INTRODUCTION

   Most people i know almost always place price and size above quality, features and design when out to get a brand new PC case so when they ask my opinion on the matter they always point out that they want to get either a small or large (depends on the use) yet budget-friendly model. At the end of the day i don't really blame people for thinking that way since most casual consumers are worlds apart compared to enthusiasts, serious gamers and hardcore overclockers so spending much on a PC case especially nowadays is not something they'd do. However there are many people such as i who always prefer to get a case that offers pretty much everything they need from looks and build quality up to plenty of useful features and of course pay very little attention to price. The latest P380 by Antec may not be the largest full tower in the market today but according to Antec it's the most advanced model in their already successful Performance One line so we just had to see for ourselves.

   Antec, Inc., is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators. Antec’s offering of enclosures includes a large range of cases, such as its technically advanced Performance One Series, cost-effective New Solution Series and server grade cases designed for the needs of all workstation and server markets. Antec’s products also include front line power supplies such as its TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are geared toward the gaming demographic, like the Nine Hundred, the premier gamer enclosure. Antec also offers a computing accessories line comprised of many original products, including its patented LED Fans and Notebook Cooling solutions. Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in Germany, China and Taiwan. The company’s products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.

   The P380 is part of the last wave of full towers to hit the market and since it's a member of the Performance One line by Antec we expected to encounter something special right from the get go. It measures 555mm in height, 223.6mm in width and 557mm in depth, has enough room for up to seven 120mm fans (or four 140mm and one 120mm) and/or two 360/240mm radiators, features a total of 9 PCI expansion slots and room for up to eight 2.5/3.5" drives and is dressed with noise-dampening material. However what makes the P380 standout is the lack of front 5.25" which have been replaced with a 6mm thick aluminium bezel which extends from the lower front and up to the rear top. We don't know how "practical" the P380 is since even we have use for 5.25" devices such as blu-rays and fan controllers which is all the more reason for us to move forward with this review.