Antec Performance One P280 Midtower Case Review

External Impressions of the Antec P280

The P280 looks like the Performance One cases of the past. It has clean sides with an anodized aluminum door. Unlike the case before it, the power and reset buttons are on top the case. No more having to open the door to turn the system on.

With the power and reset buttons on the top of the case there is less need to open and close the door all the time. The front I/O panel is also accessible without opening the door. The front I/O panel consists of HD Audio ports, two USB2, and two USB3 ports.

When you do need to open it, the door can swing completely around to the side. The door is held open and closed with magnets. On the inside of the door is foam sound damping material.

Below the 5.25″ bays is the front intake filter. Behind the filter are spots to mount two 120mm fans.

With the door closed there is about 1/2″ gap for air to be pulled in from the sides of the door.

At the very top are two 120mm Antec TwoCool fans setup as exhaust fans. Our P280 has silver screws on the top fans, but this will be changing to black based on the feedback of Legit Reviews to Antec.

The sides of the P280 are both solid with no windows or fans, but there is something different.

The lower vent screen for the power supply slides out the side of the case, not the rear. Depending on how your case sets in/on your desk this could be good or bad. For me, the way I have the case on my desk, it’s a good thing. No more having to slide the case out or tip in and up to pull the screen out the back of the case.

Round back the P280 has a single 120mm rear exhaust fan, just above that is the individual speed controls for the top and rear fans.

The P280 sports 9 vented expansion slots, and also has two water cooling tube pass though holes. There is also a large vent that runs the entire height of the right side of the case. This is to the space behind the motherboard.

Looking at the bottom of the case there are four case feet and the single vent for the power supply.

Each of the case feet snap into the case frame, and have a white silicon insert glued into it. The silicon takes up vibrations from the system and also helps prevent the case from sliding around.