Sonata Case Defective

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

This is to be my first homebuilt system. When I opened the
new Antec Sonata case, the fan was lying loose inside. The
rubbery things that fasten it to the case had all broken off.

The Antec parts bag has 4 more of those rubbery "screws" so
I figured I could re-attach the fan. However, I want to make
sure it's exhausting and not intaking - so I figured I'd hook it
up to the case power supply and see which way it turns.

But the power supply shows no sign of life when it's plugged
in and turned on. So, my question is - should the power supply
be able to run even when not hooked up to a motherboard?

Thanks!
Newbie CapeGuy

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

No - you may damage the power supply by plugging it in without a load.
This is true of all switching power supplies.

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <E2GFd.151128$AL5.146486@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, CapeGuy says...
>
>This is to be my first homebuilt system. When I opened the
>new Antec Sonata case, the fan was lying loose inside. The
>rubbery things that fasten it to the case had all broken off.
>
>The Antec parts bag has 4 more of those rubbery "screws" so
>I figured I could re-attach the fan. However, I want to make
>sure it's exhausting and not intaking - so I figured I'd hook it
>up to the case power supply and see which way it turns.
>
>But the power supply shows no sign of life when it's plugged
>in and turned on. So, my question is - should the power supply
>be able to run even when not hooked up to a motherboard?
>
>Thanks!
> Newbie CapeGuy
>
>

I don't think you should worry since the same thing happened to me with the
first Sonata that I built. Antec was even kind enough to send me replacements
for the rubber screws.

If the fans are still the same as mine, the side with the sticker should face
the outside of the case. Be careful when attaching, pulling them through gently
until the lip catches on the grill.

Go here for a better look.

http://groups.msn.com/DesperadosHome/sonatabuild.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=843

Ed

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

All ATX power supplies give a small "keep alive" voltage to the
motherboard which in turn gives the power supply its wake up call when
you press the momentary contact switch on the front panel.

It is possible to turn on the PS by shorting two connections, but a
better way is to get a PS tester. I purchased one from CompUSA for not
much money. This includes a dummy load which keeps the PS levels in
check. Also I suggest plugging in a load like the CD- player/burner.

Then power up the case fan and see which way it blows.

Before all of this, some fans have an arrow molded in showing the
direction of rotation and air flow.


CapeGuy wrote:

> This is to be my first homebuilt system. When I opened the
> new Antec Sonata case, the fan was lying loose inside. The
> rubbery things that fasten it to the case had all broken off.
>
> The Antec parts bag has 4 more of those rubbery "screws" so
> I figured I could re-attach the fan. However, I want to make
> sure it's exhausting and not intaking - so I figured I'd hook it
> up to the case power supply and see which way it turns.
>
> But the power supply shows no sign of life when it's plugged
> in and turned on. So, my question is - should the power supply
> be able to run even when not hooked up to a motherboard?
>
> Thanks!
> Newbie CapeGuy
>
>

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"CapeGuy" <brightfan@cape.us> wrote:

>But the power supply shows no sign of life when it's plugged
>in and turned on. So, my question is - should the power supply
>be able to run even when not hooked up to a motherboard?

As the other reply said, No, false alarm. The power supply is fine. Try
to relax, heheh.

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Thank you all. Seeing that the shipping case must have
been jarred pretty hard in order for all of the fan mounts
to break, I guess I was perhaps overly worried about
the power supply.

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ed_" <eddie4664deletethis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cs7od4023hl@drn.newsguy.com...
>
> I don't think you should worry since the same thing happened to me with
the
> first Sonata that I built. Antec was even kind enough to send me
replacements
> for the rubber screws.
>
> If the fans are still the same as mine, the side with the sticker should
face
> the outside of the case. Be careful when attaching, pulling them through
gently
> until the lip catches on the grill.
>
> Go here for a better look.
>
>
http://groups.msn.com/DesperadosHome/sonatabuild.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=843

Ed, I notice that you added a second fan to the Sonata.
Did you find that it made any significant difference in
either cooling or noise?

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <uXJFd.137185$Uf.137129@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, CapeGuy says...
>
>"Ed_" <eddie4664deletethis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:cs7od4023hl@drn.newsguy.com...
>>
>> I don't think you should worry since the same thing happened to me with
>the
>> first Sonata that I built. Antec was even kind enough to send me
>replacements
>> for the rubber screws.
>>
>> If the fans are still the same as mine, the side with the sticker should
>face
>> the outside of the case. Be careful when attaching, pulling them through
>gently
>> until the lip catches on the grill.
>>
>> Go here for a better look.
>>
>>






>http://groups.msn.com/DesperadosHome/sonatabuild.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=843
>
>Ed, I notice that you added a second fan to the Sonata.
>Did you find that it made any significant difference in
>either cooling or noise?
>
>


Well, I did it because I'm paranoid about hard drives overheating but it did
bring down the overall case temp by 3 degrees, although all 4 of the Sonatas
that I built cooled very well anyway.

As far as noise, I did use low rpm fans and I noticed no noise increase at all.

I like that case a lot but I do wish Antec would change the front fan design to
make it similar to the SuperLanboy or the SLK3700 and up the power supply to at
least a 450 or a 480.

BTW, don't mount the front fan until you get the mobo in and settled. It's a
little tight in there.

Ed

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"CapeGuy" <brightfan@cape.us> writes:
....
>Ed, I notice that you added a second fan to the Sonata.
>Did you find that it made any significant difference in
>either cooling or noise?

I've seen a few postings about replacing the Sonata case fan with
one rated 4-6 dB quieter. Has anyone done a side-by-side comparison
to see whether that is enough to really notice, louder or quieter,
when cpu fan and drives are adding to the overall noise?

I saw some Anandtech postings where someone found his drives ran
hotter in a Sonata. That led to a bunch of contradictory opinions
and no clear answer. My first reaction was remembering people
saying that bolting the drive to the drive cage acted like a heat
sink to keep a drive cooler. But the Sonata insulates the drive
from the metal of the cage with the rubber grommets, to cut down
noise and likely heat flow too. I've been staring at my cheap
ComPUSA (flat dual fan bolt on) drive cooler and trying to figure
out if it is feasible to fit that into the Sonata drive cage without
using hammer or tin snips, and how much that might contribute to
noise. Or how I might swap out the cage and mount a large heat
sink to attach the drive to.

Any experience with either of these.
thanks

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ed_" <eddie4664deletethis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cs7rh402c0m@drn.newsguy.com...
>
> I like that case a lot but I do wish Antec would change the front fan
design to
> make it similar to the SuperLanboy or the SLK3700 and up the power supply
to at
> least a 450 or a 480.

What are you doing that would require more than the 380 watts
the Sonata now provides? I'm planning on putting 3 HDD's in
there, but AFAIK each only requires about 10 watts.

How much power draw is there for RAM? I'll be putting 2 GB
on the Asus A8V Deluxe, as 4 x 512 MB.

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <qDSFd.151711$AL5.55094@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, CapeGuy says...
>
>"Ed_" <eddie4664deletethis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:cs7rh402c0m@drn.newsguy.com...
>>
>> I like that case a lot but I do wish Antec would change the front fan
>design to
>> make it similar to the SuperLanboy or the SLK3700 and up the power supply
>to at
>> least a 450 or a 480.
>
>What are you doing that would require more than the 380 watts
>the Sonata now provides? I'm planning on putting 3 HDD's in
>there, but AFAIK each only requires about 10 watts.
>
>How much power draw is there for RAM? I'll be putting 2 GB
>on the Asus A8V Deluxe, as 4 x 512 MB.
>
>

I didn't say that I needed or required more power, just that I would like to see
Antec change a few things on this case.

Needless to say, the Sonata is one of the most popular and most frequently
discussed and reviewed computer cases on today's market. Almost everyone who
has either owned one or built a system in one has opinions on the pros and the
cons on this case and I am no different. My opinions are based on the fact that
this case design is a few years old now and is still very popular among
builders. Since power requirements are continuing to increase, if Antec wants
to continue to offer this case, they should consider some changes, rather than
discontinuing the model and introducing a replacement.

I also think that there has been enough negative discussion on the location of
the front fan to constitute a change in the location. While many builders and
users agree that a front fan in today's computers is an absolute necessity,
hardly anyone likes the present design of the Sonata's front fan.

Is Antec aware of this? Of course they are, hence the design change on the
SuperLanboy and the P-160, cases that were introduced after the Sonata that use
the same hard drive cage design. Why didn't they make changes to the Sonata?

While the PS is quite adequate for my needs, there is no doubt that systems are
now becoming increasingly power hungry. The 380 may or may not be adequate for
your needs or the needs of any future upgrades that you make to your system.
I'm sure that someone more knowledgeable about power requirements could analyze
your needs much better than I and I would suggest that you post the full list of
components, including your video card, and let someone here critique it.

All in all, I think that you will really like this case. The four that I built
have all gone to family or friends and they are very happy with them. I
recently offered an upgraded build to my daughter, who graciously declined
unless I was willing to relocate it to "her Sonata".

Ed