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The PC chassis market now is inundated with models from a plethora of manufacturers, so it gets harder and harder for a design to get noticed, especially by the demanding enthusiast audience.
The size has to be right, the airflow has to good enough to cool the latest hot running components and there has to be enough space inside to ensure a painfree build which supports the latest components.
We have reviewed several Antec products recently and one of our favourites was the Dark Fleet DF 85 chassis. A case which seemed to split opinion with our readers, no one argued it had fantastic airflow properties, but many thought it was rather ugly. The pictures didn't do it justice, as in the flesh I thought it was sinister, yet sexy.
Today's product is sure to appeal to a wider demographic, those who don't like LED lighting … but an audience who still demand a high level of airflow. The Antec P193 is the updated version of the P190, a fantastic EATX chassis which offered a class leading combination of features. The P193 price has been significantly lowered, but more on this later.
Before we look at the chassis, here is a full specifications list.
Features:
- Dual chamber design isolates heat and noise: the power supply resides in a separate chamber to isolate heat and reduce system noise
- Fits heatsink fans up to 140mm: the P193's superior cooling eliminates the need for larger heatsinks
- No power supply included
- Power supply option: comes with a power supply mounting adapter to mount either a standard size power supply or Antec's exclusive CP Series power supply
- Innovative two-layer, sound-deadening side panels (steel, polycarbonate) and three-layer front door (aluminum, plastic, aluminum) dampen noise and ensure Quiet Computing™
- 11 drive bays
- – External 4 x 5.25″; 1 x 3.5″
- – Internal 6 x 3.5″ for HDD
- – Internal 2 x 2.5″ SSD drive bays
Cooling system:
- – 1 rear (standard) 120mm x 25mm exhaust TriCool™ fan
- – 2 top (standard) 140mm x 25mm exhaust TriCool™ fan
- – 1 lower front chamber (optional) 120mm fan for HDD
- – 1 side (standard) 200mm fan for dual graphics cards
- – 1 upper front (optional) 120mm fan for HDD
- – 1 middle (optional) 120mm fan for graphic cards
- CPU cut-out allows for easy installation of CPU coolers
- Cable organizers behind motherboard tray minimize cable clutter
Front-mounted ports provide convenient connections:
- – 2 x USB 2.0
- – 1 x eSATA
- – Audio In and Out (HDA and AC'97 compatible)
- Double hinged door opens up to 270°/li>
- 7 expansion slots
- 0.8mm cold rolled steel chassis for durability
- Maximum video card size: 19″/483mm (Note: some video cards may require removal of the adjacent hard drive cage)
- Compatible Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX and Extended ATX
- Net weight: 35.8 lbs / 16.25 kg
- Gross weight: 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg
Case dimensions:
- 20.25″ (H) x 8.1″ (W) x 23.25″ (D)
- Actual clearance needed for width is 9.5″ due to the side panel fan
- 51.4 cm (H) x 20.5 cm (W) x 59 cm (D)
Package dimensions:
- – 13.25″ (H) x 25.8″ (W) x 28.75″ (D)
- – 33.7 cm (H) x 65.5 cm (W) x 73 cm (D)
Whats new in the P193
- Front door vents, as well as wider vents along the door frame, improve airflow into the chassis.
- Filters and filter doors are integrated as one unit. The doors themselves have been modified to provide greater airflow, resulting in cooler system temperatures.
- Drive bay covers are vented and include air filters to provide better airflow.
- Lower chamber fan is now located in front of the hard drive cage, allowing for installation of longer PSUs as well as easier cable routing between the lower HD cage and the power supply.
- The Big Boy 200, a 200mm fan, is moved outward to give more clearance for taller heatsinks. Externally removable washable air filter allows for easier maintenance.
Man, no offense to antec, but both this and the DF 85 are quite ugly looking cases.
ITs not a bad looking chassis, but that side fan system which sticks out is a mess. they should have made it wider and moved that internally.
3.3 kg for the side door? christ, thats madness. It looks ok, but I agree the DF 85 seems the better case, if they had finished the front of it !
This looks much nicer than the DF 85 which is the ugly duckling of the antec range.
However, if you can get past the looks, the DF 85 is probably right up there with the Raven 02 for cooling performance.
I want to see lian li reviews here. that case is quite nice, but im a sucker for aluminum, who isnt?
It does look like metal, shame its plastic at the front and that side door would take some getting used to. fair review.
I quite like it. shame they didnt paint it black inside, I forgot how ugly raw material is.
Its quite attractive, the filtered 200mm fan is a stroke of genius ! i love the idea of a 200mm fan which moves massive air, but not having to deal with massive levels of dust later.
Its quite attractive. DF85 I didnt like, but its a shame about the fan that sticks out at the side, it ruins the whole look of it.
Antec make all their cases with heavy metals and not aluminum, thats a shame. Steel is good, but its just so damn heavy. I like the semi portability of aluminum when I move to my friends for some gaming.
It is a lot of case for the money, they dropped the price a lot from the p190 which i have.
I like these cases a lot, the insides are very spacious indeed.
That is very well designed, all the filtering makes live so much easier and I apperciate a company doing all this. I just dont know about the looks.
THe biggest competition it has is from the 900 and 1200.
Very nice looking case. not sure about the side panel either, its a bit messy looking I think.
I really think this is a lovely looking case, im tempted to pick one up.
Nice price drop, but sadly the looks have also dropped 🙁