Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Try, Try Again
Figure 4-9 shows Barbara routing the Main ATX power cable and a Molex cable that
we intended to use to power the rear and top case fans. We later decided to run only
the Main ATX power cable through that cutout. We ran a SATA power cable (for the
optical drive) that also provided a Molex connector (for the case fans) through a
cutout above the one visible in the figure.
Video Card Versus Drive Cages
If you intend to install a long video
adapter card or other expansion card
in your system, measure carefully.
With the lower hard drive cage in-
stalled, there's room for a card that's
at most 9.5” (241 mm) long. Even
then, the card may interfere with the
data and/or power cables for the
hard drive.
For the time being, we won't route the cables through the bulkhead that sepa-
rates the upper and lower chambers. It's easy to do that last, after the mother-
board is installed, and keeping those cables out of the upper chamber makes
it much easier to complete the motherboard installation.
Removing the lower drive cage
increases clearance to more than 14”,
even if you install a supplemental
fan at the front of the cage area.
(The longest video adapter card
we've ever seen was less than 12”.) Of
course, doing that also costs you two
hard drive bays.
MountingtheOpticalDriveandHardDrive
The Antec Mini P180 has two removable hard drive cages. The upper cage can
hold three hard drives, mounted vertically and secured directly to the cage via
screws driven through soft bushings. The lower cage can hold two hard drives,
mounted with screws through soft bushings to removable drive trays.
Fans Versus Drive Bays
The Antec Mini P180 provides two positions for mounting 120
mm supplemental fans, one in front of each of the hard drive
cages. The problem is, if you install a fan, you can't reinstall that
drive cage. In other words, installing one of the supplemental
fans costs you two or three hard drive positions, depending on
the cage position in which you mount that fan. Installing two
supplemental fans would cost you both removable hard drive
cages and all five hard drive positions. (Although we suppose you
could mount a hard drive or two in the lower 5.25” drive bays.)
Numerous user reviews on NewEgg, Amazon, and other sites
comment negatively about this aspect of the Mini P180, but the
reality is that Antec did not intend these supplemental fan posi-
tions to be used except in extraordinary circumstances. Many
people are concerned about their hard drives running too hot
without supplemental fans, but you really don't need supple-
mental fans to cool the hard drive(s). With just the two standard
case fans, our system ran cool and nearly silent. Running with
the standard fan configuration for several hours, the tempera-
ture of our Seagate hard drive never exceeded 32° C (89.6° F).
Antec intended those supplemental fan positions to be used
in two circumstances. First, if you're running a very hot video
adapter, you can remove the lower hard drive cage and install
a 120 mm supplemental fan to cool the video card. Second, if
you're running a very hot processor, you can remove the upper
hard drive cage and install a 120 mm supplemental fan in that
position to cool the processor. If you're running both a hot video
card and a hot processor, you should probably use a different
case.
Antec says, and we agree, that the supplemental cooling fans
are seldom needed, and that installing them if they're really not
needed will simply increase the noise level of the system.
Even if you intend to install only one hard drive in your system, remove both
drive cages. Like most μATX cases, the Antec Mini P180 has very limited work-
ing room. It's easier to install the motherboard and make connections to it
with both drive cages removed. To begin removing the drive cages, remove
the thumbscrews, as shown in Figure 4-10.
Use a flat-blade screwdriver or similar tool to snap the pull rings free of their
retaining clips and use the pull-rings to pull the drive cages straight out of the
chassis, as shown in Figure 4-11.
