Antec Sonata II (00761345151399) ATX Mid-Tower Case

Antec Sonata II – Cool, Sleek, and Quiet.

When I build systems, which I do for friends and family as this is not really my business, I usually opt for one of three case manufacturers depending on the application. My three choices are Antec, Thermaltake, and CoolerMaster, not necessarily in that order. Of the three, I have built more systems using Antec cases than any other and have been consistently happy with the results.

Not long ago I had a friend who wanted a gaming rig that would look good in a home office that included lots of Asian lacquerware furniture. I immediately knew which case to choose as I have previously built several boxes using Antec’s Lifestyle Sonata piano black case. My friend was thrilled with the result and the system looks great next to his lacquerware furniture.

The Case

Anyone who has ever built their own computer knows Antec. As one of the largest manufacturers of computer components used in building white box (the computers built by strip mall computer shops) and home built systems the Freemont California based company has a huge presence both online and in retail stores. Although they make products for the server industry as well as components other than cases, it is their ATX cases that I like the best.

The Sonata cases in particular are noted for their ability to greatly reduce noise as well as their sharp looks. Back in February of 2003 ExtremeTech Magazine rated the original Sonata as one of their favorites due to its ability to dampen noise. Having built several using this case I can tell you that it is, in fact, a very quiet case. Part of the reason for the low noise level was the solid steel construction which made this case a whopping 25lbs gross weight. Combine this with a very quiet 380W PSU, rubber grommets to reduce HDD vibration, and a quiet 120mm case exhaust fan and you have the makings of a close to silent rig. As new video cards and CPUs started to appear two problems arose with the original Sonata, cooling ability and PSU power. A 380W PSU seemed fairly generous in 2003 but with the advent of newer graphics cards and SLI it started to feel pretty skimpy. Combine this with cooling geared more for noise reduction than to maximize heat reduction and you have a case that may no longer be optimal.

Enter the Sonata II just about a year ago with a new 450W SmartPower PSU and much improved cooling and the Sonata series is once again an excellent choice for a quiet and attractive high-end system. Like the original Sonata, the Sonata II is a super mini-tower case compatible with either micro-ATX (9.6" x 9.6") or standard ATX (12"x 9.6") motherboards. The case includes a 450W PSU and a 120MM x 25mm rear exhaust case fan. The Sonata II measures 16.75"(H) x 18.25"(D) x 8.13"(W), weighs approximately 25lbs, and is finished in a glossy piano black paint job that gives a very rich appearance. The weight is due in part to the fact this case is made from almost a millimeter thickness of SECC steel. Pretty heavy duty stuff. This is a case for someone looking for a more refined system. It will probably not appeal to builders or hardcore modders looking for neon lighting or clear side panels as the Sonata II is almost like a fine piece of furniture.

Power Supply Unit

The new Sonata II comes with Antec’s SP-450 450W SmartPower PSU. The SP-450 is a perfect match for the Sonata II as it was designed for close to silent operation with specially designed dual 80mm fans. The PSU adjusts the fan speed as needed to control system temperature in a very unique way. One fan simply adjusts its speed based on the system temperature while the other fan stays idle until needed and then starts up to aid in cooling. This PSU also comes with 4 SATA connectors, 1 PCI-E connector, and uses dual +12V output circuitry to ensure very stable power to system components.

Cooling

The Sonata II’s cooling is much improved over the original Sonata with a standard Antec120mm x 25mm Tricool fan with 3 speed control. The 3 speed control allows the user to adjust the fan speed to balance between cooling needs and fan noise. The speed settings, airflow, and noise levels are as follows:

RPM 1200 1600 2000
CFM 39 56 79
dBA 25 28 30

Beyond the included rear exhaust fan the Sonata includes a mount for an optional 120mm front intake fan that fits nicely behind a washable filter to protect the system from dust. A feature unique to the Sonata II, and somewhat controversial, is the cooling duct that allows cool air to be drawn in from the rear and vented out over the CPU and other components. The duct even has a mount for an optional 92mm fan to increase airflow even more. The duct is easily removed to allow installation of the motherboard and expansion cards. Debate has arisen over whether this duct actually adds enough to the overall cooling scheme to account for the tight fit it causes. I’ll discuss this later in the review.

Features

The Sonata II comes with a very generous three 5.25” external bays, two 3.5” external bays, and four 3.5” internal bays. The four 3.5” internal bays are fitted with “individual trays with rubber grommets to absorb hard drive vibrations.” The trays are not ‘tool-less’ so you will need to use a screwdriver to mount the HDDs on the tray. Once mounted it is easy to slide them in and out of their racks. The external bays are accessed by a sturdy, double hinged door that includes a lock to prevent unauthorized access. One impressive feature with this door is its ability to swing a full 270 degrees open allowing unimpeded access to the bays. Front I/O ports include 2 USB 2.0, 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire port, and audio ports located behind a silver rotating cover. The side panel opens via a latch once the two rear thumb screws are removed.

My Impression

I’ve always liked the Sonata and with the improvements in the Sonata II I think this case is a real winner. The 450W PSU should handle all but the most power hungry user’s demands. Obviously serious gamers looking for dual or quad SLI are going to need compatible PSUs but these really aren’t the Sonata’s target market anyway. The improved cooling seems to have made a big difference although Antec recommends against adding too many optional fans as noise level will increase. I personally don’t see to much of an issue here unless you are planning on using the Sonata II as a Media Center PC in a living room or other area where background noise needs to be brought to a bare minimum. In the system I built for my friend I installed an optional 120mm x 25mm front intake fan running at about 2000 RPM and putting out about 28 dBA as well as the optional 92mm cooling duct fan running at 3300 RPM and putting out about 33 dBA. Even with those two fans installed the case was still reasonably quiet. I had no problems with the cooling duct itself as it was easy to remove and replace. In this system I installed an Asus A8N-E motherboard with an Athlon 64 FX60 CPU, 2 x 1 GB of PC3200 RAM, and a Sapphire 100154SR Radeon X1800XT video card. With the installed components working under load I was seeing temperatures in the mid to high 40’s which is not only very reasonable but actually extremely good. Overall I have to say I’m very impressed with the Sonata II and this will continue to be a case I turn to frequently when looks and noise level are important.

Price

I paid about $79 for the Sonata II. Currently it seems to be selling in the $90 to $120 range.