Sonata Review Part Two

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09-18-2003, 10:23 PM
TAZTG

Sonata Review Part Two

Hey Folks, I have finally finished up the my Review of the ANTEC Sonata.
You can read PART ONE HERE.

Part II Installation:

Here is the case ready to receive all my hardware.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2091.jpg

The first thing to go in was the optional 120mm Fan. The case came with some nice plugs that you fed into the fan holes and pulled through the other side, thus locking the fan in place.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2092.jpg

The Motherboard fit in nicely, with plenty of room. I made sure the standoffs where located correctly and all six screws went in smoothly.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2093.jpg

The next thing I did and failed to get a picture of was to plug in the Power/LED connections and Power Supply connectors on Motherboard. Then mounted my DVD & CD/RW Drive’s. The next step was to mount the Hard Drive’s. They connected to the Internal Drive Tray’s with special screws through the Rubber Grommets.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2094.jpg

I didn’t rewire everything real good since this isn’t going to be the permanent home for my hardware. Here is everything except the 3.5”Floppy Drive.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2096.jpg

Here’s a PIC of the front. Those Blue LEDS at a nice touch.

http://home.comcast.net/~mskrissy/Sonata/Dcp_2097.jpg

This Sonata Case is very quiet. I had to double check to make sure all the fans where on. I replaced the Vantec Tornado on my CPU with a Thermaltake, this added to the quietness. I can strongly recommend this case to anyone looking for a Quiet, Easy to Install, Roomy, and downright Sexy looking Case.
Hope you enjoyed the Review.. Thanks TAZTG..
:)
09-19-2003, 08:36 AM
PointlesS

looks nice...how are temps?
09-19-2003, 09:07 AM
TAZTG

Quote:

Originally posted by PointlesS
looks nice...how are temps?

They are quite nice actually. I don't overclock, and this P4 stays nice and cool with the Swiftech Heatsink. The 2 120mm's run quiet but move quite a bit of air. :)
09-19-2003, 03:12 PM
angomeka

I WANT THAT CASE!!!!
09-19-2003, 03:36 PM
nForcer

I have that case on my rig! Its quiete...I thought I forgot to connect my fans the first time I used it:D
09-19-2003, 03:45 PM
angomeka

Quote:

Originally posted by nForcer
I have that case on my rig! Its quiete...I thought I forgot to connect my fans the first time I used it:D

cool how much and where did ya get it from?
09-19-2003, 04:40 PM
nForcer

Got it at Best Buy for $120 but its with a $30 rebate.
09-20-2003, 12:12 AM
perdomot

What kind of temps are you getting with the two 120mm fans going? I've been thinking of getting this case but I OC and cooling is very important to me. Thanks.
09-20-2003, 11:08 AM
Abula

TAZTG,

Great pics, great layout also, it looks very sweet.

I also have a sonata, but due to the locations of my IDE plugs, I had to go in the back of the HD, and it does look nice, but not as good as your.

I also see that you have a 5900Ultra (I think), as me, but what did you do about the back metalic part between the slots, I bend it to fit the 5900U, but I really like to see if you have a pic of it, I didnt like how it looks in the back.

Nice review, thanks for the pics.
Abula
09-20-2003, 11:47 AM
ComputerManiacs

looks nice!!!! but I just want to know the temp, before I get it. :)

Have a nice day!!!

Computer Maniac ;)
09-20-2003, 01:10 PM
TAZTG

Quote:

Originally posted by Abula
TAZTG,

Great pics, great layout also, it looks very sweet.

I also have a sonata, but due to the locations of my IDE plugs, I had to go in the back of the HD, and it does look nice, but not as good as your.

I also see that you have a 5900Ultra (I think), as me, but what did you do about the back metalic part between the slots, I bend it to fit the 5900U, but I really like to see if you have a pic of it, I didnt like how it looks in the back.

Nice review, thanks for the pics.
Abula

I have the 5900Ultra in there. I had no problem getting mine in there. I removed the PCI Slot Covers first, then slid the 5900 in. It was a bit tight but its fit nicely. I then put on the 3 Slot Cover which went up under the little bottom lip on the 5900.

My Temps according Motherboard Monitor, which hopefully I configured correctly.
Sensor 1 =Asus 1 Sensor 2 =Asus 2! Temps currently are 32 & 27..
27 I figure is my CPU Temp. I do have a great Heatsink and a nice TT Fan on there. Hope this answers the temp questions. If you need better Temps I would add a exhaust fan at the top maybe a nice quiet 92mm. hmmm another idea for modding.. Thanks all for the kind words.
09-20-2003, 01:17 PM
Abula

Quote:

I have the 5900Ultra in there. I had no problem getting mine in there. I removed the PCI Slot Covers first, then slid the 5900 in. It was a bit tight but its fit nicely. I then put on the 3 Slot Cover which went up under the little bottom lip on the 5900.

Thanks for the info, but the sonata has like a little bump between PCI slots, like a little mountain, that was the thing that didnt let me intall that easy the 5900Ultra, at the end, I bend it (just a little) in the outside, so the 5900utlra plate can be fitted straight, I dont know if this also happen to you.
09-20-2003, 02:07 PM
Tekime

Thanks for the second review TAZTG, nice job. I was curious what installation would be like - and it doesn't look like you ran into any problems with your setup. Actually looks like there is a decent amount of room to work with; and I dig the 120mm in front :) Do you think it's getting as much cool air mounted there (as opposed to mounting right on the bezel)?
09-20-2003, 03:10 PM
TAZTG

Quote:

Originally posted by Tekime
Thanks for the second review TAZTG, nice job. I was curious what installation would be like - and it doesn't look like you ran into any problems with your setup. Actually looks like there is a decent amount of room to work with; and I dig the 120mm in front :) Do you think it's getting as much cool air mounted there (as opposed to mounting right on the bezel)?

I think if it was mounted right in the front it would pull more cool air into tha case. This pulls air across the harddrives and seems to do the trick. It is very different from the nowm but I really love the way the HD's mount and all the connectors hide in the back.

Quote:

Thanks for the info, but the sonata has like a little bump between PCI slots, like a little mountain, that was the thing that didnt let me intall that easy the 5900Ultra, at the end, I bend it (just a little) in the outside, so the 5900utlra plate can be fitted straight, I dont know if this also happen to you

Yes, I see what you are talking about now. I didn't have no problems, when I screwed it down I suppose the little guides collapsed in. I have a flush seal on the back and everything looks good.
09-23-2003, 06:11 AM
TAZTG

Update, I just ordered some Modding Gear for the case so I will be working on that small MOD in the near future. I already tried to do some lettering in the side panel and messed it up. That means I will be adding a window. Damn that Steel is tough, wish it was my Lian-Li I was cutting. :p
09-23-2003, 11:12 AM
CrawlingEye

If you want to do lettering or something, I'd probably follow after zack, when he used a drill press for the major cuts and then went back and filed it out evenly. Granted, it would take a while, but you could always go through with a jigsaw after the drill and try to cut a bit out so the filing is reduced a bit.