Antec Skeleton

Unique case offers unprecedented accessibility

IN A MARKET WHERE MOST CASES BOAST about features that isolate PC components from the environment around them, Antec's Skeleton case is unique: It leaves your PC's innards
exposed to the open air.

The Skeleton's two level design allows room for the power supply, two 3.5-inch drives, and two 5.25-inch drives below the motherboard tray. Four additional 3.5-inch drives can be mounted on the sides of the case. A rail on the front of the case has power and reset switches, as well as audio, USB, FireWire, and external SATA (eSATA) ports.

The ATX motherboard and power supply are mounted on slide out trays, and for the most part, the open-air design makes installing parts much easier than in a traditional case.The trickiest part is routing cables in the Skeleton's tight quarters. Installing cards is a snap, though with larger cards you'll want to remove the transparent card guide's two screws to simplify installation.

Despite the lack of a traditional airflow path, cooling doesn't seem to be an issue. With the massive 250mm Tri-Cool fan set to a barely audible medium setting, our CPU and chipset temperatures were about the same as when we installed the motherboard in a different case. One warning The case's
open design means you'll hear lots of noises usually muffled by a closed case.



Our biggest concern with the Skeleton is its lack of protection against the environment around the case. In a house with pets or curious, small kids, leaving the components exposed might be nerve-wracking or even dangerous. And though the airflow from the
fan should keep most dust away. you should
invest in a large value pack of canned-air
cleaners. But in a controlled environment, the Skeleton could be ideal for chronic upgraders. —D.A.

Computer Shopper January 2009
www.antec.com