reason: correct premature activation
	QUOTE Thanks

11-29-11, 12:17 PM	#2
notarat Member Join Date: Nov 2010	Check out the mod thread for the Antec 300, located at: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=664679 And you'll see the people who have one are very impressed with it. Plus, you may get the itch to mod one too! If you do, post pics! We all love to see mods. More threads http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=685367 http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=614686 http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=663657
	QUOTE Thanks

11-29-11, 01:50 PM	#3
Marshmallow64 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: California	It's a great bang for your buck case with plenty of air flow. __________________ :: Gaming Desktop :: CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T @ 3.9 Ghz 1.4v \| MOBO: MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 570 (732/1464/1900) \| RAM: 4 GB G-Skill DDR3 1600 SSD: OCZ Vertex 120 GB \| HD1: WD Black 640 GB \| HD2: WD Black 2 TB SC: Xfi Titanium Fatal1ty \| PSU: Corsair HX 620 W KB: Saitek Eclipse \| MOUSE: Logitech MX 518 CASE: Antec 1200 \| OS: Windows 7 x64 :: Laptop :: MOD: Macbook Pro 13” 2011 \| CPU: Intel Core i5 @ 2.3 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 1333 \| OS: OS X Lion 10.7.2
	QUOTE Thanks

11-30-11, 02:28 PM	Thread Starter #4
TomBrooklyn Member Join Date: Oct 2008	OK. Thanks. I don't know about modding though.
	QUOTE Thanks

05-21-12, 10:56 AM	Thread Starter #6
TomBrooklyn Member Join Date: Oct 2008	Antec 300 Can't Fit Video Cards . Well, I bought one, and I built a computer with it. Now I found out I can't fit any of the mainstream mid to high end graphics cards into it, unless I move hard drives out of the way. And even with that, they are barely going to fit; and it's going to be pretty tough to fit them in and manage cables etc. The big cards block at least one hard drive bay; or maybe two of them. If two, that would just about eliminate the ability to crossfire for someone like me who uses multiple hard drives. I have 4 HDs in there already, and I just got started. This doesn't look like it's going to work out very well. Maybe I'll be able to stack some hard drives up where the optical drives usually go. It's pretty much going to be a mess. What have all the other Antec 300 builders done about video cards? I don't understand how this case became so popular, and why this problem with fitting video cards hasn't been widely discussed and cautioned about.
	QUOTE Thanks

How Is the Antec 300?

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05-21-12, 07:56 PM	#8
MongGrel Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Clearwater FL	Antec cases in general I've been fond of myself for awhile, never have used a 300 but have a pretty heavily modded 1200 and have my wifes built in an older 900 I used before I went full tower and they are solid cases. To be honest all I could say it return the thing get a 900 or a Full Tower 1200 or a HAF and never worry about buying a case in the near future if you have the room to plunk one down __________________ Mong Grel Varying Amounts of Electronic Fun Type Thingies ASUS P6T7 Bios 1001 / Intel i7 920 D0 @ 3.8 Ghz TRUE120Copper 2 X Noctua NF-P12 Push Pull Corsair Dominator 3 X 2G DDR3-1600 2 X EVGA GTX 260 216 SLI / Olevia 747i 47" 1080P WD Caviar Black 500GB(O/S) 2 X Raptor AFDF150 Matrix RAID0 (pagefile) Areca 1210 IOP333 RAID 6 / 4 X 1Tb WD RE3's (storage) Antec 1200 Artic Cool & Noctua fans/Antec CP-850 PSU Win 7 Pro 64/PotPlayer X64 cloned to Olevia747i 1080P 5.1 Theater to oddball 600W Dual Amp system
	QUOTE Thanks

05-22-12, 05:29 AM	Thread Starter #9
TomBrooklyn Member Join Date: Oct 2008	I like the solid feel of this case. It is better built than a lot of other cases I saw in this budget price range. The problem I'm having is basically it's just too small for the size of the mainstream mid to high end video cards today. It's not worth it to me to return it. I bought it at MicroCenter and it's too long and expensive a journey to make it worthwhile, plus I got a very good deal on it, so I wouldn't be getting a lot back. I'll see if I can live with it, or I'll just have to get another case and move everything over.
	QUOTE Thanks

05-22-12, 10:01 AM	#11
jason4207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Concord, NC	I have the 300 and love it, but I only need a single HDD. I keep all my data (12HDDs) in my server. With that many HDDs you really need a full size tower if you also want a decent gfx card. __________________ MAIN RIG: 3570K @ 4.5GHz 1.272v H100i Extreme4-Z77 8GB-G.Skill @ 2200MHz 9-11-11-28 1.60v CM_430-Elite GTX670_DCuII_TOP @ 1358/7244 1.212v Xplosion-DTS 256GB-Samsung_830 1TB-Black Seasonic_X-750 27.5"-1200P-LCD Z5500-5.1 \|\| PLV-Z4_720P_Projector_95" Paradigm_6.1_DTS-ES G9_Mouse Logitech_Illuminated_KB Logitech_G27_Wheel+Microsim_Racing_Pod *HEAT* GAMING HTPC: i3-550 @ 4.5GHz 1.35v H70 MSI_H55M-ED55 4GB-G.Skill @ 1875MHz 7-9-7-23 1T GTS450 @ 970/1940/2100 240GB_Sandisk_Extreme 640GB_Blue Corsair_CX430 Panny 42S2 1080P Plasma unRAID FILE SERVER: E5200-M0 @ 2GHz 0.856v MSIP43Neo3-F 4GB-Corsair @ 800MHz CM590 Antec550W 19TB-Parity_Protected_Storage / 1TB-Cache / 2TB-Parity / 10x2TB 2x1TB
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