MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - Antec P180 Advanced Super Mid-Tower Review

Click image for larger view

The Antec P180 Advanced Super Mid-Tower Case features a swing away front door that shields the drive bays when not in use and maintains the polished look of the case. The door is secured using a dual hinges and can swing a full 270 degrees allowing it to lay flush against the left side of the case when opened. While I applaud Antec for including this feature, I can help but feel that the construction and quality of the door could be improved. A total of 4 x 5.25" external drive bays are available to handle any type of computer configuration. Consumers looking for external 3.5" drive bay support will be pleased that Antec has included a single 3.5" drive bay that is perfect for installing legacy floppy drives, card readers, monitoring devices or mini fan controllers.

Click image for larger view

Towards to right side of the bezel is a power button, small reset switch, standard Power and HD LEDs. In order to cater to multimedia enthusiasts Antec has also included a suite of front mounted ports that include dual USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire, Headphone and Microphone. The ports are attached to a series of extender cables which must be connected to the proper headers on a motherboard prior to use. A wiring guide is provided in the installation instructions for those consumers who require assistance. Since the P180 has the capability to also be used as a server case, a small chrome lock has also been included and uses a set of keys which are included in the package. The lock is a welcome addition for a home or office environment by providing a solution for added security and a deterrent for chassis intrusion.

Click image for larger view

The P180 includes two separate compartments for cooling the internal drive bays which Antec calls the Upper and Lower Air Filter Doors. Each compartment includes a 120mm fan mount and swing away door that shields an air filter which is attached to the internal chassis via 4 plastic clips. The air filter aids in keeping dust from entering inside the case and is completely removable when maintenance is required.