Page 4 - Installation and Conclusion
This is my first foray into double-chamber case design, and it provided quite a refreshing experience compared to more traditional mid-towers. The Antec C5 ARGB has provided the most access I have ever had to build in the front of the case due to the panoramic glass design and removable front panel. There was a lot more space to feed cables and components without the front case support beam in the way.
The standoffs for the motherboard were already preinstalled and secure, so I started off with my motherboard, tower cooler, and memory. As many people do, I forgot to put in the I/O shield. So, I reversed course, removed the motherboard, and then put the I/O shield. Next, I proceeded to connect all the front connections. At this point, I encountered my first and only hitch in the build. Due to my laziness, I did not remove any of the case fans. Attempting to feed and connect the front panel audio and I/O headers were nigh impossible without removing the fans. After removing two of the bottom case fans, this process was far easier. Personally, I think Antec should increase the height slightly, so we do not need to do this. Right next to the motherboard, several large cutouts exist so we can pass larger connectors through. The USB 3.0 header, 24-pin motherboard power cable, and 8-pin CPU power were quickly thread through with an ample amount of space.
On the flip side, having the power supply near the middle of the case rather than bottom meant the cable runs were shorter. There is a metal ledge for supporting the power supply. I used it to guide the power supply and screwed it into place. Officially, a 240mm power supply including the cable is supported. Practically, I would say something like a 210mm long power supply, without cables, would be as large as I would go. That size would correspond to something like the Seasonic PRIME TX ATX 3.0 1300W. I simply used a fully modular Corsair RM650x, which had plenty of room to spare. I could probably still fit five McDouble hamburgers around the power supply at this point. On the other hand, placing the power supply here means you will immediately lose access to the back of the motherboard. This could be a bit annoying, as you will need to remove the power supply before replacing your CPU cooler.
The fan controller needed SATA power, 4-pin PWM fan connection on the motherboard, and an optional 3-pin addressable RGB connector. At this point, cable management needed to be done. This did not include the hard drive SATA power and data cables, and allowance for that was needed. I spent approximately all of two minutes shoving the mess of cables in. Finally, the hard drive carriage went back on. This plate basically blocked the view of the rat's nest of cables I made. The side panels easily fit back onto the case, and I was done. Overall, this was a very low effort case to build in while providing clean looking results.
As I flicked on the power supply and pressed the power button, the lights and sounds of the fans roared to life. The LEDs were not automatically in full RGB vomit mode, but by toggling the LED control on the top panel a few times, we were in business. It cycled through several static colors, breathing, cycling and full RGB chase mode. In terms of sound, using the APH Networks sound scale, where 0 represents silence and 10 indicates loudness, I would rate the Antec C5 ARGB at a 6.5/10 at full tilt. As it is a fairly open case with seven fans and lack of noise dampening materials, this is to be expected. Fortunately, the fans do not exhibit unpleasant high pitch whining, and drones at a lower frequency. It sounds somewhat like a hotel air conditioning unit. For some, this may be relaxing background noise, but it is definitely noticeable.
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The Antec C5 ARGB is a relatively light, compact dual-chamber mid tower case with minimal compromises. Externally, it features a sleek, minimalist design, with a panoramic glass view of the internals. The included ARGB light strip is tastefully done and provides nice illumination. The inside of the case is open and roomy, with generally well thought out cutouts and cable management channels. The overall structure is solid with minimal flex, even without support on the front left corner. The fit and finish is good with no sharp edges inside or outside. Despite its compact size, the accommodating internal structure allows for many radiator configurations, and the case should provide enough cooling and space to fit some of the most powerful PC components today. The removable front and side panels provide very good access and an easy build experience. The value-added features include the seven P12 ARGB PWM fans, lighting and fan control hub, back-connector motherboard support, and top and bottom magnetic dust filters. As for the drawbacks, the lack of captive thumbscrews, rubber grommets, dedicated side panel filter, and use of foam feet should be considered. It is also no doubt a loud enclosure, especially with the included seven fans on full blast. At a retail price of $130 USD at the time of writing, the Antec C5 ARGB is a competitively priced compact mid-tower case. I would recommend it for those who are seeking the latest features in a good looking and solid fish tank style dual-chamber case.
Antec provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.3/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Antec C5 ARGB is a competitively priced dual-chamber ATX mid-tower computer case with an awesome fish tank look.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
