Antec ISK 310-150

If you´re looking for a Mini-ITX case for your new "high-efficiency" platform the Antec ISK 310-150 might be the right product for your needs. In 2009, some Mini-ITX motherboards were launched based on the Intel Atom platform. Antec quickly response was the ISK 300-65. At this moment, many other brands like Zotac, ECS, ASUS or even ASRock have taken the Mini-ITX market and expanded it to make the HTPCs powerful and affordable. There was still a limiting since many products offered low power PSUs (65 watts is simply not enough). If you want a Mini-ITX H55 paired with the Intel Core i3/Core i5 CPUs you need at least a 150 watts PSU to make sure you won´t have power-related problems. Benchmark Reviews tests the Antec ISK 310-150 which offers a new, elegant front finish with a 150 watts Flex-ATX PSU to power your system.

The ISK 310-150 is based on the first model: The Antec ISK 300-65. This product in particular was presented as one of the first Mini-ITX cases available for the ION platforms. The 310 number means they added a different front looks, and the 150, of course, means they changed the 65 watts PSU for a 150 watts Flex-ATX PSU. In our recent G.Skill ECO memory review, we added some power consumption results with a Mini-ITX motherboard and the ECS H55H-I motherboard. You might want to have a look at the results (see here) to understand that the Core i3 platform paired with a Flex-ATX PSU consumes no more than 100 watts at full load with the right components. By right components I mean a SLIM Optical drive and 2.5" HDDs with a low power PSU. If you use a high-end 700 watts PSU you won´t get the effectiveness you want for this kind of systems. So, basically, all the components I´ve mentioned here are needed to build a Mini-ITX PC with the Antec ISK 310-150 and they perfectly fit for this review.

Let´s have a look at the Antec ISK 310-150 Mini-ITX chassis to check the interior and exterior features. Finally, this could end being your next chassis for the HTPC you´ve been planning for months. Remember that if you´re looking for a HTPC with an ION-based system you might want to look the ISK 300-65 , since you won´t ever need more than 40-50 watts. Also, Antec launched the ISK 300-150, which is the same model as this one but with a black front finish similar to the ISK 300-65 for $5 USD less.

Antec ISK 310-150 Features

• Power supply: 150-watt power supply
• Silver front bezel
• Cooling system: 1 x side 80mm TriCool 3-speed exhaust fan
• 3 drive bays: External 1 x 5.25" slim optical bay, Internal 2 x 2.5" HDD bays
• 1 half-height expansion slot
• Mini-ITX motherboard: 170mm (W) x 170mm (L)
• Convenient front ports: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA, Audio (AC'97 and HDA compatible) In and Out
• 0.8mm cold rolled steel frame for durability
• Case dimensions: 96mm (H) x 222mm (W) x 328mm (D), 3.8" (H) x 8.7" (W) x 12.9" (D)
• Packaging dimensions: 295mm (H) x 380mm (W) x 195mm (D), 11.6" (H) x 15" (W) x 7.7" (D)
• Net weight: 5.5 lb / 2.5 kg
• Gross weight: 8.3 lb / 3.8 kg

About the company: Antec Inc

Antec, Inc. is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.

Antec's offering of enclosures includes a large range of cases, such as its technically advanced Performance One Series, cost-effective New Solution Series and server grade cases designed for the needs of all workstation and server markets. Antec's products also include front line power supplies such as its Signature Series, TruePower Quattro series, NeoPower series, and EarthWatts, the most environmentally friendly power supply available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are geared toward the gaming demographic, like the Twelve Hundred, the premier gamer enclosure. Antec also offers a computing accessories line comprised of many original products, including its patented LED Fans and Notebook Cooling solutions.

Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands as well in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. The company's products are sold in more than 30 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.

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