Sonata II - Neglected due to P180?

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dni
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Sonata II - Neglected due to P180?

Post by dni » Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:58 pm

While I, like everyone else, really like the P180, I don't want to ignore the Sonata II as a viable option.

Does anyone know when it's supposed to come out? Can we expect a "tour" of it as we received for the P180?

Why should I get one over the other, in terms of advantages/disadvantages? Alternately, why are YOU choosing one over the other?

Mr_Smartepants
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Re: Sonata II - Neglected due to P180?

Post by Mr_Smartepants » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:04 pm

dni wrote:Why should I get one over the other, in terms of advantages/disadvantages? Alternately, why are YOU choosing one over the other?
I'd get the P180 purely for the "SPCR" logo! :lol:

Seriously though, the P180 is massive. I like the compactness of my Sonata and I'm looking into building a slim SFF for HTPC duties (Antec Minuet, Hush, or TranquilPC)
The P180 would be ideal for those getting into watercooling or just have massive amounts of drives/hardware. Let's face it, the P180 is the ideal quiet server chassis. The Sonata II would be ideal for the 'average' home user.

perplex
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Post by perplex » Fri Jun 03, 2005 2:06 am

i was thinking of P180 but its just too big for me, so i'm thinking of sonata 2 instead, or even sonata 1

m0002a
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Post by m0002a » Fri Jun 03, 2005 2:30 am

I predict that the Sonata II will be available very soon:
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=22413

propheci
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Post by propheci » Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:53 am

i agree. the P180 seems really nice but it's just too big for my taste. with all its hype, the sonata II has been virtually ignored. i know i'll be getting one when it comes out, but it would be nice to see some more info on it.

hofffam
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Post by hofffam » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:50 am

I don't understand why anyone would want the Sonata I anymore. The 3700 BQE is a superior (cooling, noise) case and less expensive. The SLK3000 is even better without PS. The only advantage for the Sonata I might be a slightly smaller size (1.5 inches) and more shiny black paint.

nici
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Post by nici » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:03 am

hofffam wrote: The only advantage for the Sonata I might be a slightly smaller size (1.5 inches) and more shiny black paint.
Thats about right, yeah.. :lol: Considering i need very little airflow, i would pick the Sonata over my current 3700AMB anyday. It looks much better, though its still nothing that spectacular. Iit may just be the color of the AMB, i dont like this beige color that much.

rtsai
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Post by rtsai » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:25 am

nici wrote:
hofffam wrote: The only advantage for the Sonata I might be a slightly smaller size (1.5 inches) and more shiny black paint.
Thats about right, yeah.. :lol: Considering i need very little airflow, i would pick the Sonata over my current 3700AMB anyday. It looks much better, though its still nothing that spectacular. Iit may just be the color of the AMB, i dont like this beige color that much.
SLK3000B ?

hofffam
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Post by hofffam » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:26 am

The 3700 BQE = Black Quiet Edition.....

SLK3000B = Black

I would probably buy the SLK3000 B because of the "normal" hard drive mounting and no PS.....

perplex
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Post by perplex » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:24 pm

which of those antecs is quietest? i was thinking of P180 but its just too big for my needs. :/

nici
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Post by nici » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:37 pm

Yeah, if i could get the 3000B without the holes in the side i might get it :lol: Or the 3700BQE without PSU, i already have too many un-used PSUs lying around that im too lazy to sell.. :? Are BQE doors available separately? I dont think so, as the cases are so cheap.. a Lian-Li door costs under 30€, in proportion to that the antec door should cost something like 10€... I wouldnt pay 30€ for a door to a 50€ case :lol: Holes in the B, and PSU in the BQE.. Or maybe ill just keep my current very boring case, its much easier :roll:

m0002a
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Post by m0002a » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:31 pm

nici wrote:Yeah, if i could get the 3000B without the holes in the side i might get it :lol: Or the 3700BQE without PSU, i already have too many un-used PSUs lying around that im too lazy to sell.. :? Are BQE doors available separately? I dont think so, as the cases are so cheap.. a Lian-Li door costs under 30€, in proportion to that the antec door should cost something like 10€... I wouldnt pay 30€ for a door to a 50€ case :lol: Holes in the B, and PSU in the BQE.. Or maybe ill just keep my current very boring case, its much easier :roll:
I sold my BQE PSU and Antec case fan on eBay very quickly for $25 plus shipping. Probably could have sold it for more money, but I listed it for $25 Buy-it-now. But that was in the US where there is big market PSU's and an Antec PSU is considered one the better ones (for people not into quiet computing).

perplex
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Post by perplex » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:48 pm

any of you guys replaced the included psu with a 120mm fanned psu like s12 430?

hofffam
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Post by hofffam » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:58 pm

perplex - you should simply read the Recommended and Cases and Damping sections of the SPCR site. There are detailed reviews available of many cases including the Sonata, the BQE/AMB, and the SLK3000. You will see the SLK3000 rated 8/7 for Airflow/Noise while the BQE/AMB are 7/6 and the Sonata a lowly 6/6. So SPCR testing says the SLK3000 is the quietest Antec case tested so far.

Have you never looked at these parts of SPCR????

Sabrewulf165
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Post by Sabrewulf165 » Fri Jun 03, 2005 2:27 pm

My last quiet computer was in a Sonata I, but it was the "original" revision of the Sonata I that came with a PSU that had no SATA connectors. It was a good case, but I would agree that the current 3700 and 3000 models are better.

I just checked out a newer revision Sonata I at a local store the other day, and IMO the manufacturing quality has gone way down. Seems like a lot more rough edges, and the measurements don't seem to be as close to spec, making working with it a pain. The protruding metal nubs inbetween the PCI slots, which were always a pain in the ass anyway, are WAY too tight on the newer Sonatas, making installation and especially removal of cards a very frustrating and even dangerous affair.

In short, if you bought a Sonata two years ago, the current 3000/3700 are better, but probably not worth upgrading. If you're buying a case NOW, I wouldn't even consider the Sonata at all unless you really need front audio/1394, or as someone else mentioned... shiny paint :lol:

jnotop
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Post by jnotop » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:58 am

When it came out(and when I bought mine) the sonata was one of the few options out there if you wanted something that was quieter than almost anything out of the box. I think I've had mine close to 2 years, if you weren't a SPCR-pioneer it was a pretty big deal, components were cooler, seasonics weren't exactly at microcenter and the truepower was considered more of an elite-psu than it likely is now. If you wanted a reasonably-sized case and didn't feel like buying the AMB knowing you'd have to sell the PSU it was a no-brainer. It was improved-upon at the cost of expanded-size in the BQE, but it took a few years to really make it seem outdated. It's last-generation hardware, but probably got some people hooked on the idea that computers could be quieter than late-1980's oldsmobiles and from there you know how the sickness grows.

whitebloodcell
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Re: Sonata II - Neglected due to P180?

Post by whitebloodcell » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:30 pm

Mr_Smartepants wrote:
dni wrote:Why should I get one over the other, in terms of advantages/disadvantages? Alternately, why are YOU choosing one over the other?
I'd get the P180 purely for the "SPCR" logo! :lol:

Seriously though, the P180 is massive. I like the compactness of my Sonata and I'm looking into building a slim SFF for HTPC duties (Antec Minuet, Hush, or TranquilPC)
The P180 would be ideal for those getting into watercooling or just have massive amounts of drives/hardware. Let's face it, the P180 is the ideal quiet server chassis. The Sonata II would be ideal for the 'average' home user.
I have to say the P180 is hardly the best case for Watercooling. There are only a few viable places for Rad placement. You could fit one 120mm Rad below the 5.25" Bays. If you wanted a PA160 or a Dual 120mm Rad setup the only feasible place I see is completely removing the lower drive cage and cutting a hole in the side.

pony-tail
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Post by pony-tail » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:23 pm

While I, like everyone else, really like the P180
Not quite everybody !
I would like to see the Sonata 2 in "person" and have a good look at it up close . but I think it would make a very good starting point for a good system
Might need a bit of modding though .
I now have 2 of the original Sonatas and I am not unhappy with them .I have had a 3700amb and did not like it much (too big for starters) and a few minor annoyances . I would actually prefer something smaller and more efficient than the Sonata but the 2 systems in Sonata cases are full size ATX .
A few people on this forum believe that the Sonata is too small and a bit cramped but I have found that correctly laid out and with the "Standard SPCR" mods it is a very good case and I believe (hope) this will hold true for the Sonata II
Just a note - the Sonata is twice the volume of the InWin V500 series cases I use for most of my builds .

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