Antec Sonata II (cont'd)

The external drive sled comes out of the front after pressing the tabs in on either side, making it very simple to install floppy drives or a couple of additional hard drives.


Click to enlarge.

For the 5¼” drives, purple rails are used, and much to our appreciation, they are actually held right in the bay covers in pairs, which makes perfect sense.

To secure the rails, normal optical drive screws are used, then the drive slides in from the front until it locks in place. While this isn't completely tool-less, it still is easier than having to take off both sides just to install or remove optical drives.

In terms of construction, the Sonata II, just like its predecessor, is a very solid case. Its steel construction definitely has something to do with this, but other elements factor into the equation as well, such as the larger-than-normal crossbar.


Click to enlarge.

This bar will help support the weight of even the largest power supplies out there, but by the time you include the weight of all the steel and beefy components, don't expect this case to be easy to move around.

Before we move on to our next case, we wanted to show at least one shot of the duct placed over our Zalman cooler as best we could muster.


Antec Sonata II (cont’d) ThermalRock Eclipse
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  • xsilver - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    just because you like the "stealth" look it doesnt mean everybody else does
    why is there a market for car neons?
    why is there a market for phone covers and ringtones?

    but good god, that thermalrock case needs to DIAF! :P
  • smn198 - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    quote:

    why is there a market for car neons?
    quote:

    why is there a market for phone covers and ringtones?
    http://www.chavscum.co.uk">Chavs
  • imaheadcase - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    Well its evident there is a market, but your comparing apples to oranges. Its computer part not something everyone builds themselves. If you have people buying power ranger cases that built computers, then they need a new hobbie..
  • xsilver - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    who says you have to build a system yourself?
    dont your local pc store (not best buy etc) stock their cases from somewhere?
    if some 10 year old (or some tryhard that doesnt know how to build his own) wants a pc, what case is he going to choose, crappy bling neons or real aluminium?

    dont get me wrong -- I prefer stealth too - but I do realize that there is a market for crappy neons :P
  • raildogg - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    ThermalRock Eclipse looks sweet, although I'd still get a P-180.

    why would you pay that much for the V1000? rather get a cheaper case like a P-180

    oh and primo posto! :)
  • OvErHeAtInG - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    I was going to to correct you with "primer poste" until I realized you typed the Italian... a race fan should know... *hits himself...*
  • ksherman - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    I personally dont think any case should be worth so much... unless it was the MOST amazing theng ever to hit the world... which I dont think the V1000 lives up to. I personally dont like the look of the Eclipse... to flashy, and it actually looks kind of cheap. But it might look different in person. I am a big fan of the Sonata 1 so, I would guess the #2 would be better, but it doesnt seem to include a PSU from what I have seen...
  • Furen - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link

    The Sonata 2 does include a PS: a SmartPower 2.0 450w. The problem with it is the fact that it's quite a bit louder than the original TruePower and the TruePower2 of the newer Sonatas.

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