{"id":9220,"date":"2009-07-06T03:00:30","date_gmt":"2009-07-06T03:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=9220"},"modified":"2009-07-07T00:18:10","modified_gmt":"2009-07-07T00:18:10","slug":"antec-skeleton-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/antec-skeleton-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Antec Skeleton Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/h1>\n

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Antec is one of the big name manufacturers in the computer case industry today. Their Antec 900 and 1200 cases have been loved and admired by many enthusiasts. Antec also makes quality power supplies. Based on their success with enthusiasts with the Antec 900 and 1200 cases, they are trying something different with the Skeleton. This case is more of a testbed station rather than a traditional case. To show you what I mean, have a look at the image below:<\/p>\n

\"Skeleton_quarter_400\"<\/a><\/p>\n

See why it is named Skeleton. Its basically a testbed with a skeleton of framework thrown around it to support the massive 250mm fan on top.<\/p>\n

About Antec<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Founded in 1986, Antec, Inc. is one of the top manufacturers in the high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Antec\u2019s offering of enclosures includes a wide range of <\/em>cases<\/em><\/a>, such as its advanced <\/em>Performance One Series<\/em><\/a>, economical <\/em>New Solution Series<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>VERIS<\/em><\/a> family of media components designed for the home theater PC market. Antec\u2019s products also include front line power supplies, such as its premium <\/em>Signature Series<\/em><\/a>, powerful <\/em>TruePower Quattro Series<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>EarthWatts<\/em><\/a>, one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are designed for the gaming demographic, like the premier gamer enclosure: the <\/em>Nine Hundred<\/em><\/a>. Antec also offers a line of <\/em>computer accessories<\/em><\/a> comprising many original products, including its patented <\/em>LED fans<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>notebook cooling<\/em><\/a> solutions.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China and Taiwan. The company\u2019s products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Of Cases and Cooling \u2026<\/h1>\n

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PC cases have evolved over the years.\u00a0 As PC component cooling has evolved over the years, so have cases to meet the cooling needs of these components.\u00a0 Gone are the days when PC components could be passively cooled.\u00a0 The latest components require air cooling.\u00a0 CPUs, GPUs, northbridges, and RAM have all grown hotter over the years.\u00a0 They output all of this heat into the case, and without any way to remove this heat from the case, the case temperature rises.\u00a0 In turn, a hotter case raises the temperature of these components, leading to a shortened lifespan.\u00a0 Lifespan to an overclocker won\u2019t matter, since they will always be at the front end of new technology and they will swap out their components in the space of a few months.\u00a0 What will matter to them is the temperature; lower the temperature and the higher you can overclock.\u00a0 Case manufacturers have come up with revolutionary designs over the years to meet these needs.\u00a0 Gone are the days of white closed PC cases.\u00a0 The latest PC cases come equipped with fans that can intake and exhaust large amounts of air, thus lowering the temperature of the components inside.\u00a0 Modern cases come with an intake fan in front and exhaust fan at the back. Extreme cases incorporate these fans along with adding fans at the bottom, top and side.<\/p>\n

This case throws the box away, and what you are left with is basically just your components out in the air with a giant fan on top. And very rightfully so, the motto of this case is \u201cThink Beyond the BOX\u201d.<\/p>\n

Features & Specifications<\/h1>\n

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\"Specifications\"<\/p>\n

This case has a RoHS certification which means that it is lead-free in addition to 5 other restricted substances. The certification that you see on there is for the Antec Quality 3 Year Limited Warranty. You can read more on the warranty by clicking the link below<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.antec.com\/warranty_info.php?value=sc<\/a><\/p>\n

Take a look at this short video by Antec to see what this case is all about:<\/p>\n

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Packaging & Accessories<\/h1>\n

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\"Antec-Skeleton-a\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-b\"<\/a><\/p>\n


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Antec Skeleton comes in a square box, which should be expected, considering the size and shape of the skeleton itself.<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-c\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-d\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The box features different views of of the skeleton framework of the enclosure. One thing that appears on almost every side of the case is the motto of the case, \u201cThink Beyond the BOX\u201d.<\/p>\n


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\"Antec-Skeleton-e\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-f\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On opening the box, you will see that the Skeleton is held safely by two large pieces of styrofoam. This is useful when the etailer you buy your skeleton from, decides to ship it in just this black & yellow square box. These two pieces of styrofoam will make the difference between having the bones of the Skeleton scattered around in the box or getting the Skeleton to you safe and sound.<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-g\"<\/a> \"Antec-Skeleton-h\"<\/a><\/p>\n


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This is the only product overview that you will find in the box. If you look closely at the image on the left, you will find it says that due to its dedication to green computing, Antec doesn\u2019t ship a manual with the Skeleton. The manual can only be found at http:\/\/www.antec.com\/pdf\/manuals\/Skeleton_manual_EN.pdf<\/a>. In addition to reducing the waste, this practice serves another purpose. Many people don\u2019t tend to read the manual, thus they can be wasted money for the company. By not printing a manual, it allows Antec to save money and hopefully reduce the cost of the case somewhat.<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-l\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The accessories ship in this little box. These include a 92mm fan for cooling the hard drives, 2 zip-ties, screws and 4 hard drive external mounts.<\/p>\n

Exterior or Interior ?<\/h1>\n

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Normally at this point in review, we would start with the exterior of the case and work our way to explaining its interior. But I\u2019m not sure you can even call the Skeleton a case, let alone figure out its exterior and interior. Everything is visible from just one look at the case. So we\u2019ll deal with both aspects at the same time<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-i\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-k\"<\/a><\/p>\n

See what I mean? That is why they call this, the \u2018Skeleton\u2019. <\/em>The front panel of the Skeleton includes a little dot on the left which is the HDD status indicator, reset button, IEEE1394 (FireWire) port, two USB ports, eSATA, headset out, mic out and power button, from left to right. In the picture above on the right, you will notice a yellow strip of clear plastic running horizontally. This is the retention panel used to hold the PCI\/PCI-E cards in place. It contains holes into which PCI brackets on the cards can be screwed.<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-j\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-s\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the problems with testbeds is that your components don\u2019t get any active cooling due to the lack of any fans. The massive 250 mm fan on top of the Skeleton will ensure against that as it blows air onto the motherboard tray. The frame is made from steel reinforced ABS and the component tray is manufactured from 0.8 mm cold rolled steel.<\/p>\n

One look at the Skeleton should make it clearly evident that due to the open nature of the case, it is very prone to accidents such as liquid spills or objects hitting your components.<\/p>\n

\"Antec-Skeleton-ak\"<\/a>\"Antec-Skeleton-ap\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The fan has a multi-colored LED setup which looks fantastic. The color displayed by the setup can be controlled by the switches shown above on left. The LEDs have the following 9 modes:<\/p>\n