PSU for Antec P180 case

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Nil

I'm planning to buy an Antec P180 case for a computer I'm putting
together. I haven't selected a motherboard yet. I understand that some
people have found that some power supply cables are too short to easily
reach some of the components in the upper compartment.

- Is the problem cable only the motherboard 4-pin power cable, or are
there other ones that are also too short?

- can anyone recommend a specific 450W or greater PSU with nice long
cables that will work well with this case?
 
Nil said:
I'm planning to buy an Antec P180 case for a computer I'm putting
together. I haven't selected a motherboard yet. I understand that some
people have found that some power supply cables are too short to easily
reach some of the components in the upper compartment.

- Is the problem cable only the motherboard 4-pin power cable, or are
there other ones that are also too short?

- can anyone recommend a specific 450W or greater PSU with nice long
cables that will work well with this case?
Click to expand...

You are confused. :) The main problem with power supply cables and
mainboards is not length but ROUTING. But this is totally dependent on the
layout of the mainboard. For example, many mainboards are laid out in such
a manner that the main power connector from the power supply pretty much HAS
to pass over the CPU heatsink/fan (blocking airflow, and looking stupid as
Hell). That doesn't mean that the power supply cable is too short (though
an EXTRA LONG one could in theory be re-routed), it simply means that
someone had their head up their ass when they were designing the
motherboard.

The main problem with cables being too short in a tall ATX style case is
usually the data cables for the various drives (to connect to the
mainboard). This is because mainboard drive connectors tend to be located
"low" on the mainboard (not always, but frustratingly common), as the
mainboard is mounted in the case. So you might need really long data cables
to get from the mainboard to (for example) optical drives mounted near the
top of the case. But this is not a big deal. At worst, you can pick up a
longer cable (or two) for a few bucks a piece. (IDE, SATA, whatever)

You really need to do a lot more research before even thinking about
selecting a power supply. 450W or greater is definitely leaning in the
right direction, but even 550W might not be enough, depending on what you
are building. Choose your CPU and your video card. Then go with the higher
of the two recommendations for system requirements, by amperage of specific
rails. For example, if your video card suggests a "stronger" power supply
than the CPU requires, see what the video card manufacturer recommends for
amperage on the +12V rail (like, 30A or whatever). Then get back to us to
let us know what kind of power supply you need, and maybe we can recommend a
specific model.

In general though, it's hard to go wrong buying a larger wattage Seasonic
brand power supply. -Dave
 
Mike T. said:
You are confused. :) The main problem with power supply cables and
<snip> -Dave
Click to expand...
He's not confused, in a P180 (I've got 2 of 'em) the PSU goes in the bottom
of the case, and with some PSU's the main power lead to the mobo can be too
short to reach the socket (especially if the socket is on/near the edge of
the board nearest the top of the case), even if you can route straight
across the board.
To get decent routing (or even reach!) you do need a PSU with a fairly long
mobo power lead, or an extension.
I agree completely though on getting enough wattage/ amperage and looking
for something of decent quality (eg. NOT a QTec!!)

SteveH
 
He's not confused, in a P180 (I've got 2 of 'em) the PSU goes in the bottom
of the case, and with some PSU's the main power lead to the mobo can be too
short to reach the socket (especially if the socket is on/near the edge of
the board nearest the top of the case), even if you can route straight
across the board.
To get decent routing (or even reach!) you do need a PSU with a fairly long
mobo power lead, or an extension.
I agree completely though on getting enough wattage/ amperage and looking
for something of decent quality (eg. NOT a QTec!!)

SteveH
Click to expand...

And this is why I will never buy a BTX case. Stop buying them and they will
stop making them.
 
He's not confused, in a P180 (I've got 2 of 'em) the PSU goes in
the bottom of the case, and with some PSU's the main power lead to
the mobo can be too short to reach the socket (especially if the
socket is on/near the edge of the board nearest the top of the
case), even if you can route straight across the board.
To get decent routing (or even reach!) you do need a PSU with a
fairly long mobo power lead, or an extension.
Click to expand...

I'm finding that few if any manufacturers tell the length of the power
cables, so I'm hoping people will mention some that they've personally
seen that have long cables. I don't mind getting extensions if I have
to, but I'd rather just get ones that fit in the first place.

Which PSU did you choose?
I agree completely though on getting enough wattage/ amperage and
looking for something of decent quality (eg. NOT a QTec!!)
Click to expand...

I figured that 450W was mininimum, I'm actually looking at 500 and
greater. My power needs are not that great - I'll be powering 2 or 3
hard disc drives, a CD/DVD drive (maybe 2), and 2 sound cards. My video
requirements are minimal - I'm not a gamer - so that's not much of a
factor. This computer will be used for digital audio recording, so my
main goal is for it to be as quiet as possible. I'm also trying to
overbuild it so that it will last a long time before becoming obsolete.
I built my current computer in 1999 with similar goals, and it's been a
great machine that's handled most everything I've thrown at it.
 
Nil said:
I'm planning to buy an Antec P180 case for a computer I'm putting
together. I haven't selected a motherboard yet. I understand that some
people have found that some power supply cables are too short to easily
reach some of the components in the upper compartment.

- Is the problem cable only the motherboard 4-pin power cable, or are
there other ones that are also too short?

- can anyone recommend a specific 450W or greater PSU with nice long
cables that will work well with this case?
Click to expand...

To buy a PSU for an Antec P180, you'll need to find a web site that
lists wire length on the PSUs they sell. The bottom mounting
of the PSU in a P180, is the worst feature of the case. But is
necessary to get the notion of "zone cooling" they were after.

Paul
 
And this is why I will never buy a BTX case. Stop buying them and
they will stop making them.
Click to expand...

The Antec P180 is an ATX case.

BTX seems like a good idea, although I've never seen one in action.
 
Nil said:
I'm finding that few if any manufacturers tell the length of the power
cables, so I'm hoping people will mention some that they've personally
seen that have long cables. I don't mind getting extensions if I have
to, but I'd rather just get ones that fit in the first place.

Which PSU did you choose?


I figured that 450W was mininimum, I'm actually looking at 500 and
greater. My power needs are not that great - I'll be powering 2 or 3
hard disc drives, a CD/DVD drive (maybe 2), and 2 sound cards. My video
requirements are minimal - I'm not a gamer - so that's not much of a
factor. This computer will be used for digital audio recording, so my
main goal is for it to be as quiet as possible. I'm also trying to
overbuild it so that it will last a long time before becoming obsolete.
I built my current computer in 1999 with similar goals, and it's been a
great machine that's handled most everything I've thrown at it.
Click to expand...

TBH I think you'll find most of the decent quality PSU's will have long
enough leads. In ours, we have a Seasonic in one and a Thermaltake in the
other (both of these are quiet PSU's). Needless to say, I think you'll find
Antec ones will work fine.
I would imagine the manufacturers of good quality PSU's will put full specs
on their websites.

SteveH

SteveH
 
TBH I think you'll find most of the decent quality PSU's will have
long enough leads. In ours, we have a Seasonic in one and a
Thermaltake in the other (both of these are quiet PSU's). Needless
to say, I think you'll find Antec ones will work fine.
I would imagine the manufacturers of good quality PSU's will put
full specs on their websites.
Click to expand...

One would think so, but I'm finding out that they don't. Neither
Seasonic, Thermaltake, or Antec do. Maybe you're right that most PSU
power cables are long enough for this case, although it's common
complaint that I keep reading. Maybe a better question is, "what PSUs
have too short cables."
 
I'm using a Zalman 460W PSU in a P180B case. The PSU is ultra quiet and no
problem driving an an Intel Bad Axe, an E6400 CPU, 3 SATA HDs, 2 DVD drives,
2 GB Ram, an X1900GT card and 2 additional PCI cards. Plus, 3 Antec case
fans and 2 Zalman cooling fans. The cables are very long. It was so easy to
build that system.
 
Nil said:
I'm planning to buy an Antec P180 case for a computer I'm putting
together. I haven't selected a motherboard yet. I understand that some
people have found that some power supply cables are too short to easily
reach some of the components in the upper compartment.

- Is the problem cable only the motherboard 4-pin power cable, or are
there other ones that are also too short?

- can anyone recommend a specific 450W or greater PSU with nice long
cables that will work well with this case?
Click to expand...

I have Antec psu's for both of my P180's and while the cpu power cable has
to route under the video card, there's no problem with the other cables.
The only psu that says it WON'T work (that I could find, anyway) in a P180
are Hipper units, they say that on their web site. I had a Trupower II that
had a very sharp bend for the cpu power cable so I used a Tripower 550 that
works just fine.

The cpu power cable has to be at least 19" long to reach plugs that are on
the top of the MB (my ASUS A8N-E and ECS KM-400 M2 and just about any MB
that I've looked at, YMMV).

pek
 
Suggest you read up on the P180

SteveH
Click to expand...

I thought case's with the PSU at the bottom are BTX. Let me revise that
then. I won't buy any case with the PSU at the bottom of the case. Hot air
rises so how is putting the PSU at the bottom of the case going to help
remove hot air?
 
HOLST said:
I thought case's with the PSU at the bottom are BTX. Let me revise
that then. I won't buy any case with the PSU at the bottom of the
case. Hot air rises so how is putting the PSU at the bottom of the
case going to help remove hot air?
Click to expand...

then you had better have an in depth conversation with michael dell.

nice try ****wit
 
HOLST said:
Dell have shitty cases so WTF is your point, moron?
Click to expand...

yes they are shitty cases, but if the ****wit known as HOLST didn't fail
reading comprehension and then selectively edit a poast then you might be
able to determine the following:

just because you don't buy one or 2 btx cases does not mean that it will die
when someone like dell, hp, or any other major manufacturer buys millions of
them. simple economics, you napoleonesque ****wit!
 
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