How to make the Antec Sonata better than the Solo! [Guide!]

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:34 am

Introduction

I like the Sonata case for its dark and subtle exterior design. But it's a shame that its stock interior specification falls short of its sibling, the Solo.

I wanted to know if the Sonata could be as good, if not better, than the Solo, with only a little work.

My approach has been to do the following:

1. Remodeling the drive-bay area for improving air-flow
2. Suspending hard drives in the 5.25â€

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:54 am

Simply: Awesome modification. Its shame that space in Sonata III isn't enough for Dual 120mm fan intake for positive pressure but results are great!

windsok · Post by **windsok** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:56 am

Nice!

How does it go at full load?

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:26 am

Yes, positive pressure would have been nice! Though I think that would've required one-too-many modifications!

At full load, the system only increases in heat fractionally. Mainly the hard drive readings. Which is understandable, as there is no air rushing past either of them, in their positions in the 5.25" drive bays.

Though at full load, there is absolutely no difference in sound whatsoever. The fans are 120mm and running at 5v. And this minimal cooling operation can cope with even running Crysis flat-out for three hours!

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:34 am

PS: I now monitor the temperatures of my components directly from my desktop. I know the text is small, but check out the top-left corner of my screen. Those are my active temps, fed directly from SpeedFan. It definitely lets me know if I am ever risking pushing things a little too far!

Edit: JPG URL updated.

sonic6k · Post by **sonic6k** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:54 am

Awesome modding work, you inspire me to try out some simple mods on unused OEM cases to achieve better performance! Also, that's a very nice, clean desktop. It almost looks like a typical Linux hacker's desktop, so the fact that it is Windows make it even more interesting!

By the way, I spot an Ableton Live user!

Is that icon there for ÂµTonic? Can't tell from the image

flyingsherpa · Post by **flyingsherpa** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 8:16 am

Wow, nice desktop... is that Vista or Win7 or what?

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:01 pm

Thank you, chaps! I think it is definitely worth experimenting with improvements to stock case configurations. It would seem that most cases manufactured today are not made with silence and optimum air-flow in mind. I would contend that even the Sonata III, a venerable case, can still be improved. Imagine the improvements that can be made to a lesser standard case! I say, go for it!

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:31 pm

I am a Linux user, who has reluctantly reverted to XP, but has tried to make the most of it, hence the elaborate theming exercise!

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:33 pm

That desktop configuration doesn't use much system resource at all. As you can see from the screen-print, with the theming applications running, and with several other much larger applications running in the background, the CPU is at less than 4%. RAM is at 20%, as I think I had a four-hour Firefox session open. And you know how Firefox drains RAM like crazy!

Edit: My system is an Intel DualCore 2.6Ghz with 4GB DDR2 667Mhz RAM!

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:35 pm

Well, I guess after teasing you like this, I must owe you guys a little run-down of my desktop 'theming' configuration. Well here goes!

Stock OS: Windows XP Performance Edition (July 2009)

Wallpaper: Cropped and recentred, 'Grain'
http://badboythemer.deviantart.com/art/Grain-116511537

Desktop configuration: Chiefly, Rainmeter.
http://www.rainmeter.net/

Rainmeter analogue clock: Arcs
http://kaelri.deviantart.com/art/Arcs-112670528

Rainmeter digital clock overlay: Simple Rain
http://customize.org/rainmeter/skins/63474

Rainmeter Network, HD, RAM and CPU meters: Simple Rain
http://customize.org/rainmeter/skins/63474

Rainmeter system temps: System Temperature Monitor
http://dirtdawg90.deviantart.com/art/Sy ... -109150203

Dock: Stardock ObjectDockPlus.
http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/learn.asp

Dock Icons: Ecqipse2
http://chrfb.deviantart.com/art/quot-ec ... G-59941546

Windows Visual Style: Muin VS
http://lassekongo83.deviantart.com/art/ ... -103539809

Cursor icon manager: Stardock CursorXP
http://download.cnet.com/CursorXP/3000- ... 57248.html (PS: Avoid the newer 'CursorFX'!)

XP Cursor icon set:
http://firstfooter.deviantart.com/art/DMZ-AA-56066304

Windows icons manager: Stardock Iconpackager
http://www.stardock.com/products/iconpackager/

Windows icons set:
http://gakuseisean.deviantart.com/art/R ... s-47546725

Winamp skin: winamp_amana-d1ch
http://d1ch.deviantart.com/art/winamp-a ... -100316460

Also, running the background: Launchy and Autohotkey

If you know where to look, everything can be found for free.

To anyone who is interested in experimenting with the world of 'theming', the best start point which I could recommend, is here:

http://lifehacker.com/5087956/customize ... ma-desktop

And for a myriad of examples more inspiring than my own, see here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/lifehacker ... tell/pool/

Good luck!

PS: Right, thread hi-jack over! Let's get back to Sonata modding!

sonic6k · Post by **sonic6k** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:40 pm

While not really relating to SONATA modding, how do you like ASUS P5Q-E? I am considering this or P5Q DELUXE, whichever has better availability when I intend to purchase, since both seem to be the one and same with DELUXE model having very slightly more advanced features.

Also I have question. You say at beginning that SONATA has better aesthetics, but SOLO has better functionality. If NO modding was involved, which would be your choice out of the two for your next build? Let's say something very simple that can be cooled adequately in both cases, no i7 configuration, et cetera, et cetera.

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 1:35 pm

Hi Sonic

There are apparently a number of subtle differences between the various 'P5Q' variations. Do you research carefully, to make sure you don't invest in a more problematic model.

In term of Sonata vs Solo, I would choose the Solo first every time, if it were not so ugly! I simply cannot allow exposed drive-bays in the living room!

sonic6k · Post by **sonic6k** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:29 am

Pipps wrote:Hi Sonic

There are apparently a number of subtle differences between the various 'P5Q' variations. Do you research carefully, to make sure you don't invest in a more problematic model.

In term of Sonata vs Solo, I would choose the Solo first every time, if it were not so ugly! I simply cannot allow exposed drive-bays in the living room!

I see, thank you for information. Yes, I am trying my best to make research of ASUS P5Q series motherboards, but be prepared that I will PM you some time to ask more of this!

About SONATA vs SOLO... if the latter was really your number one choice every time, but the only problem was with the exposed drive bays, why don't you try modding the SOLO? As I understand it, SOLO has a removable front door, couldn't it be possible to make a modded front for it? I am thinking of something like a nice sheet of wood... it's only the metal hinges and power/reset button to incorporate in the design. Although accessing the rive bays would be difficult after that, coupling this design with an external DVD burner will make for the ultimate SOLO compatible with your living room

Pipps · Post by **Pipps** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:24 am

Hi Sonic

It is the Sonata which has the removable front door, not the Solo. It is the Solo which has the exposed driver bays. The Solo does, however, come in white. But my living room is not Ikea-tastic enough to make it appear at home. So I had to make the sensible aesthetic choice and go for the subtle black stealth option of the Sonata.

Your idea of a drive-bay-covering mod for the Solo sounds like a great idea. Some nice maple could look beautiful with the white Solo case. I think that you would need to mount the wood in a plastic frame, though.

The Asus motherboards seem to vary tremendously. The higher-spec P5Q boards are some of the best around for silent computing - both Intel and AMD variants - as they both offer significant speed-step style power saving features when the machine is running in practical standby. As I recall, the P5Q Deluxe is held in very high regard for reliability and spec. As I recall, in my geographical location, the Deluxe did not, however, justify its significantly increased sale price over the P5Q-E. But if the situation with availibility makes this different for you, then the Deluxe would surely be a choice that you would always be proud of!

hybrid2d4x4 · Post by **hybrid2d4x4** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:31 pm

Kudos on the nice case mods, Pipps. I'm not gonna lie to you though, I was even more impressed by the clean futuristic theme you have running (and this is coming from someone who also does a fair amount of case modding). So i hope you'll see it more as flattery through imitation rather than a blatant ripoff when i put a very similar theme on a winxp machine i'm putting together using scrap parts for a friend

Thanks for all the details and links!