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Published: November 14, 2008 | Source: Antec | Author: Rich Weatherstone

Antec Skeleton

Specification
 
Being a totally new design, the specification list is very important as it does differ slightly from what can be used with an ‘enclosure’ such as this:
 
 
• 4 Drive Bays
 
– External 2 x 5.25”
– Internal 2 x 3.5”
– Optional 4 x 3.5” side panel mounted drive trays
 
• Layered tray design for greater system
integration flexibility
 
• 7 Expansion Slots including room for 11” video cards
 
• Cooling System:
– 1 top 250mm TriCool 3-speed multi color customizable LED Fan
– 1 front 92mm HD cooling fan
 
• Motherboard: Standard ATX
– 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x FireWire (IEEE1394)
– 1 x eSATA,
– Audio (AC97’ and HDA compatible) In and Out Enclosures
 
• Material
– 0.8mm cold rolled steel for durability with reinforced plastic frame
 
• Side Rails
– Rack mount quality side rails for greater durability
 
• Power Supply
– No Power Supply included: To optimize performance of your Skeleton, your choice of power supply is crucial. Antec strongly recommends choosing from Signature or TruePower series.
 
• Unit Dimensions:
– 13”(H) x 14.8”(W) x 16.5”(D)
– 31.75 cm(H) x 37.6 cm(W) x 41.9 cm(D)
 
• Packaging Dimensions:
– 15.74″(H) x 18.11″(W) x 18.89″(D)
– 40 cm(H) x 46 cm(W) x 48 cm(D)
 
• Net Weight: 15.5 lb / 7.02 kg
 
• Gross Weight: 21.4 lb / 9.7 kg
 
Note that this product is not aluminium. I was a little disappointed with this as due to the requirements of the potential buyer I thought it would be directed at either someone who intends to use this at a LAN or someone who often changes components. Plastic, reinforced or not, will not give the same durability as aluminium as I do worry about the potential for snapped framework during constant swapping of hardware or lugging it to your gaming clans LAN event. Obviously, using aluminium would add to the cost of the Skeleton but I think this would be money well spent if it meant that the enclosure lasted a lot longer than the plastic currently used.
 
Steel is also used instead of aluminium which saves on cost again but this time at the detriment of weight. Weighing in a shade over 9KG (bare enclosure) this enclosure is by no means lightweight. Antec it seems, is still happy for you to carry the case by the steel reinforced plastic  shell, even when fully laden with expensive hardware so they must have some faith in the design. Personally, I would not trust hundreds of pounds worth of kit to two strips of steel reinforced plastic and would prefer to use something more substantial.
 
Let’s not judge the enclosure quite yet, at least until we have seen the case in the bone (a skeleton doesn’t have flesh!)…
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