Case like the Antec P180 Black

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zod96

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Looking for a case that is similar to the Antec P180B with a smooth front door, but I want to get a case that has all black interior as well as exterior any ideas?
 
probably by the end of this week you will be able to get Fractal products on Newegg, according to the rep at Fractal.

And all the Fractal tower chassis , are painted have flat front doors, and are a lot cheaper than most of the Lian-Li range...yet you get more for your money, unless you want an Aluminium case?

Externally they look a lot like Antec, internally it looks like a Corsair.
 
I want the fractal R3, but my order at ++++ says that its back ordered for at least 15 days...but the R3 would be perfect....
 
So run caseless for 2 weeks. Not a big deal.

Did Fractal ever improve their build quality? I remember a year or so ago many were saying they were very well designed cases but flimsy and poorly constructed.
 
I haven't seen any mention of problems with build quality, in the reviews of the R3, or XL, I'll let you know in the next week or two once I can get one from Newegg, unless a current owner has anything to say about it?
 
In regards to the build quality, I'll address some of the issues I heard of when researching the case.

1) The panels are thinner and flimsy.

This is a bit of a yes/no answer, I will compared to my Antec Solo/Sonata Plus case. The overall frame and side panel feel comparably solid with my Antec. The case will actually support itself on the side panel (when filled) without issue, but this I mean I laid it on its side on a small stool with a surface smaller then the panel. The front cover actually feels more solid (the plastic seems thicker). The top panel does flex more compared to my Antec, but this is only if I take my hand and push down on it. I actually put my leg on my case, and in that usage they feel the same (although the Fractal is colder, because the PSU is not on the top). The panel dimensions are also larger, so that may be the reason as well.

2) The Grommets for the motherboard tray holes come off

Yes they do, but only when I tried to stick sleeved PSU several cables through at once and just pulled form the other end. This area could be improved however, but if it became too stuff, they'd be hard to removed and reinsert as well.

3) The sound dampening foam was not fully stuck on

Mine did not come properly stuck down on 1 side panel, but the fix was really simply. I just put on a flat table and pressed down around it, took less then a minute.

4) The side panel seems harder to put on and slightly harder to remove compared to my Antec.

5) The HD trays scratch the painted interior. But I don't see how you can get around this without using a completely different type of tray. Basically the metal tabs scratch the area that they cover along the HD cage. But you cannot see these scratches with the trays in place.

6) Fan filter gap. I did not see this issue with a gap for the PSU fan filter I had heard. Or what could have been referred to is that there is a gap inside the case, because the PSU is designed to sit on 4 rubber pads. You could always seal with some tap I guess if you think it is a concern.
 
I had an R3 arrive with bottom part of the plastic front panel shattered, the fan filter broken, and the hard drive cage bent enough so that the trays wouldn't fit in properly without bending it back.
Probably UPS's fault as much as Fractal's, but I doubt that would have happened with a Lian Li.
 
Really the fractal cases are comin?? that's so sweet! They look awesome. So l there is nonway o buy them in America right now?
 
2wiced said:
Really the fractal cases are comin?? that's so sweet! They look awesome. So l there is nonway o buy them in America right now?
Click to expand...

You can get them from n c i x u s.com (forum filters -- wtf?) but since they're based out of Canada expect to pay a good bit more in shipping than you'd normally.
 
Or as Fractal have directly told me, wait a few days, since Newegg will be stocking them, probably end of the month.
 
I hope they do...But I am thinking that it might be a pipe dream and newegg wont carry them. That is my kind of luck. Laugh
 
Last time I heard someone say newegg was getting something within a week tops, it was like a month later :-( I hope that is not the case. If it is, I'll end up getting the Corsair 650D that was just released...
 
Well ++++ estimates about 15 days, Fractal told me a few days until Newegg start selling them, I'm guessing the same shipment for Newegg is on the same boat, so I would reckon end of the month, beginning of March.
 
Ok I called newegg. And the guy I spoke to said not to expect fractal cases on their webpage for at least another 2-3 weeks. So take that as you will....I hope he is wrong though
 
zod96 said:
Ok I called newegg. And the guy I spoke to said not to expect fractal cases on their webpage for at least another 2-3 weeks. So take that as you will....I hope he is wrong though
Click to expand...

So that's exactly what I said, 15 days, Canada won't have them any quicker then, if you can wait this long, 15 days won't hurt.
 
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