Photos, The Box and Case Exterior
The package was beat up a bit when I got it in the mail. Thankfully Antec packs the case with plenty of foam packaging.
Opening the box up there is a nice amount of space on the sides just in case the package is dropped or smacked into. The foam packing materials used in the protection of this case are of the soft variety. This allows the case to absorb any blows to the box, but will not damage the packing foam or allow any damage to the case. Nice job Antec.
Out of the box, I’ve got to say this case is absolutely great to look at. There are no flashy windows or bright lights. Its sort of like looking at a BMW or Mercedes. They don’t have the dramatic details of something like a Lambo or a Ferrari, but there is a refined beauty that is very much appreciated.
One of the features I really like on this case is the included fan controller. There are not a ton of options regarding fan speed, but there is a difference in noise when selecting either fan speed. High pushes a solid amount of air, but is not overly noisy. Selection low still gives a decent airflow but the noise is drastically reduced and is all but silent thanks to the thick side pannels of the P280.
The front door is a welcome addition. For people that use sound cards with breakout boxes or those who want to hold onto that beige 72X CD-ROM drive from 1999, there is no need to worry about throwing off the looks of the case due to an off-colored component. In fact there is ample room for fan controller knobs or anything else you choose to put in a large drive bay.
These days cable management is a big deal. Companies are including built-in holes and plastic material to keep the metal from cutting cables. The P280 is no exception to this trend. Multiple holes aid in cable management and all are covered in a plastic grommet. This insures that no cables will be torn, and also gives a pretty cool look. Quite a dramatic change from the days when cable management meant taking out power tools and cutting holes yourself.
