Performance TestsIn the chart below we’ll use abbreviations to explain how the case fans configuration was; these setups were tested:
- R= Rear 120mm fan
- T = Top 120mm fan
- B = Bottom 120m fan
- F = Optional Front 120mm fan
Rear 120mm / Top 120mm @ Low and Bottom 120mm @ Medium. (Antec default configuration)
Rear 120mm / Top 120mm @ Low and Bottom 120mm @ Low. (Bottom fan needed for HDD cooling?)
Rear 120mm / Top 120mm @ Medium and Bottom 120mm @ Medium. (A good balance performance/noise?)
Rear 120mm / Top 120mm @ High and Bottom 120mm @ High. (Going all out, everything set to high speed.)
Rear 120mm / Top 120mm @ Low and Bottom 120mm @ Low + Front optional 800rpm fan installed.
To get more air to the VGA card we installed a Noctua 800rpm fan, it won’t add noise to the case, but will force air to the VGA card area; for the fan to fit we had to remove the top HDD bay, and snap the 120mm fan inside the provided bracket:
We compare the results with the best performance/noise results obtained with the other cases:
First things first: this case is silent! You have to set the fans to high speed to notice them, at medium speed they are but a whisper, at low settings they are less than 1 dBA over ambient… impressive result!
Performance wise the Antec P182B does ok in our books, CPU cooling at lower case fan speeds is less than what the competition (and their own Nine Hundred) offers, VGA cooling is excellent though, at high fan speed it’s the best on the block, at low fan speed it’s on par with the rest, adding a very silent fan in front drops VGA temps by ~2°C.
The bottom 120mm fan does serve a purpose for keeping the HDDs cool, between the low & high setting a ~5°C drop can be observed, but when the HDD is running at 32°C at low setting, there is nothing to worry about, and the fan can easily be removed to make way for better cable management.
Conclusive Thoughts
Antec set out to improve the Performance One P180 enclosure and they succeeded in their goal, the P182B is an improvement with better cable management capabilities and easier fan speed control at the back. Those into water cooling will appreciate the precut holes for tubes. Everything is not perfect though, improvements in the lower compartment of the case are necessary to allow larger power supplies and their cables to fit, without interfering airflow; the standard bottom 120mm fan is not really needed in our opinion.
The Performance One P182B lives up to its name, partly, noise wise it’s one of the quietest enclosures tested ever, but temperatures of the components were also a bit on the high side, you can’t have both ways it seems? (Very low temps + very low noise).
With an estimated retail price of ~$120 / ~€120, the Antec Performance One P182 offers a lot of value for your money, allowing high end hardware to remain cool and quiet inside, and it’s got sleek looks to boot!
The Antec P18x series truly offers a novel approach to PC cases and cooling, with working noise blocking/reducing features and wire management; we recommend it heartily to anyone seeking to build a silent high end system, but even a mid/lower end system should not shy away, taking into account its attractive price tag.
Antec Performance One P182
Recommended for
We thank Mafalda from Antec to allow us to test their product, until next time.
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook