I just happen to buy a case this past week and it was down to the Lian Li and the Antec, and this is why I chose Lian Li. Antec Cases have always been sub par for me. Even some of their power supplies don't come with the power cable....
Some people don't need the power cable. I would hate to know how many Hundreds of Millions of Desktop PC's have been sold. And the one thing in common? They pretty much use the same power cable. (Depending on region of course.)
Antec sought a way to cut costs and waste, I don't hate them for that, it's why I buy their PSU's, I have that many cables stashed in a box, it's a non-issue.
I bought a Lian-Li case with USB 3.0 front panel connectivity for my new rig and it didn't come with an internal /USB 3.0/ connector - rather an external one.
I'd consider that a bigger omission than the lack of a 2.0 adapter.
What kind of devices are people plugging into the front of their case that they need 4? I've only ever used 2 at a time - phone adapter and gamepad. Other items like cable for digital cameras, portable hard drives, keyboard, mouse all go in the back?
Definitely buying a P280 for my Ivy Bridge build, still trucking along with a P182 from 2007.
To name a number of things that can be used at once:
Phone charger, mp3 player charger, flash drive(s), game pad(s), mouse, keyboard, printer, headphones, bluetooth receiver, just to name a few. If we assume that things such as the mouse, keyboard, headphones, printer and bluetooth can all be plugged in the back (that's 5 devices) then you still have a phone charger, mp3 charger, flash drive, and gamepad that are all far more convenient to be plugged in the front. In addition, not many people have easy access to the back side of their PC and enjoy having more ports on the front to reduce the sheer amount of hotswapping they need to do to make everything work.
Or, more importantly, if you buy a case with USB 3.0 ports and a motherboard that doesn't have USB 3.0 support, you shouldn't be confused and complain when you cannot utilize them.
Case manufacturers (and mobo) should take note, none of us are really happy about USB 3.0 integration. There's a whole debacle going on with NZXT Phantom owners. Newer buyers (lets say last four weeks) have received USB 3.0 front (top) panel connectors. So those of us that were "early" adopters are S.O.L. Add to this the fact that there is no option for a 3 1/2 inch panel addition on the Phantom and your customers are royally screwed. Not a nice way to treat people that spent $140 on your flashy case.
At least these new ports have the proper USB 3.0 motherboard header. Most companies are forcing people to route cables to the back panel I/O. This is particularly annoying for bay device internal card readers that don't utilize the USB 3.0 header included on most new motherboards. I can think of two card readers that do this properly, all other card readers I have looked at are the "let's put the cable out the back of the computer" variety.
Neither the external nor internal connector is the same as USB 2.0 though. The external connector accepts USB 2.0 devices but uses additional contact points for 3.0.
The internal connector uses more pins than the 2.0 one.
No love for Antec 1200 v3 users? I just got this case and a Z68 mobo with a USB 3.0 header only to find that the front panel USB 3.0 port on the case uses a regular usb port connector instead of having the normal header plug. So I have to route the cable through the case then run it out of the back holes in the case for external water cooling solutions then plug it into the back of the motherboard using up one of the two rear USB 3.0 ports. Unnaceptable I want a adapter that takes the standard usb port and lets me plug it into the USB 3.0 mobo header pins.
How about honoring your 3 year warranty on server power supplies??? Don't forget your screwing me out of $280 has cost you 10 years of sales! We will NEVER sell another Antec product ever, not to mention all the people I've swayed away.
Short Version of Story: Server kept powering off, called tech support wanted advanced rma (with credit card hold) as server couldn't be down. Antec says no, so had to buy a replacement power supply. Sent power supply back to Antec, they say no problem found. Reinstall back into server, powers down all the time. Call Antec, sorry we found nothing wrong. Look something is wrong. Argue forever, so finally we crack open power supply and it's LOADED with blown caps, at least a dozen or more. How did you miss this if you truely tested/inspected it. Call them, they refuse to honor warranty on 8 month old $280 power supply because it's been opened. Look we only opened it, after calling you repeatedly, after sending back to you, and after you swore nothing was wrong with it. How can you not know you used junk caps in the power supply, certainly we're not the only one with problems if they are dying after 8 months! You're selling this as a premium server power supply and you used junk components. So after phone calls, emails, and letter, they never even apologized or offered a discount on a new power supply or anything, let alone replace their POS $280 power supply.
Yeah, I've had issues with Antec PSUs also. Definitely prefer Seasonic instead. I'll still use their cases though since they aren't bad for the price (just bought an 1100).
The good news is the adapter is free of charge and is mailed to the case owner. This is good news for those folks who don't have 3.0 USB motherboards yet.
When the day comes for a new board, the case is 3.0 ready !
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23 Comments
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jontech - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
Better cases, came with adapter :)Mumrik - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
And the price to more than match. Slightly odd post.GenSozo - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
And the grammar even to stump Yoda.jontech - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
lolSpaceRanger - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
Difficult reading it is.iamkyle - Thursday, December 8, 2011 - link
English, you do not speak.jontech - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
I just happen to buy a case this past week and it was down to the Lian Li and the Antec, and this is why I chose Lian Li. Antec Cases have always been sub par for me. Even some of their power supplies don't come with the power cable....StevoLincolnite - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
Some people don't need the power cable. I would hate to know how many Hundreds of Millions of Desktop PC's have been sold. And the one thing in common? They pretty much use the same power cable. (Depending on region of course.)Antec sought a way to cut costs and waste, I don't hate them for that, it's why I buy their PSU's, I have that many cables stashed in a box, it's a non-issue.
piroroadkill - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
No, just the 'green' ones. It even states that as a feature, seeing as most people have more power leads than they know what to do with.Exodite - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
I don't know about that.I bought a Lian-Li case with USB 3.0 front panel connectivity for my new rig and it didn't come with an internal /USB 3.0/ connector - rather an external one.
I'd consider that a bigger omission than the lack of a 2.0 adapter.
gramboh - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
What kind of devices are people plugging into the front of their case that they need 4? I've only ever used 2 at a time - phone adapter and gamepad. Other items like cable for digital cameras, portable hard drives, keyboard, mouse all go in the back?Definitely buying a P280 for my Ivy Bridge build, still trucking along with a P182 from 2007.
inighthawki - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
To name a number of things that can be used at once:Phone charger, mp3 player charger, flash drive(s), game pad(s), mouse, keyboard, printer, headphones, bluetooth receiver, just to name a few. If we assume that things such as the mouse, keyboard, headphones, printer and bluetooth can all be plugged in the back (that's 5 devices) then you still have a phone charger, mp3 charger, flash drive, and gamepad that are all far more convenient to be plugged in the front. In addition, not many people have easy access to the back side of their PC and enjoy having more ports on the front to reduce the sheer amount of hotswapping they need to do to make everything work.
shabby - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
"that buyers of their latest cases who don't have USB 3.0 built-in to their rigs shouldn't lose the use of two USB ports"I'll bet that these peoples previous cases didn't even have 4 usb ports up front to begin with, so they're not losing anything.
inighthawki - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
Or, more importantly, if you buy a case with USB 3.0 ports and a motherboard that doesn't have USB 3.0 support, you shouldn't be confused and complain when you cannot utilize them.futurepastnow - Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - link
Who needs an adapter? Better to buy one of these:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
USB 3.0 is worth it.
buzznut - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
Case manufacturers (and mobo) should take note, none of us are really happy about USB 3.0 integration. There's a whole debacle going on with NZXT Phantom owners. Newer buyers (lets say last four weeks) have received USB 3.0 front (top) panel connectors. So those of us that were "early" adopters are S.O.L. Add to this the fact that there is no option for a 3 1/2 inch panel addition on the Phantom and your customers are royally screwed. Not a nice way to treat people that spent $140 on your flashy case.At least these new ports have the proper USB 3.0 motherboard header. Most companies are forcing people to route cables to the back panel I/O. This is particularly annoying for bay device internal card readers that don't utilize the USB 3.0 header included on most new motherboards. I can think of two card readers that do this properly, all other card readers I have looked at are the "let's put the cable out the back of the computer" variety.
sheh - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
I thought USB3 is backward compatible.Exodite - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
It is.Neither the external nor internal connector is the same as USB 2.0 though. The external connector accepts USB 2.0 devices but uses additional contact points for 3.0.
The internal connector uses more pins than the 2.0 one.
P_Dub_S - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
No love for Antec 1200 v3 users? I just got this case and a Z68 mobo with a USB 3.0 header only to find that the front panel USB 3.0 port on the case uses a regular usb port connector instead of having the normal header plug. So I have to route the cable through the case then run it out of the back holes in the case for external water cooling solutions then plug it into the back of the motherboard using up one of the two rear USB 3.0 ports. Unnaceptable I want a adapter that takes the standard usb port and lets me plug it into the USB 3.0 mobo header pins.bwave - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - link
How about honoring your 3 year warranty on server power supplies??? Don't forget your screwing me out of $280 has cost you 10 years of sales! We will NEVER sell another Antec product ever, not to mention all the people I've swayed away.Short Version of Story:
Server kept powering off, called tech support wanted advanced rma (with credit card hold) as server couldn't be down. Antec says no, so had to buy a replacement power supply. Sent power supply back to Antec, they say no problem found. Reinstall back into server, powers down all the time. Call Antec, sorry we found nothing wrong. Look something is wrong. Argue forever, so finally we crack open power supply and it's LOADED with blown caps, at least a dozen or more. How did you miss this if you truely tested/inspected it. Call them, they refuse to honor warranty on 8 month old $280 power supply because it's been opened. Look we only opened it, after calling you repeatedly, after sending back to you, and after you swore nothing was wrong with it. How can you not know you used junk caps in the power supply, certainly we're not the only one with problems if they are dying after 8 months! You're selling this as a premium server power supply and you used junk components. So after phone calls, emails, and letter, they never even apologized or offered a discount on a new power supply or anything, let alone replace their POS $280 power supply.
Cullinaire - Friday, December 9, 2011 - link
Yeah, I've had issues with Antec PSUs also. Definitely prefer Seasonic instead. I'll still use their cases though since they aren't bad for the price (just bought an 1100).Antec_Jessie - Friday, December 9, 2011 - link
bwave,Can you shoot me an email so I can look into your situation?
[email protected]
Thanks,
Jessie Lawrence
Communications Manager
Antec Inc.
gsuburban - Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - link
The good news is the adapter is free of charge and is mailed to the case owner. This is good news for those folks who don't have 3.0 USB motherboards yet.When the day comes for a new board, the case is 3.0 ready !