• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Antec Sonata III

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer
Staff member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,043 (0.45/day)
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
System Name Meshlicious Monster
Processor Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s) MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s) Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software Windows 10 Home
The Antec Sonata III is continuing the line-up with new looks, interior layout and a very solid and highly efficient EarthWatts 500W power supply. All this for a mere $149 USD, so we take a real close look and fill it with some high end hardware to let you know how it holds up.

Show full review
 
Last edited by a moderator:

agarg

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Messages
3 (0.00/day)
I am amazed that no one on the web has pointed out a major defect in the Sonata III reviews. The two external 3.5 inch drive bays can not accept any HDD. The only item you can install is Floppy disk drive.

No one installs floppy disk drives these days and for Antec to expect that its buyers will install 2 FDD's is insane.

I have many other cases, including many from Antec. This is the first one I have come across that .... Shock me...... expects that customers will NEED to install 2 FDD's.
 

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer
Staff member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,043 (0.45/day)
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
System Name Meshlicious Monster
Processor Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s) MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s) Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software Windows 10 Home
I am amazed that no one on the web has pointed out a major defect in the Sonata III reviews. The two external 3.5 inch drive bays can not accept any HDD. The only item you can install is Floppy disk drive.

No one installs floppy disk drives these days and for Antec to expect that its buyers will install 2 FDD's is insane.

I have many other cases, including many from Antec. This is the first one I have come across that .... Shock me...... expects that customers will NEED to install 2 FDD's.

Hi agarg!

Welcome to the forums!

Well there are plenty of other 3.5 inch devices that can be installed. There are FDDs, Fan controllers, VFDs, Card Readers, USB Hubs...

Fact is, that Antec does not advertise the two slots as possible hard drive bays. Thus it is not a defect, but a lack of an additional feature.

cheers
DS
 

agarg

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Messages
3 (0.00/day)
Hi agarg!
Well there are plenty of other 3.5 inch devices that can be installed. There are FDDs, Fan controllers, VFDs, Card Readers, USB Hubs...
DS

Darksaber - I have to disagree. I bet you can not find any case on the market, other than this Antec Sonata III, which claims to have a 3.5 inch drive bay in its case and will not be able to take a HDD.

Even in case of Antec the all other cases don't have this defect. Just this one.

Try it and name one case from the market that has a 3.5 inch drive bay (internal or external) and will not accept a HDD.
 

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer
Staff member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,043 (0.45/day)
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
System Name Meshlicious Monster
Processor Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s) MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s) Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software Windows 10 Home
Antec only advertises the fact that this case can take 4 hard drives. No more. Thus no defect.

There are plenty of cases who do not offer you the possibilty to insert a hard drive into an external 3.5 inch bay. Having reviewed *a lot* of cases in my three years at TPU, trust me there are quite a few. I could dig some reviews up for you if you want.

My point still stands though. Antec advertises the following:
9 Drive Bays:
- 3 x 5.25" external drive bays
- 2 x 3.5" external drive bays
- 4 x 3.5" internal drive bays in individual trays with silicone grommets to absorb hard drive vibrations

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15137

Nowhere does it say, that the two external drive bays can be used for hard drives, they only imply (by being external), that you may install every external 3.5 inch device into these bays. Thus you cannot expect it to work (or in other words: you are not getting less than you are told). Sure, it would have been great to see that added functionality, but it is not something they promise you when buying the case, nor do they offer you this option anywhere.

cheers
DS
 

agarg

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Messages
3 (0.00/day)
Antec only advertises the fact that this case can take 4 hard drives. No more. Thus no defect.

There are plenty of cases who do not offer you the possibilty to insert a hard drive into an external 3.5 inch bay. Having reviewed *a lot* of cases in my three years at TPU, trust me there are quite a few. I could dig some reviews up for you if you want.

My point still stands though. Antec advertises the following:
9 Drive Bays:
- 3 x 5.25" external drive bays
- 2 x 3.5" external drive bays
- 4 x 3.5" internal drive bays in individual trays with silicone grommets to absorb hard drive vibrations

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15137

Nowhere does it say, that the two external drive bays can be used for hard drives, they only imply (by being external), that you may install every external 3.5 inch device into these bays. Thus you cannot expect it to work (or in other words: you are not getting less than you are told). Sure, it would have been great to see that added functionality, but it is not something they promise you when buying the case, nor do they offer you this option anywhere.

cheers
DS

Thanks Darksaber

How about naming ONE case from Antec besides Sonata III which will not accept a HDD in their external drive bay. Then may be you can name other reputable cases that have the same defect (err feature!!).

I am really surprised at how you are batting for Sonata III from an otherwise a great company. Sonata III has this defect, if you think about this objectively.
 

Jello77

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
1 (0.00/day)
Thanks Darksaber

How about naming ONE case from Antec besides Sonata III which will not accept a HDD in their external drive bay. Then may be you can name other reputable cases that have the same defect (err feature!!).

I am really surprised at how you are batting for Sonata III from an otherwise a great company. Sonata III has this defect, if you think about this objectively.

I think you need to look up the definition of defect. It's only a defect if Antec clams the drive bay can accommodate a 3.5" drive and then fails to do just that. It is a feature that Antec hasn't included in this case, and if that is a feature you require, you need to consider a different case. It doesn't make the case defective because you don't lilke the fact that it doesn't have this feature.

Thank you to Darksaber for the excellent review. However I do have one objection. You have note the the Power and Reset being behind the door as a con. I actually think this is a great feature. I'm looking for a case to build my sister a PC, and she has a duaghter which would jump at the first opportunity to use the computer and download all sorts of nasty things. I think it's a good privacy feature.

Otherwise, nice review.
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Messages
4,267 (0.70/day)
Location
Sanford, FL, USA
Processor Intel i5-6600
Motherboard ASRock H170M-ITX
Cooling Cooler Master Geminii S524
Memory G.Skill DDR4-2133 16GB (8GB x 2)
Video Card(s) Gigabyte R9-380X 4GB
Storage Samsung 950 EVO 250GB (mSATA)
Display(s) LG 29UM69G-B 2560x1080 IPS
Case Lian Li PC-Q25
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC892
Power Supply Seasonic SS-460FL2
Mouse Logitech G700s
Keyboard Logitech G110
Software Windows 10 Pro
Because of the bay covers? Having them 'open' never bothered me much - in fact they stay quite cool. Just install the drives (drilling new holes when necessary) and voila, two useful bays! :)
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
7,704 (1.22/day)
System Name Back to Blue
Processor i9 14900k
Motherboard Asrock Z790 Nova
Cooling Corsair H150i Elite
Memory 64GB Corsair Dominator DDR5-6400 @ 6600
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3090 Ultra FTW3
Storage 4TB WD 850x NVME, 4TB WD Black, 10TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
Display(s) 1x Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo and 1x Dell u2518d
Case Lian Li o11 DXL w/custom vented front panel
Audio Device(s) Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 -> DBX DriveRack PA+ -> Mackie MR8 and MR10 / Senn PX38X -> SB AE-5 Plus
Power Supply Corsair RM1000i
Mouse Logitech G502x
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platinum
Software Windows 11 x64 Pro
Benchmark Scores 31k multicore Cinebench - CPU limited 125w
I am really surprised at how you are batting for Sonata III from an otherwise a great company. Sonata III has this defect, if you think about this objectively.

There are quite a few big name cases out there that cannot take 3.5" hard drives in their external bay compartments.

As for the lack of the option, I can agree it would be nice if it would accept a hard drive for some and can be confusing to people who don't pay attention.

Beyond that all in all, as an owner of a Sonata III, it's a very clean nice case, I have owned numerous of all the Sonata cases.
 
Top