X Dreamer II vs Antec

sxc · TweakNOOB Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 65

which would anyone of you recommend (esp. you nathan)? was looking at some Antec cases, trying to look for one with the blowhole fan on top...just i heard about some problems with the x dreamer, but what would one recommend?

Google · Sponsor

-=Pyro-Psycho=- · Tweakafile Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 935 Location: TN

What kind of problems with the X-Dreamer II? I've got one, and even though its the first real case i've got, I love it. I haven't had any problems with it. It would be tough to find a case that looks and performs as good as this one does I believe. I got mine for $52 at newegg.
_________________
Love Is Not Enough...

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Antec is overly expensive and all you are paying for is the "Name Branding" in most cases. (pardon the pun)
_________________
Owner & Administrator
www.Tweaknews.net
www.Pocketbookpinch.com

hochoi · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 212 Location: auburn

The generic power supply is good. You do not need to change it except you want more power . I like this case. The only problem I want to understand is why the two front USB ports do not work? Did someone really use them? If yes, please help me .
_________________
ASUS P4P800 SE
3.0 Ghz Overclocking to 3.39 Ghz. (225Ghz)
Temp: Idle: 40F, Fan: 2600RPM, Max: 53F :)

Know little, learn slowly but still happy :)

mogur · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:17 am Post subject:

Check your jumpers for the 'USB device wake up' (see page 2-22 of manual). Some people had their p4p800 ship without any jumpers installed, while others report that they have them, guess it's the luck of the draw. Steal some jumpers from an old board, and you should have front usb.

PolarPyro · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject:

X-DREAMER II !!! It's teh best! It's especially kool at night with the lanpartay pro875!!
_________________

gk22coe · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 210 Location: TN

yep the x-dreamer II is a great great case!

The only thing i had to do to mine was flip the side window so the side fan would be directly on the vid card.
_________________
p4 3.0c @ 4ghz, Kingston hyperx pc3200 2X256 2-2-2-5 , abit ic7-g vdimm volt modded, Wd Raptor 36 gb
current games i'm playing : Counter Strike

[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:

Yep I did that too. And I also modded the front fan area to take a 120mm fan. Made for some good cooling, and was alot quieter than 4 60mm fans.
_________________
I tweaked and it tweaked back! So I Tweaked some more!

"Barney is like the Michael Jackson of PBS." - James Tybeerious

hochoi · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 212 Location: auburn

I have the jumpers at 1-2 position (the default). There are 3 places for USB ports. I checked all of them. Everything looks correct. Hmmm, no idea

_________________
ASUS P4P800 SE
3.0 Ghz Overclocking to 3.39 Ghz. (225Ghz)
Temp: Idle: 40F, Fan: 2600RPM, Max: 53F :)

Know little, learn slowly but still happy :)

knutsaac · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:44 pm Post subject:

Love my X-Dreamer II, too. Haven't tried the front USB ports, need to try them.
Only thing I didn't like about the case is NO INSTRUCTIONS. Ok for you vets, really a pain for a 1st time builder.

Frank
_________________
AMD 2500+ XP Barton (@2.19gHz/400FSB)
Abit NF7-S Ver2
2 x 512 dual channel Geil Golden Dragon PC3200 2-5-3-3 1T
PowerColor Radeon 9600 Pro
ThermalTake Silent Boost
2 x 80gig Hitachi SATA HDD
Antec True430
silver Aspire X-Dreamer II

pat0982 [LAST WARNING] · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject: like

hey i like the Black X-Dreamer II, but i was lookin for a full tower case, i got a mid size tower that i am lookin into changing into a server, and take my other computer makin upogrades and a new case...

what full tower case u all recomdend????????

pat

gk22coe · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 210 Location: TN

Chieftec Dragon?
_________________
p4 3.0c @ 4ghz, Kingston hyperx pc3200 2X256 2-2-2-5 , abit ic7-g vdimm volt modded, Wd Raptor 36 gb
current games i'm playing : Counter Strike

pat0982 [LAST WARNING] · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:53 pm Post subject: Chieftec Dragon?

Chieftec Dragon?
is that just a knock-off version of the antec case, casue it doesnt look as clean or something.. i dont know i was comparing them and for some reason the look just doesnt look the same

does anyone out there own a Chieftec Dragon and could they tell me what they thing about it..

thanks
pat

geekzta127 · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:59 pm Post subject:

chieftec dragon is a great choice.

i built a computer w/ the chieftec dragon(blue) for my brother. its great and plenty of space too.
No problems with front usb and firewire. works fine for me. also plenty of fans(5)

2 front fans and unlike the xdreamer II the opening in the front is more open(at bottom there is an opening for a filter(s) to fit in. 2 blow holes at back and one at the window.

gk22coe · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 210 Location: TN

yea i own a cheiftec dragon but i'm not using right now because my x-dreamer II has better airflow for my situation.

they are great for custom watercooling set ups because of all the space.

and the metal is much thicker then my x-dreamer II
_________________
p4 3.0c @ 4ghz, Kingston hyperx pc3200 2X256 2-2-2-5 , abit ic7-g vdimm volt modded, Wd Raptor 36 gb
current games i'm playing : Counter Strike

TheOldMan · TweakNOOB Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 10

purchased a boutique PC
P4 3.2
1GB Ram
2 - 80 GB Raid 0 SATA drives
X Dreamer II Case
Intel pb875 mb

I returned the first when every time I turned it on, if I had the slinghtest ESD when getting near the metalic ring that encases the power button, the bios would clear and the system wouldn't boot. This also toasted the LCD.

I received a completely new system but the manufacturer wouldn't change the case type and I have a similar problem. I've got a new surge protector,anti static mat, case up on a wooden table,and have checked the connections but can't find any obvious shorts. ESD on the metallic sides of the case is handled without a problem. Only the front metal ring is an issue.
I think the X Dreamer Case design with the metal front ring with LCD temperature sensor is prone to this ESD weakness. Going to try to get a replacement again. A real pain. It could have been a great system if it didn't use up 2 months with this problem. If anyone has had a similar problem with an X Dreamer case I'd like to give a clue to my vendor. Thanks.
_________________
_________________
TheOldMan

mogur · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:48 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear of your troubles, TOM. What a drag. I got bummed out when there was a one week delay on my system. That ring on the front is just chromed plastic, so it would be difficult to run a grounding wire to it. You might try shielding the bunch of wires leading from the bezel to the interior of the case, and make sure that none of them run near your bios chip. I've read a lot of good and a few bad reviews of this case, and never heard of this problem before. Weird. The only problem that I've had is that the usb door in front doesn't want to close anymore. But that doesn't bother me at all, I sort of like the looks of my pen drive sticking out of there anyway. I've wondered why the acrylic cases haven't been causing static problems, myself. Not to mention emi.

TheOldMan · TweakNOOB Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for the reply. The latest from my vendor is an offer to swap out the cases if I pay the shipping. I'm debating about just doing it myself but then I have a warranty issue. They also suggested I use it in a different house....... Not very practical.
_________________
TheOldMan

TheOldMan · TweakNOOB Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 10

I posted my question on another forum and got a reply that matches my situation. I'm glad i'm not going crazy. Hope it helps me get a resolution. See the post below.

Xinfinitum
Junior Member

Registered: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 5
Last December I purchased a computer from CyberPower with the X Dreamer Case.

I gave it to my parents for a Christmas Gift. They use the computer minimally so it took awhile to figure out what was going on with it.

It kept inexplicably rebooting. After trying to figure out if it was a driver problem or a memory problem I had them run it for several days in Safe Mode, using it as they normally would.

Because it kept running for several days they never physically touched the machine.

When I went over to do further testing I touched the front temperature guage and the system crashed and rebooted.

At that point I knew we had an engineering design flaw regarding ESD with the Dreamer case. The scenario closely matched the problems I had with the Digital Alpha Server 2000, 2gig machine, back in the mid 90's.

After removing the front panel along with all the wiring to the power and LEDs, temp guage, USB ports, etc. it still crashed when a static charge was applied to the metal of the front of the chassis.

It has finally gone back to Cyber Power and I picked up an inexpensive Dell for my parents instead.

The X Dreamer case needs to be re-engineered for static problems. My advice is to avoid purchasing a system with that case.
_________________
TheOldMan

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

odd...i own one and i put it together myself.......never had ONE problem with it, other than trying to figure out where to put the temp probe....lol
but thats my own ignorance......=]

Its beautiful and cheap....i love it
_________________

Nibber · TweakNOOB Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 1