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Published: August 6, 2009 | Source: Antec | Author: Wesley Rickward

Antec P183 Advanced Super Mid Tower

Closer Look
 
Taking a closer look around the exterior of the case, we can see
some immediate changes which stand out compared to its older siblings. Gone is the spoiler from the top of the case, this has instead been replaced by a far cleaner looking honeycomb grill that is integrated into the top panel. The front door now also features some black chrome vents, while looking fantastic, they also allow more air to be drawn into the case. The same can be said for the side vents, these have also been increased in size without effecting the overall quality or finish of the front of the case. Another change which may affect some users, is that Antec have dropped the Firewire port in favour of an eSATA port, while the audio and USB ports remain the same. The whole exterior of the case just has a really nice tactile feel to it and the Gun Metal finish just oozes quality. This is something that has been present across the P180 series but feels even more so with the P183.
 
 
 
 
 
If we open the front door we can see that the entire front panel itself is now vented and covered in mesh. This includes the 5¼” bay covers and the single external 3½” bay cover. The design has changed from the P182, as the filters are now an integral part of what were the filter doors, these open easily with a slight push in to release the catch. You now have to remove the doors themselves to clean the filters which I am not so keen on. The doors only have a small plastic hinge which could easily be broken while attempting to remove or re-fit when cleaning. The vented blanking plates however, are of sturdy construction and very easy to remove and replace, so there are no such concerns there.  Another nice feature which is still present, is the lockable front door, this won’t stop someone who was determined to gain access, but for keeping little fingers away from the power switch – it’s ideal. 
 
  
 
You can see from the picture of the PSU backplate, that the whole rear PSU plate is now removable. This is to accommodate the new PSU form factor CPX which was introduced by Antec in early February. The larger form factor allows for better PSU design with improved airflow also, hopefully cutting production costs which can then be passed onto the consumer. Here’s hoping! The first PSU to be released onto the market using the CPX form factor is the Antec CP-850. We will have to wait and see if this standard takes off or not, but on paper it certainly makes sense though. You can find out more information on the Antec CP-850 here. 
 
Lets take a look inside shall we?Â