Question 1

Will the usb 3.0 ports perform at 3.0 specs with a usb 2.0 motherboard?

Accepted Answer

I do not believe so.  They will only give you 3.0 speed if you plug it into a USB 3.0 header on the motherboard.

The connector for the USB connectors on the front panel do have an adapter to use them as 2.0, but that will limit you to 2.0 speeds and specifications.

Question 2

Does this case have good fit and finish? As in, do parts go in easily and perfectly aligned like they're supposed to? My current case has problems with the motherboard standoffs and expansion cards don't fit properly is why I ask. Thanks.

Accepted Answer

I got this case on the Black Friday sale, it looks nice and cool, when I left it up, it's pretty light, and the steel panel is really thin make me feel it's not very strong build. My motherboard and video card and PSU fits in without problem. Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX MB, EVGA GTS 450 and Cosair TX750 PSU. Here's a few things I don't like this case, the back pane expansion slot cover is several pieces thin metal which I have to tear it off to put my video card, feel crappy. You have to put 2 rail to your hard drive to slide it in and the SATA interface is facing the other side of the panel!? That means you have to take both panel off when changing hard drives.
Also, the PSU fan is facing the bottom of the case, they did put a mesh filter there to stop the dust, hopefully.

BTW, I like the 2 cooling fans on the top.

Anyway, I got what I paid for, may not be perfect but at least it holds all the parts. Some features I don't like but I can live with it.

Hope this help. Good luck, Jeff.

Question 3

What is the dB and airflow rating of the included fans?

Accepted Answer

No db details were provided with my case.  The fans included are standard case fans, not low db models.  Using the low fan setting, this case is pretty quiet.

Question 4

How's the air flow? Does it allow enough air to prevent overheating? I'm looking to upgrade my case, but I overclock, so I need to be sure that the case will allow airflow

Accepted Answer

The case comes with 3 exhaust fans, and room to add 3 more intake fans (2 front, 1 side) and pre-existing labeled wiring for all fan locations.  I think the airflow is very good, with most of the heat coming out the top fan grates.  The manual switches for fan speed control go from low - off - high and each of the two switches does three of the fans.  Fan power comes from one MOLEX power connecter provided by your power supply of choice, so make sure you have at least one "4 pin peripheral connector" available.

I don't have exact facts or figure on the amount of airflow or temperature drop, but it's pushes more air than any other case I personally built or opened.

To me the big thing to consider when overclocking the CPU is a high-quality CPU cooler.  This case has ample room for an air cooler or holes for a water cooler if that is your choice of coolers.  But, depending how you much you decide to overclock and hardcore gaming, any case or cooler could exceed the cooling capacity and eventually overheat.

My minor complaints:  1. The fans that come with it are a little noisy, but not terrible.
2. The case is not heavy duty steel, but not too lightweight either.  I think most cases today are more flimsy than what I remember from just a years ago.
3. The top USB posts are at a curved angle and could be a little awkward to access depending on your case location.
4. The fan grate on top does not prevent something small like a cord from falling in.  (My headset cord fell into the fan before - no damage, but annoying)
5. For the headset jack on the top, I have to push my headset jack all the way in then pull it out one notch.  Not sure if that is just my headset, normal, or a case problem, but something I live with.

Regardless, I think it is a very good case for the money and would give it 4 out of 5 eggs.

Question 5

Does this case include standoffs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it does include standoffs. Make sure they included enough drive rails though. I was short one pair . If not, Antec will send them to you.

Question 6

I am a little confused as to whether or not this case supports a top-mounted 120x240mm radiator for liquid cooling. Some people have said yes, others have said no. Which is correct, and which models are supported?

Accepted Answer

Nice case and it does have routing holes for a liquid cooling radiator hoses, unfortunately with the two fans on the top of the case to pull air out, I can't see where you would mount a 120 sized unit without cutting on the top or pulling the two fans+cover assembly.  Since the power supply is bottom mounted, if you were willing to pull the top rear fan.

The gx700 model says that it accomodates the kind of radiator you are referring to.

Question 7

Does this Case fit all sizes of motherboards?

Accepted Answer

This case supports up to full ATX. However it does not fit more than 1 large(12in), double slot, GPU, such as a Radeon R9 290.

Question 8

Is there any place to get a digital manual for this?  I went to Antec's website, and I couldn't find one for the GX500.

Accepted Answer

Still looking for a manual, the GX500 is not even listed on Antec's website.

Specifically, looking for instructions on how to mount the 3.5" hard drive to the case. Is there some extra brackets that should have come with the case? I did not receive any hardware besides screws...

Question 9

Will this case support an ATX motherboard? This case is NOT on the Antec site yet and format of motherboards supported is not stated in Newegg anywhere I could find.

Accepted Answer

It should, in the video review done by Newegg Joanne tells us what types of motherboards this case supports at around the 5:20 mark.

Question 10

Can water cooling be done somehow with this case, and if so, can anyone recommend a particular product that would allow me to do this?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the video card set up, it may be a pretty tight fit in this case. It's possible but I'd go with one of the smaller liquid cooling systems like maybe the H50 or H60 Corsair? I wouldn't try going bigger than a 120MM fan though. Again, even that will be a bit of a tight squeeze.

Questions & Answers