Antec Two Hundred Case Review
PC gaming has never been an inexpensive proposition. The cost of processing power, for both CPU and GPU, may have gone down in cost per GigaFLOP, but the price tag to play the latest, coolest, PC game has stayed relatively constant. Fortunately, for those on a budget, things are looking up lately. One reason is that reasonably priced and even budget priced gaming cases are now available. Antec has just come to the rescue with their new Two Hundred model mid-tower gaming case.
Follow along with Benchmark Reviews as we take a look at what you might have to give up by going the budget route for your gaming rig chassis, and surprisingly what you might gain. The Two Hundred has some new features that could convince you to spend less rather than more on your next gaming case.
Antec Two Hundred Features
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Front-loaded hot swap 3.5" SATA hard drive caddy
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CPU cut-out allows for easy installation of CPU coolers
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Bottom-mounted power supply isolates heat and noise
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Perforated front bezel delivers maximum air intake
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Cable management compartment organizes cables discreetly
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Front-loaded HDD cage for up to 6 hard disk drives
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Cable management ties help keep your case tidier
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10 drive bays:
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7 expansion slots for plenty of flexibility
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Cooling system:
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1 x top special 140mm TwoCoolTM fan
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1 x rear 120mm TwoCoolTM fan
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2 x front 120mm fans for HDDs (optional)
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1 x side 120mm fan for graphics cards (optional)
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Front ports:
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Washable air filters for quick, easy cleaning
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Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX
Antec Two Hundred Specifications
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Case Type: Gaming Mid Tower
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Color: Black
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Weight: 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg
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Dimensions: 450mm (H) x 200mm (W) x 470mm (D)
17.7" (H) x 7.9" (W) x 18.5" (D)
About Antec , Inc.
Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.
Antec's offering of enclosures includes a wide range of cases, such as its advanced Performance One Series, economical New Solution Series and VERIS family of media components designed for the home theater PC market. Antec's products also include front line power supplies, such as its premium Signature Series, powerful TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are designed for the gaming demographic, like the premier gamer enclosure: the Nine Hundred. Antec also offers a line of computer accessories comprising many original products, including its patented LED fans and notebook cooling solutions.
Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in Germany, China and Taiwan. The company's products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.
As part of its commitment to the gaming industry, Antec is a member of the non-profit organization PC Gaming Alliance, with Senior Vice President Scott Richards sitting on the board of directors.
Closer Look: Exterior
The exterior of the Antec Two Hundred is visually striking without being too flashy or over-the-top. The front panel is obviously stylized, but it's a clean, angular design that speaks to classical proportions. There is a design thread that runs through some of today's products, cars especially, that is out of control. I call them cartoon cars, because they look like something a nine year old would draw during math class. This is a computer case for grown-ups who like a little style, a good value, and a feature set that includes everything you need and nothing you don't.
The three drive bays for 5.25" class devices look a bit out of place, as they are the only 100% flat surfaces on the front panel. They'll look much better once something fills them up; an optical drive and a fan controller would fit right in. It would probably look best with all three bays occupied. The mesh on the front panel is functional (for airflow), and hidden behind it are mounting spots for two 120mm intake fans. No intake fans are supplied, which helps keep costs down and also allows the owner to customize the case to their needs. I really hate having to take out parts and replace them with something better, or just different. How many times have you seen people pull out perfectly good blue LED fans and replace them with red units, or vice versa? The removed parts are a colossal waste at that point; much better to buy a stripped-down "platform" and make it your own. This is a theme that will be repeated throughout this review.
The top surface of the case is mostly flat, with a slight raised area for the top fan mesh grill. It's a fairly open hexagonal mesh, arranged in an overall hexagonal shape. There is only one set of fan mounting holes, for the supplied 140mm fan. If you've got a favorite fan, it better be 140mm for this location. The fan is installed as an exhaust, but could be switched around if the user has a different airflow pattern in mind.
The left side panel echoes the top; a flat surface with one fan vent, also a slightly protruding hex mesh pattern. A 120mm fan is the only size allowed in this location, and is primarily for providing cool air to the video card. This would normally be one of three possible intake fans. I recommend using anti-vibration mounts for any fan used here, as all side panels tend to amplify any vibration from the fan, unless they are stiffened and damped, which these are not.
Both side panels are removable on the Antec two Hundred, and are held in place by the usual locking tab-in-slot arrangement. There are two thumb screws on the rear lip of each side panel and a small handhold to help pull the panel free.
The first thing you notice about the rear panel is its color, a bright grey-blue finish that looks like primer. It's an obvious cost cutting measure, and an excusable one, given that Antec is trying to provide the maximum performance at a very low price point. Once you get past the color, the rear panel of the Two Hundred has one or two surprises. At the very top is a switch panel that controls the speed of the two exhaust fans that are supplied with the case. While not as cool as real fan controllers, they provide a useful capability at very low cost. The top mounted 140mm fan switches from 800 to 1200 RPM, and the rear mounted 120mm fan switches from 900 to 1500 RPM. As a gaming case, I would expect these fans will be set on high for most users, but it's nice to have options.
There is a default I/O panel provided, which is something I haven't seen in a long time. It's easily removed; give it a couple twists, the tiny attachment points fatigue, and voila, you have a bit of steel to recycle. Next to that is the hex mesh vent for the rear fan, with mounting holes for 120mm devices only. Below are the expansion slot knockouts, still attached at 2-3 tiny points. There are screwdriver holes punched in the covers, in the form of a cross, that allow the user to wiggle and twist the covers until they break free. There are also two large round knockouts just to the right for running liquid cooling lines in and out of the case. No grommets are supplied in the accessory kit.
At the very bottom is the opening for the PSU, with serrated fingers for EMI grounding and two sets of mounting holes that allow the PSU to be mounted "upside down" if required. This is a critical feature for those that choose a PSU with a top (bottom) mounted fan, as there is no air intake on the bottom panel. This style is very popular, especially for the higher-powered models. I'll discuss the airflow implications later.
Let's look at some of these features in detail in the next section.
Detailed Exterior Features
The Antec Two Hundred introduces a feature I haven't had the opportunity to use before. There is a hot swappable SATA II drive bay that's accessible from the front panel. To keep up appearances, there is a hinged flap on the front that does a good job of hiding the drive bay when it's empty. When there's a HDD stuffed in there, it doesn't look too pretty, but there's not a lot you can do to dress up the back side of a hard drive. I did my best, using one of the VelociRaptors, but that's only eye candy for a very, very small subset of the general population.
Before I opened up the case, I thought the hinged door with the little release button next to it was just a clever cloaking mechanism for an internal floppy drive. I mean who owns a gaming system, and admits to still having a floppy drive?!? Yeah, maybe you still need one to start up and configure the RAID controller or something like that, but haven't we all figured out how to fake that with a flash drive? Seriously though, this is a very nice feature, and Antec is way out in front with it, especially in a budget offering. I'll talk more about it when we look at the interior.
The user controls are all located on the upper edge of the front panel. From left to right, there are: a Reset button, Power and HDD activity lights, two USB connectors, Headphone and Mic jacks, and finally, the Power button. None of them are marked, in keeping with the minimalist design theme. The audio jacks are the only things that might get mixed up, everything else is pretty obvious.
On the back of the case, at the top of the rear panel, is a small black switch panel. It controls the two exhaust fans that are supplied by Antec, the top and rear fans. Both of these fans have two available speeds and go by the catchy moniker TwoCool. I wonder if the marketing person who came up with the original product name of TriCool, knows that their work has been well and truly trumped with a better name for a lesser product. That's a marketing hat-trick, right there! Anyways, back to the switch panel...the two switches are marked TOP and REAR, and each switch has markings for Low (L) and High (H). The location and small size of the switches makes it a bit inconvenient to adjust them on the fly, but for a set-em-and-forget-em scenario, they're perfect.
The bottom of the case is plain Jane; no vents, thin rubber feet, some stiffening patterns embossed into the sheet metal, sans any corporate logos. Like the rear of the case it is a bright gray-blue color. Unlike the rear panel, the finish is not an issue here, as no one will likely see the bottom of the case while it's in use. I don't see the Two Hundred being used as a LAN Party case, but someone will probably prove me wrong. The price is certainly right, for putting together a second system to drag around, and the traditional four screws per HDD assembly method will ensure that everything arrives in perfect operating order.
There's not much left to look at on the exterior. I can say that the black powder coating was perfectly applied, no blemishes, bright spots, or untidy edges. There is a good color and texture match between the plastic front panel and the steel surfaces. The only visual miscue is the covers for the optical drive bays, they look a bit generic. All in all, I'd say it's an excellent effort at this price point.
Let's have a good look around the interior; that's where any good gaming case earns its place.
Closer Look: Interior
The interior of the Antec Two Hundred is a stark reminder of how far chassis design has come in the last several years. This case has no tool-free features, which is obvious once you pear inside. The myriad little plastic pieces that adorn a modern high-end gaming case are conspicuous by their total absence. All that is left is a plethora of holes, slots, bends, and cutouts in SECC steel, which is coated in a bright shade of gray-blue primer. I can practically hear some of you echoing my words when I first gazed at the blank canvas inside the Two Hundred: "Ahhh, time for some Old School fun". You'll see what I mean as we tour the insides.
The basic layout of the Antec two Hundred is very modern: PSU on the bottom, six 3.5" drive slots in a tall stack, an oversized (140mm) fan on the top, and a large CPU cutout.
All the drive bays are designed for front loading, which is one of the easiest ways to install and remove a drive IMHO. I am also a fan of side loading drive bays, but airflow is generally better with the front-loaded arrangement. One of the reasons I like side-loaded bays is that removal of the front panel is not required. Far too many front (and top) panels are secured with a complex series of tabs and latches that require too much thought and too many hands to remove, without breaking something in the process. Fortunately, manufacturers have simplified and strengthened the latching designs over the years, and the Two Hundred proves that removal and replacement can be done sans blood, sweat and tears. As an added bonus, the manual actually explains HOW to do it, instead of just saying "Remove the front panel..."
Two aspects of the case design help with cable management. First, the open layout of the HDD bays provides a large space to stash any excess power supply cables. As much as I like working with modular power supplies, not everyone can justify the added expense. So, the bundle of blacksnakes has to go somewhere and preferably somewhere close, that's a straight shot.
Second, the space behind the HDD bays is open and accessible for both routing and storing unused cables. There's a fair amount of depth here, so even the larger PSU bundles will fit. That's important, because there is precious little room behind the motherboard tray for anything. There's barely enough room for the Molex connectors on the fan cables. There are also no cutouts on the motherboard tray that would serve to route either the main ATX power cable or the 12V CPU power cable. Everything points to using the space behind the HDD bays as the main catch-all for cable management. There are several tie-off points for looping cable ties through, and two wide, reusable type ties are provided as accessories.
Under the category of "You don't know what you got ‘til it's gone", there is no vent on the bottom of the case for a PSU to pull air in. Any power supply, no matter its fan orientation will have to pull air from within the case for cooling. This has two negative effects, raising the operating temperature of the PSU and increasing the negative pressure inside the case. In its stock configuration, the Antec Two Hundred has no intake fans, and without a dedicated intake vent for the PSU, we've just increased the exhaust fan count to three.
Detailed Interior Features
The single most outstanding feature on the Antec Two Hundred is the front-loaded hot swap 3.5" SATA hard drive bay. This is not yet a common feature on high end cases and there are absolutely NO budget cases available with this capability. Hats off to Antec for slipping this little surprise into their latest release. The implementation is not complicated or expensive; a small PC board with two connectors on it, and a guide rail assembly on one side with a locking pin to keep the HDD from becoming disconnected accidentally.
With a hard drive installed in the bay, it's easy to see the simplicity of the arrangement. I prefer the design approach they've used, that allows user-supplied cables. Yes, I know it was probably cheaper for Antec to do it this way, but I like to color code my SATA cables, so it works for me. One more example of how Antec kept cost out by not providing parts that the user might want to customize anyway.
A little further down, in front of the main HDD bay area, there is space for two additional 120mm fans. Once the front panel is removed, a mounting panel is revealed that can handle two fans, one above the other. I was a little dismayed at the thick grid covering the area where the air is supposed to pass through. It's a safety feature I'm sure, so you can't stick your finger into the fan blades, but it's a crude, brute force design that impedes airflow. On a positive note, the hinged mounting is very convenient, and allows the panel to be removed completely which is handy when installing or cleaning the fans.
The mounting panel is made of plastic, and is thicker than a metal panel would be, so the typical cone shaped anti-vibration mounts may not fit. Standard fan mounting screws are no problem. There is a washable mesh air filter located in the front panel, held in place with a couple of screws. Once again, the benefits of an easily removable front panel ring true.
We've talked a lot about the fan mounting locations that don't have fans supplied, so let's take a look at the two fans that are supplied with the Two Hundred. The rear fan is a 120mm unit, good for 51.2 CFM at its top speed of 1500 RPM. It will pull a decent static pressure, which is very important if the user decides to not add any intake fans.
The top fan is a 140mm unit that will move 58.9 CFM on high speed, at 1200 RPM. This fan doesn't pull nearly the same static pressure as the rear fan, but it has the effect of heat rising to help it along. Kudos to Antec for supplying fan specifications with their cases, as it really helps when choosing additional fans to integrate.
There are seven expansion card positions available; each of the factory-supplied covers that block the slots is removable, but not reusable. Most of us have a box o' parts on the shelf with spare slot covers, should the need arise. Standard threaded screw holes are provided for retaining cards in their slot. That's not a negative for me, personally. If I figure in the time that it usually takes me to figure out the correct operation of the tool-less retainer mechanism, I can install or remove a screw just as fast and just as easily. The only downside for me is that I frequently set the screw down somewhere and can't find it again later.
You can also see the large knockouts for water cooling hoses here. I'm sure 99% of users will never need these, but as I mentioned before, this case may not be tool-less, but at least you won't need a Dremel tool to get the most out of it.
Antec Two Hundred Final Thoughts
When I think "Gaming Case", two things come to mind, Looks and Airflow. On the high end, the top cases from every manufacturer sport either drop-dead gorgeous or eye-popping outrageous designs. The Antec Two Hundred has very humble aspirations, befitting its place on the lowest rung of Antec's gaming product line. That doesn't mean it has to be ugly; it has a genuinely attractive front panel, and the rest of the case doesn't detract from that.
The airflow picture is one of possibilities, rather than capabilities. There are five fan locations, but only two fans are supplied. That's actually a plus, for those like me who want to hand pick the case fans, especially if the components inside the case are going to support a real gaming experience. You WILL need to add some intake fans to this case if it gets populated with almost any form of graphics card suitable for gaming.
I've talked recently in my video card articles about the impact of the fourth dimension, time, on product development. The Antec Two Hundred offers up another object lesson. It's the latest release from Antec, but because it's their budget offering, it's not the latest and greatest. Or is it...? Name one other Antec gaming case that has a CPU cutout on the motherboard tray. Three Hundred, Nine Hundred, Nine Hundred Two, Twelve Hundred...no. Only the lowly Two gets this feature, because it's the latest design. Now, this is a simple feature to implement; it's not rocket science, it doesn't require any additional parts, and it's hardly a brand new innovation. But it takes time for new features to bubble up into the product line.
The front-loaded hot swap 3.5" SATA hard drive bay is another example. Although it does require some additional parts, it's not an overly expensive proposition. Once again, name me another gaming case..... and not just Antec cases this time.
There's a theory that applies to consumer products which are technology-driven: always buy the latest, it's always going to be better than last year's model, and it is likely not going to cost any more. DSLR cameras are a perfect example of this; there's no way the price difference between last year's model on clearance sale and this year's model is going to make up for the difference in performance and features. Lenses are generally another story; in fact some vintage lenses are highly sought after for their performance, even though they may lack modern features like vibration reduction.
So, enough with the theories, let's look at reality. The Antec Three Hundred currently sells for approximately $5 more than the Two Hundred; an insignificant amount. The Three Hundred is a higher spec product, but it's at a point along its product lifecycle where more of a discount is being applied somewhere in the supply chain. Its MSRP is $15 more than the Two Hundred, but street pricing is much closer. The Three Hundred isn't necessarily an upgrade, though. Missing is the CPU cutout in the motherboard tray and the external hot-swap SATA drive bay. Those are features that are potentially critical for some buyers, and they're only available in the Two Hundred at the lower price. The two products have a different look to them, primarily the front panel, so that might be a factor for some, but feature-wise; the Two Hundred wins hands down.
Progress and competition; I know they're relentless and amoral, but there's no pretending that they don't drive the world.
Antec Two Hundred Conclusion
Presentation of the Antec Two Hundred is about halfway between a basic brown box and the 3-D sculpted glossy art projects that come with the high end cases. Using only two color printing, I think Antec came up with an attractive and striking design for the box. Obviously, it's impossible to show a retail customer exactly what the case looks like with this kind of packaging, but the line art shows the basics. The interior packing is two Styrofoam end caps, and a plastic bag wrapped around the case. A corrosion fighting chemically treated paper insert comes packed inside, as well as the accessories and manual in a zipper bag. The box arrived slightly damaged; the usual puncture by sharp object during transit, but the case inside was unharmed.
The appearance of the case is worthy of admission into the gaming arena. It's a bit subtle, but there's still a sharp edge to the design that says, "I'm here to compete." The flat side and top panels highlight the faceted front surface with its combination of mesh and geometric structure. As the lowest cost case in the Antec Gaming series, it puts up a good front, although the back panel lets the side down with its bare primer finish.
Construction is of good quality. Everything fits, the powder coat finish is even and unmarked, the plastic surface finish blends well with the metal panels, not too many sharp edges, and it goes back together easily after you pull it apart. Have I seen better construction? Yes, but always at higher price points. The build quality is good, not great, but I'd be a fool to complain.
Normally I discuss Value and Functionality somewhat separately, but they're so intertwined in this product, I have to address them together. The bottom line is that Antec chose to provide the maximum opportunity for functionality, rather than providing the functionality itself. The airflow scheme is a good example: five fan mounting locations are provided, but only two fans. The layout of the HDD bays is simple, that's true, but it provides for the best possible airflow and a handy space to tuck all the cables away. The performance you get out of this case is going to depend on what you put into it. That's an unabashed shout out to the Old School, who had to work with primitive designs, and still managed to eke out top-level performance. This case makes it easier because the basic elements are there; you don't need to start the build process with metal-working tools. You do need to think about what enhancements may be necessary to accommodate the level of gaming performance you plan to install inside. I think that's half the fun, though. I build systems because I enjoy it, not because I have to, and I appreciate the blank canvas offered here for a rather minimal investment.
As of late September, Newegg is offering the Antec Two Hundred for $49.95. In this price range, every five to ten dollars buys you the next level up. For instance, the Antec Three Hundred is only $ 54.99 at Newegg. Its retail price may be higher, but the street price has been driven down by time and competition to nearly the same price as the Two Hundred. Look at my Final Thoughts though, for why I would buy the Two Hundred anyway.
While the Antec Two Hundred doesn't have the bling of a high-end gaming chassis, it doesn't have the cha-ching either. There is nothing that would prevent you from building a top-performing gaming rig with this case. You will have to invest more time and effort into the project, but for some of us, that's the fun part. I have no problem recommending the Two Hundred for almost any gaming setup; think twice before spending more.
Pros:
+ Exterior hot swap SATA HDD bay
+ Construction quality
+ Airflow performance possibilities
+ CPU cutout on MB tray
+ Aggressive, yet subtle looks
+ Low price, good value
+ Parts I don't want, not included (+ for me)
Cons:
- No PSU air vent on bottom
- Primer finish on rear of case
- Mic and Headphone jacks not labeled
- Parts I don't want, not included (- for some)
Ratings:
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Presentation: 8.50
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Appearance: 8.75
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Construction: 9.00
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Functionality: 9.25
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Value: 9.00
Final Score: 8.9 out of 10.
Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.
Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
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