14 DAY TRIAL // It takes a full tower to hold a full-ATX motherboard, or a particularly carefully constructed mid-tower, but there are two larger types of motherboard that none but the largest of cases can hold: E-ATX and XL-ATX.
E-ATX motherboards are as long as ATX ones but are wider across, while XL-ATX are longer (longer down as it were) but no wider than the usual platform.
A very rough distinction really, but one that nonetheless precludes the use of any normal mid-tower and full-tower enclosures when building systems.
Thus it is that the Antec P380 joins a company made of rather thin ranks, so to speak. Then again, it's not like there are many E-ATX or XL-ATX motherboards in the world to begin with.
The Antec P380 chassis
Displayed openly during the 2015 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015), the case is made of SECC steel, or at least the frame is. The black panels are made of high-density polycarbonate, kind of like faux aluminum really.
They have a dual purpose. Looking good while keeping the ugly hardware hidden from sight is one of them, obviously, but the other one is to act as noise insulators.
There are eight 3.5-inch drive bays inside the chassis, all of which can hold 2.5-inch drives just fine as well. They are divided into two cages, though not of equal size.
The bottom cage is also the largest, with 6 trays, and can be detached in case you need to install a particularly long video card (465 mm / 18.30 inches in length).
Even with the cages in place, the top length is 350 mm / 13.77 inches, which means that you probably won't have to even think about removing the drive bays.
There are only two 5.25-inch bays, near the top, but they should be enough for an optical drive and maybe a fan controller. With the kind of system expected to be housed in this thing, you're likely to have lots of them worth controlling directly. Unless you go for liquid cooling.
Speaking of which, the Antec P380 has room for a 360 mm x 120 mm top radiator and a second one along the front panel. A 120 mm rear exhaust fan is included.
Finally, there is a front I/O panel with a pair of USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0/1.1 ports, and standard HDA audio jacks.
Availability and pricing
Antec should release the P380 chassis in February or March, but its price has not been stated anywhere. Alas.
