Antec P182 Readers Please Read - Thanks

[sitalchauhan]

I have currently got an Antec P180b with a window mod. However, I am very interested in the extra cable management features avalable in the new Antec P182. My Antec P180b is black, and the new Antec P182 is a dark grey colour.

Do you think it would look odd if I put my black Windowed P180b side pannel on the dark grey p182?
Would the colour difference be that noticable?

I paid about £50 for the window mod and dont want to spend it again if I can get away with just putting my old side pannel onto the new case.

Here are some pictures of my black P180B windowed pannel to help you:
http://www.sitalchauhan.pwp.blueyond.../Other/PC1.JPG
http://www.sitalchauhan.pwp.blueyond.../Other/PC2.JPG

Thanks!
Sital

[frosty15]

Some black optical drives look wrong when installed in a black case, so a black sidepanel in a gun metal black case will prolly look slightly off too.
Do you really think it is worth the extra outlay purely for the cable management?

[sitalchauhan]

Im a bit anal about cable management lol, and especially with the window I really like to see as few cables as possible. Maybe I am going a bit crazy and need to think this through a bit more, but at the moment I would rather spend the extra to get a neater looking system

I have seen some people with all the extra cable management holes and all the features in the P182 in a P180B because their case looks Black and not Grey, and this is starting to confuse me

Have they also updated all the Antec P180B cases aswell to have all the features of the P182 such as the cable management holes around the mobo, holes for watercooling pipes, etc.?

[frosty15]

Are you using fancy, but oo so difficult to hide, rounded cables or old fashioned (but easy to fold under the sidepanel) flat ribbon cables?

I agree on the minutae that is cable management, but a few ideas and some cheap additions can make the world of difference. Not just for aesthetics, but for increased airflow too.

[sitalchauhan]

In my new system that I am planning to put into either this current windowed P180B or the new P182 if I get it, I will not have any IDE cables as all hard drives and optical drives are going to be sata.

I could hack a couple of holes into my current case to help cable management, but I am scared that I might totally mess up the case

[amjedm]

I've just had a look at my Antec P180 and only the side panels and front are grey so IMO won't look too bad if you use the window panel.

I wanted a P182 but decided to mod the P180 in the end for cost reasons - didn't want to lose money by selling the P180.

I do have regrets and feel I should have sold the P180. Having said that I think we both suffer from the same problem - it's only a case and as long as the airflow is good we shouldn't be too worried about cable management.

I copied the mods in this thread

http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...094&highlight=

I also cut out parts of the front metal grills - lower and upper HD areas.

BTW very nice window mod - was it from Kustom PCs?

[sitalchauhan]

yeh KustomPCs - looks amazing and I would strongly recommend them to anybody. I think I was the guy who pushed them to offer it lol. I kept sending emails asking about getting a windowed p180b, then they decided to put up a thread on their forums to see how many other people are interested. And I started advertising on loads of forums asking people to post there if they are interested. After a while they gave in and started to offer the service I was the first person to buy the Antec P180B windowed from them, and the pics they use on their website are actually of my case

Thanks for the link to that thread. I actually subscribed to it while he was doing it and followed it all the way through However, I dont think I am that confident enough to do those kind of mods and feel that I would totally ruin my case Also, dont have the tools available, like a dremel etc

[Queelis]

Put both side panels from 180B to 182, and you have yourself a colour scheme

[amjedm]

However, I dont think I am that confident enough to do those kind of mods and feel that I would totally ruin my case Also, dont have the tools available, like a dremel etc

My modding skills are non existent as well . If you saw the botched job I did you'd probably laugh () but most if not all is hidden away

The Dremel clone is a cheapie I got from Index for around £20.

[sitalchauhan]

Argos took over Index, so was wondering is this the one for got for £30?:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er%2Btools.htm

The proper Dremel is £50 from argos, but if this one is basically the same then I can save £20

You are tempting me into cutting up this case

[amjedm]

Argos took over Index, so was wondering is this the one for got for £30?:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er%2Btools.htm

You are tempting me into cutting up this case

That may be better than the one I've got as it's got the flex attachment and may be easier to use

To your second point - it's not that difficult () but if you want a super job then measure 100 times and cut once

The other thing to remember (in case you want to skimp) - proper eye/nose/mouth/ear protection - don't want you to inhale the dust or injure yourself.