The Antec P50 is a simple cube with a smart interior still very nice things to know to do. Quality is just adequate, but the features o.a. three stock fans and two fan controllers is more than fine.
Pros
- Dual chamber design is nice to see, and hides also mostly junk parts.
- Cable management easy
- Three fans standard
- Two fan controllers on the front.
- Build quality is reasonable, the finish is fine.
- Dust filter on intake front
- Space for 2 SSD’s, 3 HDD’s, 1 Optical, solid power supplies and graphics cards, and even space for a 240mm radiator
- Price-quality ratio fine
Cons
- No dust filter top
- Outside (front) plastic and may still have something -to – simple for the class
- No rubber grommets in the holes to cable management.
- 130mm limitation processor fan assembly, please note also the width of your GPU icm power connectors
- Screws may now be individually sorted to be delivered.
Final conclusion
Score: 4Per criterion
Ease of installation
Score: 4
Review: Antec P50
– Introduction
– Specifications
– The outside
– The inside
– Installation & Cable Management
Price & Alternatives
– Conclusion
Product Page @ Antec
Recently I published a review of the Antec P380, a high-end E-ATX tower with aluminum and a price tag of thick 150 euro. Today is a completely different Antec: The Antec P50. The P50 is a Micro-ATX cube, with a price tag of slightly more than 50 euro in a closed and ‘windowed’ version. This affordable cube does, however, provide an interesting format that we have in the last few years more and more popular have to be: the dual-chamber design. We are going to look at what Antec has to offer us in this lower segment.
(Update: Between writing and publishing is the price of the P50 what are going to fluctuate. The review is written with 50-55 euros in mind. I have Antec asked whether this is a temporary move is due to limited stock or an adjustment due to the exchange rate of the dollar)
The features and specifications of Antec:
The P50 is a small, measured housing in the ‘cube class (to the extent that a real class is). These cases are slightly wider than average, but is lower and in the line is also a lot less deep than the traditional towers. There is space for Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards.
The consequence is often that the maximum number of HDDS is limited compared to traditional towers. With space for 2 SSD’s and 3 3.5” HDD’s, that is also the case that most people are not very much interested in. You can also ‘just’ an optical drive or other 5.25” device) and there is space for large power supplies and graphics cards up to 300mm length. The main limitation for your components is the maximum height for processorkoelers: 130mm does require your attention when purchasing.
Standard cooling comes in the form of two 120mm fans, and completed. n 80mm model, and you can have quite a bit of expanding. There is also a space for a 240mm radiator on the front or top. The specifications do much suspect that four fans standard, this is (in each case) is not the case, all three default fans in this price range certainly will not miss. The presence of two fan controllers on the case may even benefit apply.
Simple box, simple box? As is more often just fine packed.
The P50 is a fairly straight-on black box. You would make him feel a bit boring. Simple black legs, a smooth front, what ventilation along the front panel. Little schrikbarends. On the left side there is a large window to the whole a little break. We weigh the camera, which is also the top is not completely unobtrusive: a large grille, a striking split placement of the USB ports, and a very nice feature (especially in this price range) is the fan controller. We get there and not completed. n, but even two, three steps you can make your fans ‘control’.
Although the front is entirely plastic, and that you feel as you tap, see the P50 yet not unkind. The same goes for me actually; it looks qualitatively very good, but you to lift the case, for example, then you notice how light the whole. The extent to which ‘modest’ is an advantage, I ask myself, because I think that Antec that term very seriously. Ultimately it is only at the sight of the back that strikes you is that the P50, surely something remarkable in store.
The side panels are a bit on the light side, not very strange of course, considering the price. The window is a bit typical for the ~50 euro price range: not very special, but it suffices. He is sitting very firmly in the side panel, so complaining may not.
In the middle of the P50 is a vertical steel plate that the housing is in two rooms to split up. In the primary room, the part by the window, you actually see only the motherboard and graphics card. Mini ITX motherboards, but considering the price and the appearance is a Micro-ATX still the logical choice, which is positive to notice is that for both narrow as broad Micro-ATX motherboards holes are for the cables. Rubber grommets in the holes for the cables are missing unfortunately. On the front we see two 120mm fans which fresh air against your processor and graphics card and blow it up. On the back is space for additional 80mm fans to install, the top is space for the optical drive or, if you wish, you have a solid piece of space for a 240mm radiator. Nice detail is the small piece where the tubes of the water cooling (or possibly some cables) through it can be controlled.
Also the secondary room is interesting. We see the cables of the fan controller, space for SSD’s on the front, and on the back a bracket for three 3.5” HDDS which, thanks to an 80mm fan (directly on it) to be cooled.
The case shows very easy to disassemble. So is the grill at the top so, but should we then conclude that these are not really the dust will filter with large holes. Would you find water-cooling to the outside can blow up, or simply opt for two additional 120mm fans. The front does have a filter feature, you have the panel off there to click to get (admittedly, that is still easier than the P380 where you the case of the ground have to lift). With the panel off, we see some space for another 80mm fan to add, and the place for your 5.25” device. When inserting an optical drive, you can still fan the top, but a radiator with fans is what optimistic (optischmistisch?).
The installation of the P50 is actually very exciting, yet I must, with a bit of criticism begin. Even in a case in this price range have the can for the screws, pre-sorted in separate bags to deliver, or any other charming solution to be better than ‘throw all the screws in a bag’. Know this, and at the P50 weighs less than the P380, but small points add up when the competition that in the last few years on the note.
The number of screws is not too bad compared to the P380, but there is some schroefwerk. To begin with the placement of the SSD’s and HDD’s. Now, three 3.5” HDD’s not particularly much, but with the affordability of 6-8TB HDD’s come a long way. 2.5” drives are sitting at an angle on the front, I don’t know to what extent this has consequences for mechanical 2.5” drives, but for SSDS is of course no point. Do you want more than two SSD’s? You can she possibly also in the 3.5” carriage bolts. Further poking we the diet in this secondary room and falls on that we even with this fairly large Cooler Master V850 is still nice space, and also that it is a beautiful kabeldump is behind it. You can so something to save on your total build as a modular power supply is not strictly necessary for good looks. Afterwards we don’t see much of the power supply through the ventilation grille on the side panel.
In the primary room is the work then a breeze. Go’put it GPU little prick, and you’re done. Well, note that you are not a super wide graphics card with the power connectors toward the side panel. This MSI Twin Frozr IV-based graphics card with this V850 cables luckily still just, but some cards are wider, and some of the power cords are stiffer.
The end result is without any effort, quickly quite nice, though the lack of grommets in the cable holes. You can for this amount, you can just with an extra tie-wrapje and some love the reasonable compensate.
With the window there we can see exactly what the most people want to see: Motherboard, processor fan assembly, graphics card. Spend money on “pretty” SSDS, power supplies, super luxury cables, etc. has so little sense.
As for the price is 50-60 euro category a spicy. Not only is the choice already considerable, but as more often is still best, however, budget’ category spicy under the pressure of housings, but a few euro’s more expensive (especially now that the price of the P50 still something is increased). You see that you for a small additional investment at all often a lot more in regards to features, quality, and appearance. In addition: Describe any housing whatsoever, and you will have a other call that something better, and something else less.
Positive is that Antec you total build cost best modest can keep but still a window option; a modular power supply is definitely not necessary for a clean ‘look’, and you have good cable management as much budget ‘windowed’ enclosures should miss. In addition, a Micro-ATX build is cheaper than a Mini ITX build, and in the lower to middle segment (where the P50 on the aim) also cheaper than ATX builds. Only at the high-end is a ATX setup, it is more advantageous given the choice of high-end Micro-ATX is limited. We take as an example the Phanteks Evolving ITX, which is basically the same price and roughly the same size, we see that the P50 regard to build quality not on the same level is compared with (qualitative) luminary. Can you calculate, however, there is an ITX with an extra fan (that Phanteks could use it), a fan controller (which the Antec does) and the difference is nice. Look a little further: A BitFenix Phenom ‘cube’ is a lot heavier built, but wrong again, a controller and/or window. A NZXT S340 is more luxurious, but immediately larger, has no controller, and is also slightly more expensive. A popular Corsair SPEC-01/-02/-03 quality is really not better, is larger, lacks a controller, and is like many of the budget towers fiddling with cable management. A direct alternative is, of course, the Corsair Air 240 with a similar layout, and a better construction, but then you pay a few tens more. Compared with most of the cube housings is that the P50 is not only on the cheap side (but a bit lighter than most), but is also completed. n of the smaller cubes, something which is often still as positive will be experienced.
So, we arrive every time at approximately the same picture price quality: The Antec P50 does not sour. Build quality is compliant but is at most average, he is what is very exciting in the looks, but above average regarding simplicity of (build) finish, present stock cooling, and the presence of a fan controller is something we are going elsewhere, unfortunately, but rarely see.
A price-worthy, of course, is a fine basis, but there are still some minor elements that for that price would have to be better, or if Antec would swear that it is not possible I would have the feeling that you for 5 euros more, something might have just a little better is: dust filter at the top, stoffiltertje at the front, accessible without panel los need to get grommets in the holes for cable management, screws in individual bags, and might just have ‘something’ on the front. A beautiful steel Antec logo perhaps? Tastes differ, and enclosures with a no-nonsense look in Europe are often well received, but we were here in the house nice to be completed. n line that the simple plastic cover still what luxury could use it to future buyers to convince.
For enclosures, you know often when you see the brand name already exactly what you should expect. The nice thing about the P50 experience was that these were just right in front of the P380 experience was thus an interesting surprise was found. The P380 was super solid with outward show, with a quaint interior, but the P50 is accurate, light, simple on the outside, and then striking and even pretty clever. As a dual chamber housing makes the Antec P50 relatively easy to create your Micro-ATX motherboard and graphics card through the window to show, while HDD’s, SSD’s and power supply was completely out of sight stay. This can you save on a modular (or beautiful), food, and finish your build really a lot less headache than many sort-of-budget ATX tower.
It is also not true that you inbouwopties short: Two SSDS, three 3.5” HDDS, space for solid graphics cards (300mm) and ATX power supplies, and if you want you can have a optical drive or even a 240mm radiator in you case lose. The main limitation is that for processorkoelers (130mm) and that you have extra-wide graphics cards with power connectors in the direction of the window to prevent the two limitations that you certainly must take into account, but fine to work.
In regards to build quality, it is all a bit ‘sufficient’. The can in the price range, though we have also clearly seen better. Antec put there, however, get a neat features compared with dust filters at the front (intake), three stock fans, and dual fan controller. Now, I’m not a big fan (hurr) of small (usually louder) fans, but thanks to the controllers, you have yourself easily in the hand for silence or performance. The only thing bad is that a fine filter at the top is missing against falling dust, that rubber grommets in the cable management holes are missing, and that all the screws just in completed. n bag are. Not insurmountable issues, but it should be Antec for sure be charged given the competition in this class is really very spicy.
Eventually we were here, best to be charmed by the Antec P50 and way you are relatively easy to a nice presentable build can come thanks to the nice interior. The front panel would of us have something of flair to be able to use; simplicity is usually good in taste in Europe, but he is now –very – simple. If the design is appealing to you (rather critical in a housing) then you have also just a great sale, and if affordable, compact ‘windowed’ case, he is then the label ‘recommended’ worth. Or the Antec will work with a cabinet as this significant market share is back to conquer, I doubt it however, because before the absence, however, the dots on the i.
.
Some higher res photos for the enthusiast, click for the full version:
.
You can find this review fun than I would have a nice comment below, of course, really appreciate it, this gives the motivation to continue with these reviews, but, of course, critical comments are also very welcome. Have a look at my other reviews; I like to make them, but also of course to share them!
Back to top
