Antec Mini ITX Case ISK300-65
by Antec
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: AntecAudio: English (Original Language)
Model: ISK300-65
Product features:
- Mini-ITX case designed to work with the Mini-ITX motherboards. A 65-Watt external PSU keeps the size SMALL!
- Three drive bays, 1 x slim optical 5.25-Inch external, and 2 x 2.5-Inch HDD internal bays!
- Cooling is handled by an 80MM TriCool 3 speed exhaust fan. Features 1 half Height expansion slot.
- Convenient front ports include, 2 USB 2.0 and 1 eSATA
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Antec Mini ITX Case ISK300-65
Customer Review: Danerously short ATX power cord, chintzy CD cover
Summary: 2 Stars
I was super excited about this case when I ordered it: cold-rolled heavy steel, gorgeous front panel, useful design features. The frame's construction quality is top notch and it doesn't have any parts like those annoying plastic tool-less hard drive holders that one finds so often in drive bays. The power button has a wonderful heavy feel to it with solid recoil. Although I didn't get a chance to test it, the reviews that I had read indicated that the 65W power supply did its job well.
Here's the main problem with the case. The external brick power supply runs to a BNC connector plug in the back of the case, and from there the plug is connected with a 4-pin Molex to a rectangular horizontally mounted internal circuit board regulator at the front that has an extremely short (5 inches?) ATX power supply cable running from its right edge. If your motherboard's ATX power input is in front of your CPU's heatsink, then there's no problem, but if the CPU is in front (like in the popular Intel D510MO mini-ITX board, which I was installing) then the power cable will be touching or even inside the prongs of the heatsink. Given how hot heatsinks can get, this could end up with a call to 911, and even if the power cable's plastic doesn't melt then a single frayed wire will probably fry your entire board. The circuit board is mounted with screws, so I tried turning it 180 degrees so that the power cable ran out from the left edge to give me more slack (the D510MO's power connector is in the lower left), but then the 4-pin power cable running from the back was hovering dangerously close to the heatsink, albeit it wasn't in the heatsink. Even if that were acceptable for you, remounting the circuit board brought the thick power cables flush against the left side of the case's cover. To say that it made closing the case really annoying is to point at the best case scenario. Over the years, the strain could also loosen the connector from the cables.
The other major problem for me was the really flimsy CD drive cover door that they implemented, which broke as soon as I took it out of the box. Really a let down considering how sturdy the rest of the case is, and even if I hadn't had such bad luck other reviews online agree that the door's quality is poor. There were a few other issues:
-Closing the case didn't feel firm and left me wondering whether I had closed it properly.
-When I mounted my drives on the dual 2.5" drive tray I pushed down on each side of the drives to make sure that they were mounted securely, and I could feel that they wobbled ever so slightly. They didn't move nearly enough that it would rattle during operation, but it was annoying and Antec should do better.
-Lots of wasted space inside the case. This doesn't affect its performance, but from a purely technical appreciation perspective I was left wondering who in their right mind would have designed a case in such a way.
One "undocumented" plus (at least, I don't recall reading about it) was that the case has dedicated holes in the back for the Antec TriCool's speed switches. This could also be a negative, however, if like me you were planning on replacing the fan with something else. It only comes with one fan, but it has space for another (actually, props to Antec for their really cool fan mounting solution. There's a slot on the left side where you just slide them in and a removable cover to block the unused space next to the first fan.) TriCool's aren't bad from what I've read, but I prefer single speeds.
I'm giving the case two stars instead of one because it's sexy and the frame's build quality is top notch except for the CD tray cover, and also I recognize that I just happened to have bad luck with that part. On the other hand, I can't give it anything above two stars because the short power cables are a serious defect. Be sure to check that your board's ATX connector is at the front (i.e., opposite from the rear panel connectors) before you purchase this case. Specifically, make sure that it's in front of any heatsinks or fans. If it's within the first three or four inches of the front of the board, you shouldn't have any hesitations despite my nasty review. If you're looking for the smallest possible footprint, this case isn't for you. However, if your power connector is fortuitously located and if you don't mind the chintzy front CD flap and if you don't mind the form factor, this beautiful and sturdy case will probably make your day. It almost made mine.
Description of Antec Mini ITX Case ISK300-65
Mini-ITX is the next ?big? thing. Designed exclusively. Mini-ITX motherboards. With three drive bays, a side 80mm TriCool fan, and a stable 65-watt power adapter, the ISK 300-65 can handle many of the tasks of a traditional PC, in half the space. And with a 0.8mm cold rolled steel frame, the ISK 300-65 is not only nimble but durable. From petite desktop option to silent home theater, Antec?s ISK 300-65 is an epic case of mini proportions.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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