Finishing Details

With the main components in place it was time for the power supply and rear exhaust fan. I threw in a Antec TrueBlue 480W, also reviewed by PC Abusers. The rear exhaust fan is included with the case...a hefty 120mm unit. The fan is attached with rubber "pull-through" fasteners...which was the first experience I had with that type of fastener. They work on the same principle as the rubber grommets under the hard drives...reduce vibration...keeping fan noise low. The fan is put in place, each pull-through is inserted, and then you can cut the remaining rubber off the back for a smooth appearance.

The front exhaust contains a removable/washable air filter (see third pic below...the filter is on the bottom of the front bezel). The fan is an optional 120mm, just like the rear. Antec notes that it will increase case noise (obviously), but for those that want maximum cooling, it is available. The fan cage has a thumb screw (I told you these were everywhere!) and slides out next to the hard drive cage.

While we're in that area of the case, notice the spring-loaded lever in the bottom right. This assists with the removal of the side panel. It pushes out the bottom of the panel as you tilt the top away from the case. Another nice touch by Antec.

Completed!

Connecting the front LED's with power and it's time for the payoff. With all parts in:

In the Dark

My personal favorite is the case in the dark. The built-in blue LED lights in the front panel are great looking and accent the appearance quite well.

Final Thoughts

Scott Richards, Antec's Sales and Marketing VP said:

"Today's high-performance PC users are more demanding than ever. They still want all the latest technologies. However, they now also require features which used to be considered extras, such as stylish design and low-noise capability..."

Well, the P160 meets these requirements. The only thing lacking to make this a perfect case is a built-in power supply. The case provides all of the basic needs, style, and then goes beyond that to include extras and then even some luxury. Sounds strange to say "luxury" when describing a pc case, but this seems to be a good time to start.

Pros

• Build Quality
• Stylish (color matching front panels included)
• Quiet
• Numerous goodies (removable motherboard tray, thumb screws)
• 120mm intake/exhaust fans (1 fan included)
• Convenient front control panel (USB, Firewire, Audio)
• Lightweight aluminum (anodized to prevent scratches from showing)
• Plenty of room to work inside

Cons

• Cost (MSRP $169 from Antec)...but you are definitely getting what you pay for!

Thank you to Antec for providing the P160 for review. The P160 most certainly deserves our highest honor!

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