Antec Aria Makes a Sleek Case for Small Form Factor
Written: Mar 11 '05 (Updated Mar 14 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quality build, 300 Watt PSU, Removable Drive Cage, Very Sleek Design and Quiet.
Cons: Overheating in stressed system, apparent defect in L-E-D for On/Off Switch
The Bottom Line: The Antec Aria pushes the envelope for style and substance in a Small Form Factor case. It provides more power and space than most competitors.
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| silverstreak9's Full Review: Antec LifeStyle Aria Micro ATX Case |
OVERVIEW
The Antec Aria is a Small Form Factor (SFF) case that accommodates any micro-ATX standard motherboard. It takes aim at the growing market for computers as a component in the home entertainment cabinet.
The Antec Aria is designed to be quiet. The case incorporates soundproofing in the top and sides of the case to reduce the annoying hum of fans and hard drives. The built-in 120mm case fan is similarly designed to reduce noise.
Having said that, we should note that we bought this case ($125 at Newegg) to build a video-editing computer that could be taken on the road. This review will look at some of features that sold us on the product and how it turned out. Note: The price of the case is now $99
This is part of a series of reviews that includes our take on various components used in building a video editing computer. As you read on, you'll see references and links to the other reviews.
BUILDING YOUR OWN COMPUTER
If you have never assembled the components and built your own computer, take notice. This is a Small Form Factor (SFF) case that will require working in tight spots.
Somewhat larger than other SFF enclosures, the Antec Aria is nonetheless going to require some tricky moves to get everything in place without damaging any of the components. The removable drive cage makes the job a bit easier, that's for sure.
While designed to handle industry standard components, the Aria does have specific requirements, like a uATX (smaller than normal desktop) motherboard.
If you want to learn more about building your own computer, in general, and this computer, in particular, we suggest a visit to Motherboards.org
http://www.motherboards.org
In general, we would not recommend a SFF case for first time computer builders. But, with patience, it could certainly be done.
We've included an APPENDIX at the end of this review with specific tips on how we installed our motherboard.
THE ANTEC ARIA ESSENTIALS
On first glance, the Antec Aria is a sleek, brushed aluminum and high-impact plastic case with dramatic flair.
Soft blue L-E-D's built into the black plastic front panel highlight the the case from its soft corners to the ribbed top. These project light upwards in the crevices created where the side panels join the front. No one who has seen our finished product failed to be impressed!
10.6" x 7.9" x 13.2" (WxHxD)
300 Watt Power Supply built in (100-240 V.A.C.)
4 Expansion slots (1 Video 3 PCI)
8-in-1 Card Reader on Front Panel
- Compact Flash I/II
- IBM Microdrive
- Smartmedia
- Memory Stick
- Memory Stick Pro
- Secure Digital (SD)
- Multi-Media Card (MMC)
"Stealth" 5.25" front panel drive bay for CD/DVD
Internal, removable Drive Cage (3/3.5" 1/5.25")
Brushed Aluminum ON/OFF and Reset buttons
Blue Hard Disk Drive Activity L-E-D
2 USB 2.0 plugs on front panel
1 1394 "Firewire" plug on front panel
1 Headphone Jack on front panel
1 Microphone Jack on front panel
1 Low Speed (Quiet) Slot Fan included
FEATURES - THE ARIA SINGS
Antec deserves a lot of credit for the design of this computer case (Antec likes to call them "enclosures.")
The 300 Watt power supply provides the most muscle found in the SFF cases we considered for our video editing computer. This was essential as we tried to find a small solution for a powerful computer.
The ability of the Aria to take any industry standard (9.6" X 9.6") micro-ATX motherboard was another strong point for the Aria. We chose Intel's D865GLC as our motherboard, with 2 SATA ports, 2 IDE (4 devices) and 8 USB ports with onboard Video and Audio.
The addition of LAN as an onboard feature in the comparable D865GLCK is a really tight fit. The Aria power supply leaves very little room to get the LAN port in place in the back of the case. With patience, you can squeeze it in place.
The removable drive cage was a treat. You can install your DVD/CD drive in the 5.25" bay and 3 Hard disks (1 horizontally beneath the 5.25" drive and two vertically on either side of that DVD/CD drive. The design is neat. You can actually connect the drives to their power and data ports with the drive cage resting atop the case and then insert the cage.
This case itself is easier to open up than any other we've ever built. One thumbscrew releases the top and allows you to slide it off. The sides then just slide off by pressing a metal tab on the back and pulling the brushed aluminum side panel toward the front of the case. Very nice, Antec!
Because you then have access from the top (with the drive cage removed) and both sides, it's easier to plug in those pesky front panel connectors to the motherboard.
Installing a graphics card (we wouldn't even think of using Intel's onboard graphics for video editing!) was fairly straightforward. The Matrox P650 dual-DVI output card with passive cooling (heatsink only) was a perfect, if very tight, fit.
But the much larger Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro Video Capture and Acceleration card was another matter. A 3/4 sized PCI card, it extended well beyond what the Antec Aria was designed to accommodate. By seating it in the middle PCI slot (there are generally 3 on a uATX motherboard,) we were able to get it to fit where the left-side, vertically mounted hard drive would have been.
You can read our review of the Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro here.
Most PCI cards, LAN, Firewire etc. should fit well in the Antec Aria. But for those larger PCI cards, you obviously have to take a lot of care as you insert/remove the Drive Cage in the Antec Aria. Dropping the drive cage could spell certain death for the card.
A FEW FLAT NOTES IN THIS ARIA
First, what good is a SATA power plug that won't reach your SATA hard disk power receptacle? We bought an adaptor for the standard MOLEX power plugs.
The SATA power plug will reach the drive mounted horizontally beneath the 5.25" optical drive, but isn't long enough to reach side mounted SATA drives (and we mounted our SATA drive on the side.) Just a few more inches on that power supply cable would have worked, Antec.
One of the nicest touches we saw when we first fired up the Aria was the embedded L-E-D in the brushed aluminum On/Off button on the front of the Aria. About a week later, it burned out. Antec immediately shipped us a complete, new front panel. We installed it. The light still didn't work.
This problem with the Power L-E-D has been noted in other reviews of the product we've read.
One other quirk we noted with the Antec Aria was its unusual method of securing the PCI/Video cards. An L-shaped metal plate fits over the card brackets. Holes are supplied to secure each card. But the plate itself must then be secured using two additional screws. It works, but installing or removing one card means unscrewing the plate and all the other cards. Your wrist gets tired. Thumbscrews might help.
A COOL CASE?
Well, it certainly looks cool.
But when we exported video and pushed the 3.2GHz Intel P4 (Northwood) CPU, the onboard sensors sounded the alarm. The amount of air being pushed through the system simply wasn't adequate in that demanding environment.
In all fairness, Antec didn't design this case to be used for a video editing powerhouse. Antec clearly states that if power users want to build a computer in this enclosure, they had better plan to add cooling.
First to go, the low-speed slot fan that comes with the Aria. It simply didn't do the job in our system. We replaced it with the most powerful slot fan we could find. That helped. But it didn't entirely solve the problem.
Simply removing the right side panel instantly brings the temperature down and dulls the high-speed whine of the stock Intel heatsink fan. But that's not a permanent solution.
We contacted Antec engineers who recommended a single 40 or 80mm exhaust fan be mounted on the top, above the CPU. That may work, but it will have an impact on the overall appearance of our Aria.
Because the power supply overhangs part of the CPU area on the motherboard, third-party CPU cooling devices have to be added with great care. Many aren't going to fit.
We think it's time to get out the scroll saw and cut some intake holes in the side panels. That will have the least visual impact although it may increase the noise coming from inside the case.
If that doesn't work, we'll cut an exhaust hole in the top and add an 80mm fan with similar blue L-E-D's to try to make the best of it.
SUPPORT
Antec has a great reputation. They didn't disappoint us when they sent along a new front panel to try to solve the L-E-D problem on the On/Off button. We didn't ask them for a third one when that one didn't work.
Their website also has some excellent information on building your own computer.
All of our questions submitted by e-mail were answered within 72 hours.
CONCLUSION
The Antec Aria raises the bar for Small Form Factor (SFF) enclosures. The inclusion of audio, video, LAN and other features on micro-ATX motherboards means users can pack more power into smaller spaces than ever before.
The removable aluminum drive cage that accommodates 3 hard disks and 1 5.25" bay for DVD/CD drives is an engineering masterpiece.
We're not taking off any points because this is a small case, that's why we bought it. Even the failure of the On/Off L-E-D is such a minor issue we're still giving this case 5 stars.
The cube-styled and sleek Antec Aria fits nicely in a computer bag that came with a Compaq Portable III luggable computer. It's small enough to bring as carry-on baggage on a flight.
We're still looking for a carry-case that will accommodate the Aria as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse. Our two LCD video monitors are fitted in a large aluminum Halliburton suitcase with foam padding cut-to-size.
But we can't say we're entirely satisfied with the Antec Aria as a solution for our video editing computer. It's a fact that the Aria isn't designed for it. We would think potential users of this case should think twice about AMD or Pentium 4 Prescott chips that are known for generating more heat.
But if your needs are less demanding, we have no doubt you'll be pleased with the Aria. As noted, the only time the Aria overheats is during the most CPU intensive stages of the video editing process.
The Antec Aria is arguably one of the best-looking systems we've ever assembled. The "stealth" drive bay that conceals a DVD/CD drive until the door is opened only enhances its sleek appearance. The 8-in-1 card reader is plenty fast and convenient.
In addition, we think Antec has done a good job of providing two USB ports and one Firewire along with Audio input/output on the front panel. These are the connections you need most. They met our requirements perfectly.
Finally, the build quality is excellent. The aluminum Drive Cage comes complete with some thermal tape to help cool your hard disks. The craftsmanship on the brushed aluminum sidepanels and the rest of the case speaks to a high standard other case manufacturers must envy.
The Aria does all of that with STYLE.
TEST COMPUTER
Intel D865GLC Motherboard (Micro-ATX) with onboard audio
Intel P4 3.2GHz CPU (Northwood)
1 GB Crucial DDR RAM (PC3200)
1 Matrox P650 Dual Monitor Video Graphics Card (8X/AGP)
1 Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro Video Capture and Acceleration Card
1 Western Digital 120GB EIDE "Special Edition" HDD for the OS and Software
1 Western Digital 250GB SATA HDD for storing and editing Video Projects
1 Western Digital 160GB SATA HDD for exporting video and extra video storage (external*)
1 Highpoint RocketMate 1110 External SATA Drive Case*
1 Plextor 16X DVD burner
2 LCD monitors (Analog)
1 Antec Aria Small Form Factor (SFF) Case with 300W PSU
* Because the third drive bay was taken by the Matrox RT.X100 PCI card, Highpoint's external SATA solution was used to connect the second SATA port on the motherboard to the external drive. You can see the review of Highpoint's e.SATA external drive solution here.
APPENDIX - HINTS AND TIPS ON ASSEMBLY
As with all computer assemblies, make sure you've grounded yourself to the case frame and discharged all static electricity before you handle any component. Do it often.
Remove the top and side panels from the Aria along with the drive cage. Secure the power supply cables with a plastic tie so they are up and out of the way. Same goes for the front panel connectors, if necessary.
Mounting the Motherboard
An indispensible tool in the entire process is a good, bright desklamp that can be adjusted into many positions. We also use an L-E-D headlamp of the type found in camping stores. It works very well in projects like this.
Familiarize yourself with which stand-off mounts on the base of the Aria have "clips" for grasping the motherboard holes and which ones have standoffs where you will insert a mounting screw (supplied by Antec.)
We've noted other buyers' comments that they had to take the power supply apart and "strip" the case to install. We don't think that's necessary at all -- if you're using the right components.
There isn't much clearance between the CPU/Heatsink fan assembly and the Power Supply and, clearly, some third-party cooling solutions simply will not fit in the Aria. Check the height!
Using a stock Intel heatsink/fan assembly, mount it on the motherboard BEFORE you move it into the case.
We like to use the a piece of foam laid on the bottom of the cardboard box that came with the motherboard to get a firm placement of the RAM modules and the CPU/HSF assembly as a primary step.
Place the case so you're facing the front panel with the motherboard positioned on the left side of the case.
Bring your right arm all the way through the case from the right side (front facing) and grasp the heavy Heatsink fan with your right hand while supporting the left side of the motherboard with your left hand.
Holding the Heatsink fan assembly, the very light motherboard can be carefully slipped in from the left (front-facing) side of the case and lined up with the rear cut-outs. The tightest fit is where the rear-facing USB, PS/2 or LAN ports must fit into their cut-outs UNDER the power supply.
The stand-off clips on the base of the Aria can snag the motherboard. If they do, gently pull the motherboard a few millimeters toward you and try again, raising the motherboard slightly so it is above those clips.
The clips themselves should "catch" the holes of the motherboard. You want to get the clips into the holes at the back of the motherboard first...by slightly tilting the motherboard so it's higher in the front (closest to you) than it is in the back.
The clips have a "spring-like" resistance and you may have to push on the front edge (closest to you) of the motherboard to line up the other holes and insert the mounting screws. Holes with the clips in them do NOT require mounting screws.
It takes care and patience to get it right.
Then, you can attach the Front Panel connectors, Power connectors, CPU fan header etc.
The Antec Aria's front panel audio cable include one plug that fits a standard motherboard pinset and a collection of others that can be individually attached for non-standard motherboard pin configurations. We used a small plastic tie to secure all of those "extras" to the larger, main audio cable that comes from the front panel.
The tight confines of the case require a lot of care routing your cables to help ensure air-flow. Small plastic ties are highly recommended. Those ties can also help sort out the power cables for your drives and keep it neat.
The Drive Cage
The way the drive cage seats in the computer case is ingenious, but unusual. Familiarize yourself by removing and reseating it several times.
Antec's guidelines for how to install the DVD/CD ROM drive didn't appear accurate at first, but we learned they knew more than we did. Follow their directions for all standard 5.25" Optical drives.
It's probably easier to install in this sequence:
1) Optical Drive
2) Main hard drive mounted horrizontally under the Optical Drive.
3) Test the computer to ensure the Optical Drive is positioned correctly to take advantage of the "stealth" features.
4) After the computer is set up, remove the drive cage and install any other drives in the vertical positions in the drive cage.
Obviously, if you install ALL the drives first and have to make any adjustments to the optical drive, you're going to have to uninstall those vertically mounted drives to access the mounting screws on the Optical Drive. (That's the voice of experience talking here...)
The tough part is attaching the IDE/SATA data cables and power supply connectors once the cage is back in the case.
We found it easier to partially insert the drive cage, make the connections and finish inserting the cage in place.
The last check should always be to ensure you haven't inadvertently pulled the IDE connectors from their motherboard sockets as you inserted the drive cage.
Hope that helps someone!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
silverstreak9
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Reviews written: 38
Trusted by: 10 members
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