The SX830 is the little brother to Antec’s SX1030, which received an 8 in our November 2000 issue. Despite slight differences between the two, they’re virtually the same case.
The most obvious distinction—aside from the front bezel and swing-out door on the SX1030—is that the SX830 doesn’t include a second removable drive tray. Instead, it annexes a
second 80mm front fan slot. The SX830’s lone drive bay houses up to three 3.25-inch drives and maintains the Antec tradition of offering the most easily removable drive trays we’ve seen. Just flip a lever and pull out the tray—it couldn’t be simpler.
As with the SX1030, the SX830’s case construction is superb. Our baby-soft hands are always protected, since the case’s sharp edges are folded over, leaving a clean, sturdy edge. And the SX830 includes the Antec 300W power supply, which can hold its own in terms of reliability and power distribution to all but the most power-hungry systems.
As for drive installation, both Antec cases we’ve seen use rails – you either love ’em or hate ’em, and our own staff stands divided over their benefits. But all agree that the SX830’s worst trait is its lack of a removable motherboard tray.
In spite of this. Antec offers a good overall case in the SX830. It’s strong, sturdy, and spacious, and we’d be more than happy to have one house our rig.
