Tom's Hardware Verdict
Antec’s P82 Silent isn’t an exciting chassis, but sometimes that’s exactly what you’re after: understated looks and great acoustic performance at a very friendly price point. On that front, this chassis delivers.
Pros
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Understated looks
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Includes 3 quality fans & fan controller
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Performs beyond expectations
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Excellent acoustic performance
Cons
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Unnecessary complications with fasteners
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Fan controller switch feels sludgy
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No top radiator mount
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware
Antec used to be one of the world’s great PC case makers, but in 2021 they’re no longer on the forefront of the chassis industry. They’re still a presence, but rather than focusing on premium, silence-focused cases, the company seems to have somewhat lost track of what it’s trying to accomplish.
But not with the P82 Silent – this new chassis might not be a premium offering, but it is a case that focuses on acoustics, paired with a pleasantly simple design. Is it good enough for our Best PC Cases list? Read on for the full details, but if you’re after a quiet, non-flashy build and don’t want to spend more than $60, the P82 is tough to beat.
Specifications
Type | Mid-Tower ATX |
Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX (280 mm) |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | 18.8 x 8.5 x 17.9 inches (480 x 215 x 454 mm) |
Max GPU Length | 15.1 inches (380 mm) |
CPU Cooler Height | 6.9 inches (178 mm) |
Max PSU Length | 8.3 inches (220 mm) |
External Bays | ✗ |
Internal Bays | 2x 3.5-inch |
Row 8 - Cell 0 | 2x 2.5-inch |
Expansion Slots | 7x |
Front I/O | 2x USB 3.0, 3.5 mm Audio/Mic Combo |
Other | Fan Controller |
Front Fans | 2x 120 mm (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm) |
Rear Fans | 1x 120mm (Up to 1x 120mm) |
Top Fans | None |
Bottom Fans | None |
Side Fans | ✗ |
RGB | No |
Damping | Yes |
Warranty | 1 Year |
Features
Touring around the outside of the chassis, there’s really nothing exciting going on. The case is clad in painted steel panels, with no tempered glass to be found anywhere. Nor is there RGB, or any other fancy design elements.
The most aggressive element is at the top of the chassis, where you can spot the intake grille for air, which stretches down the right side of the front panel and the bottom. Also, notice that there is no top exhaust, as this would be a noise leak. The front panel is also shut on the left, again, shielding the user from noise.
Front IO is placed on the left of the front panel, along a piano black trim piece, featuring two USB 3.0 ports and discrete headphone and mic jacks. There’s no USB Type-C here, but that’s alright, given the case sells for less than $70. Below the IO you’ll spot controls for a three-speed fan controller, though it has to be said, its action is quite sludgy – heavy, and very cheap feeling.
Internal Layout
Turn to the interior of the case and you’ll again find very little worth calling otu. There’s room for an ATX board, big graphics cards, and along the reverse side a big power supply and a handful of drives.
There’s not a ton of space for cable management, nor a lots of cutouts for cable tie points – but this is clearly a case meant for simpler systems so chances are you won’t care.
What is nice to see here is the acoustic padding on the side panels. It’s not the thickest or heaviest, but should be adequate enough to absorb some high-frequency noises if the damping performance of the P10 Flux is anything to go by. Again, the days of tank-heavy Antec ‘Performance’ series cases with triple-layer side panels are over.
Cooling
For cooling, Antec provides three 120mm fans – two in the front and one as exhaust. A magnetic air filter is also provided, though it looks restrictive so I’m curious what cooling performance will be like. especially with the closed front panel. You won’t be able to mount a radiator at the top of this case, but up to a thin 360mm unit will fit at the front.
Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.
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JoBalz I used to use Antec cases exclusively back in the 1990s, but as case design improved in the 2000s, I haven't used one in about two decades. Now, this is the first one I've seen in all that time I like! Clean design, generally nice, open layout internally (prior cases have had many 3.5 and 5.25 inch drive bases, too many times immovable). Provisions for cable management, a PSU shroud, nice features. The one feature I've had a problems finding a case with is the side-mount power/reset buttons and USB ports. I set my mid-tower on my desk, not the floor, so side mounted buttons and ports are far more convenient than the top-mounted ones you find on a large percentage of cases (even front mounted ones are getting harder to find on tower cases).Reply
I did have to laugh at the amount of space this reviewer gave to the "issue" of a full complement of standoffs not being installed. Standoff tool? Back until the last decade, most cases did not install the standoffs at all, they were in a bag and you installed the ones required for your motherboard. Standoff tools? Those were called your fingers, or worst case, pliers. Just have to shake your head over what some people have issues with.
The case may not be perfect, but for my needs, this case would work perfectly and the price is practically a steal! I do keep hoping Antec will improve their case design team, they used to make great, well-designed cases at a good price point.