PC Magazine's Jim Louderback and Extreme Tech's Loyd Case are both big fans of Antec's cases--and with good reason. Over the years, the Fremont-based computer component company has earned the praise of DIYers largely because of its unflinching attention to detail and simplicity.

On Friday, system builders got another reason to get excited when the company added a new face to its popular Performance One line of cases, the P182. Resembling the black monolith out of "2001: A Space Odyssey," the P182 is nothing if not sleek and refined. With a new gunmetal black finish and water pipe holes for an externally mounted water-cooling system, the case is being aimed at those who want their computers running cool and quiet, period.

According to the company, the P182 is fitted with grommeted water pipe holes for externally mounted water-cooling radiators, three TriCool 120mm fans to keep the system running cool and quiet, and an optional middle fan that can be positioned to cool VGA cards. Then there's the external fan control for the top and rear fans so that users can adjust the speeds as desired.

Worried about noise? Antec's got you covered there too. The P182 includes silent computer features so that even with all those fans your computer will only whisper while in operation. The three-layer side panels and a front door made of aluminum and plastic reduce system-generated noise, according to Antec, and a separate chamber for the power supply also aids in reducing system noise by keeping the power supply cooler and enabling its dedicated fan to run at lower speeds.

Add to all that eleven drive bays supporting a wide variety of drives, a double-hinged door opens at 270 degrees for easy access to internal components, and you've got yourself one sweet case. For $169, it can be yours.

Post by Bryan Gardiner