[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Three Hundred Two is an updated version of the Antec Three Hundred, with several new features added, such as eight expansion slots, holes for external liquid cooling solutions, USB 3.0 ports, and an optional fan to cool the underside of the CPU. Let’s see if its new incarnation is a good buy as well.
Figure 1: Antec Three Hundred Two case
Figure 2: Antec Three Hundred Two case
Both side panels of the Antec Three Hundred Two allow the installation of a 120 mm fan. The original Three Hundred only allowed the installation of an optional fan on the left panel. The holes used on the meshes are quite big, and there are no air filters.
Figure 3: Left panel
Figure 4: Right panel
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The Antec Three Hundred Two has three external 5.25” bays. The covers for these bays seem to be meshed, but they are not.
Figure 5: Front panel
You can install two 120 mm fans on the front panel of the Three Hundred Two, and there is an air filter in front of them.
Figure 6: Front panel
The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports and the traditional audio jacks on the top part of the front panel. The USB 3.0 port uses an internal connector, so make sure you install a motherboard with an internal USB 3.0 header. If your motherboard doesn’t have an internal USB 3.0 header, you can ask Antec to send you a free USB 2.0 adaptor, so you can connect the USB 3.0 ports to a USB 2.0 header on the motherboard.
Figure 7: Buttons and connectors
[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels”]
The Antec Three Hundred Two comes with a 140 mm fan installed on its top panel, with a two speed fan controller located at the rear panel. This fan is a “TwoCool 140” model, which spins at 800 rpm (33.6 cfm and 21.8 dBA) on “low” and 1,200 rpm (58.9 cfm and 26 dBA) on “high.” The top panel also has two holes covered with rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling solutions, each measuring one inch (25 mm) in diameter. The location of these holes is unusual, as typically, cases have these holes at their rear panel. This was done because the Three Hundred Two doesn’t have any available space on its rear panel for them. The original Three Hundred doesn’t have this feature.
Figure 8: Top panel
The bottom panel has an air filter for the power supply fan. This filter is removed from the left side of the case, which is a big plus, as you won’t need to lift or move the computer to remove and clean this filter after the PC is built.
Figure 9: Bottom panel
Figure 10: Removing the air filter for the power supply.
Unfortunately, the rear panel and the interior of the Antec Three Hundred Two are not painted. This is the biggest “flaw” of this case, but we understand that this was done in order to keep the case at an affordable price.
On the Antec Three Hundred Two, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.
The case comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel, with a two speed controller located at the rear panel of the case. This fan is a “TwoCool 120” model; however, specifications for this fan are not provided by Antec.
This case has eight expansion slots, which is a major highlight of this product. They use regular covers.
Figure 11: Rear panel
The Two Hundred Two has a tab for you to install a padlock or a warranty seal in order to prevent unauthorized people from opening your computer.
Figure 12: Tab for padlock or warranty seal
Let’s now take a look inside the Antec Three Hundred Two.
[nextpage title=”Inside the Antec Three Hundred Two”]
Both panels are attached to the chassis using big silver thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.
Figure 13: Overall look
Figure 14: A view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 15, we get another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using a single metallic plate that is located on the rear panel and attached to the case using regular screws. The Antec Three Hundred Two supports video cards up to 12.5” (318 mm) long and CPU coolers up to 6.7” (170 mm) high.
Figure 15: Overall look
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As already discussed, the case comes with an air filter for the power supply fan.
Figure 16: Power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Antec Three Hundred Two has three external 5.25” bays, six internal 3.5” bays and two internal 2.5” bays. The 5.25” bays and the internal 3.5” bays use tool-less installation mechanisms.
Figure 17: Disk drive bays
Installation of 3.5” devices is made by installing a ruler to each side of the drive and sliding it into the bay you want to use.
One of the 2.5” bays is located on the bottom panel, while the other one is located on the backside of the motherboard tray.
Figure 18: The 2.5” bay located on the bottom panel
Figure 19: The 2.5” bay located on the backside of the motherboard tray
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Antec Three Hundred Two include:
- Style: Mid-tower
- Application: ATX, and smaller form factors
- Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
- Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
- Available colors: Black
- Side panel: Meshed
- Dimensions: 20.2 x 9 x 18.5 inches (513 x 229 x 471 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 15 lbs (6.8 kg)
- Gross weight: 18 lbs (8.2 kg)
- Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, six internal 3.5” bays, and two internal 2.5” bays
- Expansion slots: Eight
- Maximum video card length: 12.5” (318 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.7” (170 mm)
- Fans: One 140 mm fan on the top panel (800 rpm/33.6 cfm/21.8 dBA or 1,200 rpm/58.9 cfm/26 dBA) and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel (two speeds, no technical information provided)
- Optional fans: Two 120 mm fans on the front panel, one 120 mm fan on the left panel, and one 120 mm fan on the right panel
- Extra Features: Tab for padlock or warranty seal
- More Information: https://www.antec.com
- Average Price in the U.S.: USD 70.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Antec Three Hundred Two provides a terrific set of features for its price, allowing you to build a high-end system on a small and affordable case. This case is not “perfect,” though. The lack of a paint job on the interior of the case is the most obvious “problem” with the product, but the benefits of this case far outweigh its drawbacks. Of course, if it costs more than USD 100, the weak points listed below would be relevant, but at USD 70 we can’t complain at all.
Strong Points
- Air filter for the power supply and front fans
- Air filter for the power supply is removed from the side of the case
- Top and rear fans have two-speed controllers
- Eight expansion slots
- A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- Clips for fastening cables using cable ties
Weak Points
- Interior and rear panel aren’t painted
- Bay covers aren’t meshed
- Slot covers aren’t meshed
- No air filters for the optional side fans
- Location of the holes for liquid cooling solutions is questionable
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