Antec Nine Hundred Two Gaming Case

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Antec Nine Hundred Two

Antec Nine Hundred Two incorporates a full range of movement in the past few months, these changes began with the Three Hundred and Twelve. They are positioned respectively on the entry and the high end of the series, they joined the famous Nine Hundred. That brings to 4 the number of products in the range of games of this manufacturer to recall, 300, 900, 1200 and 902.

Other ranges boxes are 5:

• Skeleton, the case opened.
• Performance one the silent range, 7 models P160W to P190 via the P 180 and P182. Let us not forget the Mini P180 also present.
• Servers, the name indicates the destination, 2 models, the Titan 650 and Atlas 550.
• New solution, mini-boxes. All formats are represented, cube, round, slim, in all 13 models.

But Antec power supplies is also known, 18 models in all. Cooling is also involved with the fans of course, but for portable coolers, hard drives, graphics cards.



Protocol tests
Test platform:
Processor: Intel Q9550
Ventirad: Cooler Master Z600
Motherboard: MSI X38 Diamond
Memory: 2 x 1 GB OCZ DDR3 1600
Graphics Card: MSI Radeon HD 3870 X2
HDD: Hitachi 160 GB
Power: Antec Signature 850
Operating system: Windows XP SP2

Additional Fans:
Akasa AK-183 L2B
Guidance: Twin Ball Bearing
Speed of 1400 RPM
CFM Index: 44.80
Noise: 18 dB (A)

For this test, the processor is clocked at 3744 Mhz at 1.43 volts, the graphics card went from 850/900 MHz to 878/955MHz. The possibilities are almost endless cooling, we have retained the most significant. The rear fans are adjustable through inverters, those undertaken by potentiometers, for the latter positions medians have been defined. The 4 fan base in position L, Low, for slow, M, Middle, for medium and H for high height. Two other sets of measure will be made by adding the fan side and the end of cage.



Test Cooling:
The warm-up will be done with CPU Burner on each processor core and jointly AtiTools Scan Mode for artifact. The test time is 30 minutes, as usual, the highest values will be retained. They will be represented as delta, is less room temperature.

Noise:
2 measures will be made on the front of the box 15 cm and 1 meter, "basic" under the 3 and 1 fan.

The test for integration:
We feel it easy to assemble with compete configuration. The classification is made faster and easier 5 key at the long and complicated key 1

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Overview

Specifications:
Model: Antec Nine Hundred Two
Format: ATX, Micro ATX
Front materials: plastic, steel
Panels and chassis material: steel, 10/10 mm
Power: ATX Format option
Location before fan: 2 x 120 mm TriCool lit, air filters, (delivered)
Location rear fan: 1x TriCool 120 mm, lit, (supplied)
Location above the fan: 200 mm Big Boy, informed (supplied)
Location fan left side: 120 mm (option), air filters, (supplied)
Location fan center front: 1x 120 mm, (optional)
5.25 inches Location: External 9
Location 3.5 inches: 1 external and 2 internal 6 cages of 3 x 5.25 Inches
PCI card slots: 8
Ports Front: 2 USB 2.0, 1x E-SATA and 2 input / output audio



TriCool fans features 120 x 25 mm (3):
Rear fan, 3-position switch or by potentiometer same range of adjustments:
L: 1200 rpm, 39 in index CFM, 25 dB (A) noise and 1.6 W in power
M: 1600 rpm, 56 in index CFM, 28 dB (A) noise and 2.4 W in power
H: 2000 rpm, 79 in index CFM, 30 dB (A) noise and 2.9 W in power

Characteristics of the Big Boy fan 200 x 25.4 mm (1):
Fan top 3 positions switch:
L: 400 rpm, 82 in index CFM, 24 dB (A) noise and 1 W power
M: 700 rpm, 108 CFM index, 27 dB (A) noise and 2 W power
H: 800 rpm, 134 CFM index, 30 dB (A) noise and 3.6 W in power



Composition of the bundle:
The cabinet
External adapter 3.5 to 5.25 inches
Screws, clamps, instructions

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No real surprise when unpacking the 902, it is consistent with the overall design of his colleagues in the range of games. We therefore find the 2 amounts in plastic frame in the front, it is composed of 9 caches 5.25 P punctured. Caches on the bottom, the 2 buttons for adjusting the rotational speed of the fans on the front panel.
At the top, we find the classical facade connectors, 2 x USB, 1 x esata and input / output audio. They are surrounded on the right by the power button on the left and the reset button.



The left side is mostly occupied by a transparent plastic window in the center location of the additional fan. This part is also covered with a perforated metal structure. The panel is followed by the front and mounted on the chassis of the knurled screw on the back.



The rear panel provides information on the location of elements in the housing, the block is positioned at the bottom of the box. The platinum mounting this on the 1200 is gone, the 902 power is fixed directly to the chassis.Over the 8-slot PCI card slots and 2 pass any tips for Watercooling.



The plate I / O with the neighboring TriCool 120 mm. The upper part of the rear panel houses 2 switches responsible for the speed of the TriCool 120 mm Big Boy 200 mm. The latter has a blue light that can be extinguished with a small switch.
The right panel is removable on the same principle as the left panel. It has no opening. The top is a ribbed plastic while it welcomes back the Big Boy 200 mm, protected by a perforated steel grille on the front, a sort of empty-pocket accompanies us to the top of the facade.

Bottom has 4 anti-vibration pads, 2 front are a continuation of 2 amounts of the facade.



Design identical to big brother the 1200, but adapted to the size of 902. The finish is the same, very good level.

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The Interior

The interior is less spacious than in 1200, logic, 582 x 513 mm we move to 490 x 470 mm in height and depth. The interior is painted in black satin, it's best effect. The left panel contains a location for a 120 mm fan, the setting is done through centering plots that take place in fasteners origins. A plastic tab locks all. A washable air filter is present, it is removable without removing the fan. We will return in the context of integration, all in suction fans are equipped with a washable filter.



Nearby the bottom, a passage of strings is reserved on the panel support on the motherboard. On top of the block, the PCI cards extensions of the classic screwdriver is needed.



The TriCool found its place on top, next to the plate I / O of the motherboard, the summit welcomed the famous BigBoy 200 mm. The back support of the motherboard is fixed, remember, collars are pre-installed to connect the cords and channel cable trays.



The front is pretty well filled, the top 3 bays 5.25 P, the device is mounted with screws. For discs, 2 cages are present, they are both fans. They can hold 3 hard drives in one cage, a total of 6, a fan is delivered, it is removable and is mounted at the end of cage. Mount prohibits the installation of storage units with a fan but it creates a cooling tunnel for use by the graphics card or power supply.

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Integration

The 902 is awfully close of 1200, as we have just seen. As against it is much more compact than its big brother, the capacity of the various components likely will change.



Power Supply:
The place is sufficient to accommodate blocks of 180 to 200 mm, therefore no major limitation in size. The opening allows a close passage of cords behind the support of the motherboard.

Motherboard:
Everything will depend on the motherboard and its ventilator, in this case, the 8-pin connector is located on the outskirts of motherboard at the top then. It is necessary to plug before fixing the motherboard, especially if prominent ventilator is because access is impossible. . Attention also on this connector cord, the switch to access the back of the card is very close to the blades of BigBoy. For the remainder of the integration of the card no particular worries.



Graphics card:
270 mm in our Radeon HD 3870 X2 comes without a problem, there is still 20 mm before they hit the nearby block removable by adjusting against the fan we are almost in contact. If your graphics card is longer it will be impossible to mount the fan on the cage. It remains 30 mm between the top of the graphics card and the left panel or rather if the fan is mounted in the case, 65 mm. Enough room to mount a ventilator GPU replacement.



Hard disks:
A little cross to bear, it must first dismantle the cage in question, thus removing the side panels 2. Then slide the disc in a location and secure it with long screws supplied.

5.25 Inches devices:
Screwdrivers mandatory for both the cache for the assembly itself, depth 200 mm Max.



Cooling:
The cooling system is a classic from Antec.The aspiration is channeled through the 2 front fans, extraction is assigned to the 120 and 200 mm at the rear and top and to a lesser extent by the food at the very bottom. Accommodations are provided, however, the possibility of mounting a 120 mm fan at the end of a 2 hard drive cages. This arrangement prohibits the installation of a hard disk, it could serve as relay fan cover. Furthermore, this cage is positioned where you want but watch the maximum length of the graphics card, it can exceed 270 mm if it is mounted in the extension. This cage equipped and can therefore be used as "input" of freshness for a graphics card with less than 270 mm or to cool the power if we all put down. As a reminder, the 1200 allows 280 mm with fan cage.



The internal layout of the case:
Cord storage level, we find the concept of the Twelve Hundred, the back support of the motherboard acts as a crossroads at this level. The openings in the periphery of motherboard are substantially identical, except that the top that no longer exists really. It's a bit inconvenient in our case and our 8-pin connector is not really well placed, that is clear.
In short, the main destination of openings, but anything is possible if the length of cord is suitable:

• Besides the power supply, its use is found in the cords from the block, but the USB connectors, and any front Sata.
• A mid-height, perfect for Pci-E, any IDE cable and / or Sata.At the top, or the connectors on the motherboard, but the cords from the front, they are quite long
• At the top, to avoid as BigBoy blades are very close, possibly the cord 4 / 8 pin positioned in a location impossible with the previous passages, as in our case.

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Test Results

For this test, the processor is clocked at 3744 Mhz at 1.43 volts, the graphics card went from 850/900 MHz to 878/955MHz. The possibilities are almost endless cooling, we have retained the most significant. The rear fans are adjustable through inverters, those undertaken by potentiometers, for the latter positions medians have been defined.

The 4 fan base in position L, Low, for slow, M, Middle, for medium and H for high Hight.
Two other sets of measure will be made by adding the fan after cage (Base + 120 mm internal), and adding the fan side, (base + 120 mm internal and lat).

Temperatures
A certain logic is respected, the best results are obtained with all the fans running. For against, the results with the basic breakdown is slightly higher than the configuration including 120 mm after cage.

The graphics card
Little did move over, it is clear, is whether the limiting factor is other than ventilator itself. A slight improvement to rest with the fan at the end of cage.
Motherboard embeds a cooling system is highly original called Circu-Pipe. It is placed near the ventilator and therefore the flow of it.

Integration testing:

It of course incorporates the principles of mounting Twelve, therefore they inherit the same small defects, the assembly of hard disks is long, same for access to air filters. We must remove the side panels 2, 4 screws, then the cage, 4 screws and put the disc still 4 screws. For filters, same except that you just push the cage to the outside to reach it, there is no need to dismantle it completely.



Devices 5.25 P amount in a traditional way with live, we do not find it too embarrassing as it is an operation that is often done once and for all or at least not very frequently. Mounting the motherboard is a bit trickier because more confined space.

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Conclusion:

How to classify the 902, closer to 1200 than 900, this is certain, the Twelve Hundred Nine Hundred drift. It is therefore somewhat of a return to basics for this Nine Hundred Two, hence its name! It is therefore positioned between Nine and Twelve.

On a point of view performance in terms of cooling they are very good although a little behind in 1200, we were expecting. On a sound they are much closer. They are not in the vast discretion, they are not oriented boxes silent far away, the range of "performance" is present for that. However, it is possible to tune the fans to get a noise / performance satisfactory.



On a finishing point of view, it is very good as usual, the layout is exemplary of the case with many storage options. Talking about the heavy, we feel its weight, 11.5 kg empty, 17.4 Kg climb configuration, which is beginning to do much for a box this size. The bright side of things is nothing but the strength and rigidity Nine Two Hundred shown.