As in subject, with reference to overall dimensions (so no more than 35x20x36 cm). And with or without any mating PSU (as Antec supplies its 380w humming baby, with it).

Any precious hint will be welcome!

Sincerely,
Luca

I just bought a Cooler Master Elite 341... I think it's an inch larger than the 3480 in one dimension, but pretty close in the others. I didn't want the built-in psu or closed-off psu channel... I prefer a wide open interior to mess with. The metal is a tad thin but I've been experimenting with using magnetic sheets on all the panels and it deadens things very well. I prefer the intake vents on the 3480, but so far the 341 has been working out well for me.

The Silverstone TJ-08 has similar dimensions as well, and build quality is probably better than the Elite 341.

But it also costs much more than CM (and Antec): however, I guess that among the Silverstones the SG-03B-F may be better suited than the TJ.

Regards,
Luca

The TJ-08 is exactly the same case as the Cooler Master Elite 340, with a different bezel and twice the price tag. However, the 340 is now discontinued (if you search you may still be able to get one) and replaced with the 341, which seems to be substantially different.

TJ-08 isn't much more expensive than the Antec in the US, but I didn't notice you were in Italy. Prices must be higher there.

Elite 341 just looks really cheap to me, but it seems to get pretty good reviews, so I guess it can't be that bad.

I've meant that the Antec comes with a PSU, so in my opinion it is substantially cheaper. Another disappointment I personally have on the TJ is that, despite of its name, it lacks the precious unibody construction of other Temjins. It also costs more than double than a CM-like case.


I agree, it looks so cheap...

...however (just FYI) I guess I've also found two possible alternatives (for EU' buyers): on the "el cheapo" side, there's the Chieftec 300A series, while on the "well brushed" side (of this mATX-mTower's world) there's the TechSolo TC-600, even if currently no one seems to me really preferable to a CM E340 or a Silverstone SG-03B-F (or to the Antec NSK3480, with reference to a silent build).

Regards,
Luca

Hi Luca,

If you would like to stay with Antec, I would suggest the Antec P180 Mini. Its our upgraded version of the NSK3480. Its a little bigger in size but its definitely worth it. The case looks good and has great airflow.

Regards,
Antec

Yes, it's (unfortunately) too much bigger (and I'd also rather the traditional aesthetics of NSK series) for my requirements, while it can't either mount a CP-series PSU (a good invention from Antec).

Maybe the only option I'd like to see from Antec is a brand new NSK3400 (no PSU, so), with a bit less than 1 inch of more space for the motherboard tray (some CPU heatsink are impinged by the upper chamber), a far way better cable management, and some hard drive mounting adapter for both the top and floor bays (the PSU chamber is really cumbersome).

Or even a far better Minuet.

Regards,
Luca

Hi Luca,

Actually, many people were interested on an upgrade to the NSK3480. I would definitely try to push product development team to hopefully upgrade the case. I will also include the suggestions you made above to product development.

Regards,
Antec

Well, if you are taking requests on the 3480....

Overall it's a fantastic case! It really just needs to be "modernized" rather than completely reworked:

1. Update front I/O to USB 3.0, eSata (versus current USB 2.0 and 1394)

2. Cable management slots to work cables behind the motherboard tray

3. Pre wire the front panel I/O and signals behind the side panel. The fp-audio line needs an extra 6 - 8".

4. Design the upper bay more like the Solo with the supporting rails, but add a removable plate that gives the owner the option of segregating (or not) the upper bay from the lower (much like it currently is). This also gives the owner the option to feed the PSU from either side; fresh air feed like the current setup, or flip the PSU over and vent the case with it like the Solo and remove the plate for direct access between the two sections..

5. 1" of extra depth (front face to rear I/O) to better accommodate an ATX PSU and standard sized optical drive in the upper bay.

6. Integrated HDD suspension from Solo

7. 2x 120mm Fan slot instead of 2x 92 mm fan slots on the front panel.

8. Cut out for cpu cooling backplate swaps on the backplane.

9. Ditch the external 3.5" bay. Allot space for 2 HDD's in that same space to be actively cooled by one of the 120mm fans.

10. Accomodations on the backplane for a SSD to be mounted flat to it in the vicinity of the expansion slots/ lower fan slot.

11. Sell it without a PSU, but with these updates, for the same price as it currently retails for with the Earthwatts 380.

Don't for the life of you change the aesthetics of the case one single bit. It is a beautiful case and continues to be good looking even, what, 5 years later? It's a classic, leave the good looks alone.

Imagine a mATX version of the Solo (which it nearly already is) with the modernizations of the P183 Rev.B. Really it's not that much of a change from what it currently is.

Updated 3480, how about thick panels as in the P180?

/d

the tj08 is crap. didn't like it when i had it.

Why?

Regards, Luca

A possible alternative (Aerocool).

Regards,
Luca

How about an all black front?

I'd also like a version of this case designed for use a Mini-ITX NAS server. Get rid of all 5.25 bays and have the side-mounted 3.5 bays take of the entire front. I would mind removing the side panel to access the drive bays.

I like it, it's almost an exact copy of the CM Elite 341. But this has extras like a mount for a 2nd 120mm in front and the option for a lower rack for 3.5" drives.

Some further possible alternatives (with reference to dimensions):

Apex TM Series

Codegen M100 Series

InWin EM Series
InWin V Series

Regards,
Luca

One of the best features of the 3480 is the ability to fit any of the supercoolers. Most of the alternatives I've seen so far don't appear to have the capacity to handle these, based solely on the 80 and 92 mm fans rear fans.

It looks like the Inwins might, though it's hard to tell if those are 120's or not.

Well, not really any: just as examples, Scythe Zipang 2 won't fit, nor my Scythe Kabuto does, right out of the box.

Yes, I have understood that you are referring mainly to the best tower coolers, but with such a small mATX tray (as the 3480 does) even the width of the cooler is becoming a major limiting factor of compatibility, you know.


As far as I know Apex and Codegen would do.
Among the others, surely Sugos and TechSolo won't.

Anyway you're hitting a good point: some of the dimensionally similar cases don't use 120mm case fans.

Regards,
Luca

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v3 ... ia=BA50106

Its almost perfect (except the front bezel exposes unpainted chassis )

If you are rich and resourceful:

(very small) http://www.abee.co.jp/Product/AS_Enclos ... photo.html

(a bit bigger) http://www.abee.co.jp/Product/CASE/smar ... llery.html

Thanks nyu3: regrettably all they are too much deep (or high, the Abee ED1).

Regards,
Luca

P.S.: I'm also not so resourceful.

If they updated the NSK3480 with cable management, hole for CPU in tray and no included PSU, I would be the first one to buy it. That would be an awesome case.

Unfortunately they won't actually update anything.

Regards,
Luca

Another option, by Tacens: it seems anything special, but with the right dimensions.

Regards,
Luca

Antec_Rep, any news on a "refreshed" NSK3480??

Antec_Rep, new CPUs are coming from Intel (Sandy Bridge) and AMD. Any news on a "refreshed" NSK3480??

Lian-Li is releasing nice alternative to it:

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/pr ... dex=63&g=f

Very nice find!

I like it a lot!