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Antec
Sonata II
A case is just a case right? To most PC enthusiast, the case is like a
foundation. We usually get a little more picky when it comes time to buy an
enclosure. Whether it's for a computer with a special purpose, or if the case is
just the beginning of an ongoing modding project, we know that not just
any case will do. Most of Antec's PC enclosures stick to their tradition of
conservative case designs. They typically stays away from stuffing the case with
lights, and very few of their cases even feature a window. Instead, their
focus is on quiet computing and simple elegance.
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A perfect
example would be the Sonata II. With the words Silence is Beautiful stamped
across the front of the box, the idea of quiet computing is obvious. Rather than
use three or more 80mm fans to put airflow through the enclosure, Antec has
switched to 120mm fans in the front and rear. This leaves us with nice options
if the stock level of cooling isn't enough. We can always switch to a fan with
higher CFM ratings to create a wind tunnel for the computer.
As far as
options go, the Sonata II has everything you would expect from a modern day ATX
enclosure.
► 9 Drive
bays
» 3x 5.25" external drive
bays
» 2x 3.5" external drive
bays
» 4 x 3.5" internal drive
bays
► Front
mounted USB, Firewire, and Audio (headphone and microphone) ports
► Fits Micro ATX (9.6" x 9.6") and Standard ATX (12"x
9.6") motherboards
» 7 expansion slots
►
Cooling:
» 120mm in rear
» optional 120mm in front
» optional 92mm in CPU
air duct
» optional 80mm to cool
graphics card
The case is
constructed from .8mm SECC steel and features a tool-free design side panel/door
that opens on a twin-hinge that allows 270° of rotation. The edges are all
rolled for your safety and comfort during hardware installation.
The Sonata
II is equipped with Antec's own 450 Watt Smart Power 2.0 power supply. Along
with having support for Serial ATA drives and PCI Express graphics cards, the
power supply features advanced cooling. The main fan on the power supply is
temperature controlled, so it does not run at its maximum speed from the moment
you boot your computer. in fact, the fan remains off until your system requires
cooling and even then it only runs at a moderate speed which increases as your
system heats up.
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