Antec ISK600 Review

Up Close:  Exterior

Measuring just 195x260x369mm (HxWxD) the Antec ISK600 is one of the smallest Mini-ITX cube cases on the market that is still able to accept the standard ATX spec PSU.  The sides and roof of the case are made from a single formed sheet of Aluminium which has a high quality hairline brushed anodised finish. 

     

 

Ventilation is by means of horizontal slits down the sides of the front panel, and by bilateral hex mesh panels towards the front of each side panel.  As the PSU is mounted laterally in the front of the case, should you orientate it with the fan facing forward the only air it will be able to suck on will be via the slits, with the hex mesh providing a free flow of air to the rest of the interior.

     

 

Although the front panel also appears to be anodised hairline brushed Aluminium it is actually made from plastic.  It is however only possible to divine this by physically touching it as the finish is extremely convincing.  It’s a shame that Antec didn’t opt for the “Billet” effect, but we think opting for plastic must have helped to keep the price down.  The fascia itself is a clean and un-cluttered affair with an almost imperceptible coverplate for an intenal slim line ODD sitting towards the upper edge.  Further down there’s a gloss black strip which illuminates blue when the PC is powered up.  Under the LED strip we find the power and reset buttons, a single USB3.0 and USB2.0 along with a set of audio in/out sockets

     

 

The rear of the case is almost as simple as the front with the single 120mm fan sitting atop the rear I/O panel opening.  To the right there is a set of 2 PCI covers.  Although the PSU lives in the front of the case the power connections is quite necessarily situated back here at the rear, being connected to the PSU by an included internal cable.

     

 

If you think the front and rear are clean lined, they’re nothing compared to the base.  Apart from four small foam rubber capped feet and a small vented area under the front edge and over towards the right rear corner there’s nothing else to report.  We can’t help thinking that an opportunity has been missed to up the overall ventilation of the case by adding additional mesh areas to the base.