Time for a case from Antec which is one of the better known manufacutrers on the chassi-market. This case is from its Performance TX-series where it tries to go for more quality and the foundation is the older and very popular Performance-series.
Time for a case from Antec which is one of the better known manufacturers on the Chassi market This case is from its Performance TX-series where it tries to go for more quality and the foundation is the older and very popular Performance-series. There is of course an advantage with going for a quality case even if many prefers flashy LEDs and similar which Antec usually don’t use with its cases.
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Antec Performance TX1050B : Specifications
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| Form factor : |
SOHO File Server
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| Side panel: |
Side panel with fan bracket and vent holes
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| Measurements: |
207.0 mm ( W ) x 476.0 mm ( D ) x 527.0 mm ( H )
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| Mainboards: |
12″ x 9.6″ (ATX), 9.6″ x 9.6″ (Micro ATX) , 12″ x 13″ (Extend ATX) |
| Cooling: |
120*120 mm rear fan
2x 80*80*25 mm front fan 92*92*25 mm fan in the tube |
| Color: |
Black
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| Weight: |
14 Kg
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| Material: |
1.0 mm SECC Steel
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Internal units:
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4 x 3.5″ |
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External units:
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4x 5.25″, 2 x 3.5″
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| Power supply : |
500W |
| Other: |
2 front USB ports, 1 front IEEE 1394 ports, Sound port in/out.
Washable dust filter Vent pipe for CPU |
| Price: |
1400 SEK (Exchange rates)
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Antec is known for making good chassis without overdone features and its new Performance-series is no exception. This is a heavy chassi and has been designed for use as a e.g. file server. The design doesn’t scream “look at me” but can easily be modified if you want it to as it from scratch is quite clean and functional.
The number of fan brackets are enough, but you don’t get all the fans you need with the purchase which is a shame. It has also designed a rather original feature that will take air from outside the case to cool the CPU for more efficient cooling. The power supply is up to date following the current ATX 2.0 form factor which is fully compatible with the older ATX1.3 standard. The power supply is also modular which means you only have to use the cables you want to which in turn will reduce the amount and cables and improve the air flow.
Calling a file server with only four 3.5″-slots is perhaps a bit much but that totally depends on the needs of the buyer. The price is about 1400SEK which is about what you have to pay for quality but considering the power supply it is not expensive.
This case has what we would like to call a refined look, it looks clean and pompous, a certain feeling of class. It is made from SCC steel and is very heavy which makes it very stable as it is suppose to be a fie server. With good intake covered with a dust filer in the front we see more functionality than flashing lights.
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The side panel has two perforated sites for fan placement, one goes to a pipe that sits right above the CPU-cooler and the other is for a 80*80*25 mm fan used to cool the graphic card and rest. Thumbscrews are used to loosen the side panel and is secured both in the front and back which makes it rather easy to open and close. But just as with the earlier case we reviewed you have to use a screwdriver if you want to remove the other side panel.
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On the rear it has a 120*120*25 mm fan bracket that comes with the chassi as the 500W power supply. The grid is a bit bent to improve the air flow. On the front the case is pretty clean and very classy, the intakes is more than enough for a good airflow and before it sits a dust filter which is always a nice feature. USB, Firewire and sound ports are nicely hidden behind the Antec-logo. A regular hatch which is a bit tricky to open though because of the shape, but it looks good at least. It has also spared our eyes from any unnecessary blinking lights, only the two regular power and HDD-LEDs.
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This case has really been spared of any exterior costs and even if it might look quite ordinary you get a high class feeling which is positive though as it costs quite a bit, if it’s worth the money we’ll see soon.
Antec has gone for quality when it designed this case but it has chosen not to use screwless design for 3,5″ slots, which is a bit surprising as the target consumer is a person looking a file server which in turn means that there will be a lot of harddrive swapping. The harddrive slots are instead two cages that can easily be removed. There are also fan brackets for 80*80*25 mm fans on the lower cage and in the bottom in the front, these fans don’t come with the case though.
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The 5,25″ slots have screwless design but you still have to screw the slides on to the drives though. Installing a floppy disk drive or 5,25″ units is no problem as the front can be easily removed when you’ve opened the front door. In the lower part of the front in front of the fans is a dust filter, which can be removed but then you have to remove the entire front panel first but since it has chosen to use easy attachments so you don’t risk breaking anything when you try to pry open the front. As for the regular expansion card slots you have to use regular screws.
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The power supply is quite rigid at 500 Watt compatible with all version of ATX. Unfortunately only the cables connecting to the mainboard has sleeves, but as the rest of the cables are modular you won’t have any troubles with a lot of cables hanging around blocking the airflow or just being ugly.
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The cooling is far from optimum with this case as it comes, but it has prepared the case for installation of more fans to make the cooling complete. On the rear you find a good 120*120*25 mm fan with a small controller you can set to three different speeds. If you want to use this case as a file server and want it to be quiet at the same time you will need more fans.
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In the front you can install two 80*80*25 mm fans, one who sucks fresh air into the case and the other is for cooling the harddrives. The brackets have an easy snap-on design and it’s no problem installing both of them. In the front you will also find a dust filer which is nice as it is easier to just clean the filter than the entire case from dust.
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On the side panel we find a bracket for a 80*80*25 mm fan to cool the components and above all the graphic card. A rather rare feature with this case is the pipe built in to cool the processor with directly from the outside rather than using the same air as the rest of the case. There is room in the top for a 92*92*25 mm fan to install. The pipe can be set to different lengths to fit your CPU cooler as good as possible. It might be a bit tricky to find the best setting but it is worth the extra effort.
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The possibilities are great with this case, but we wouldn’t mind if they sent along a few more fans making it a complete purchase.
This case has a look that you might want to call a bit luxurious, it has style but its robust. It hasn’t been prepped with tons of extra features but it has gone for the most necessary and obvious needs. The power supply is at a whopping 500W and as it is modular you save a lot of space.
Internal you have to use screws for everything except the 5,25"slots but it has designed a good solution for the harddrive installation. Fans that comes with the case are few as the only one is already installed in the rear, but then again it is really good fan. The cooling possibilities are very good but then you have to invest in a few extra fans and the grid in the front has a dust filter that lets through more than enough air. The pipe that supplies the CPU cooler with fresh air from the outside is really clever and works very well.
The case is quiet but could be even more quiet if you set the rear fan to the lowest setting and install some additional fans. It is very heavy making it very sturdy, but depending on what you want to use it for i can be considered both a pro and a con.
This is definitely one of the better cases around, but without the extra fans and a price tag at 1400SEK (Exchange rates) it is a bit expensive, but as you get a good PSU it is quite ok though.
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Antec Performance TX1050B
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Pros: Cons: |
