HTPC case showdown: Antec Fusion Black v SilverStone GD01MX (plus SilverStone MFP51) - REVIEW

Adam Turner
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 10:07

Your IT - Entertainment

If you're struggling to choose between the Antec Fusion Black and SilverStone GD01MX, you need to know that Antec has seriously short-changed customers when it comes to the built-in SoundGraph LCD.

For a start, the Antec doesn't come with the iMON PAD remote control and you can't buy one separately because Antec only supplies a stripped-down version of the iMon software that only works with a standard MCE remote control. Even if you can get your hands on a full version of the software it refuses to work with the Antec. The bad news doesn't stop there. The Antec software isn't compatible with third party plugins such as FrontView. The Antec's LCD also has a deep blue tinge which makes it much harder to read and looks out of place. After enjoying the full benefits of the SoundGraph gear in the SilverStone case, we find it incredible that Antec would go out of their way to screw up the Fusion Black's LCD so badly.

At first glance the Antec Fusion Black looks like the ultimate media centre case, but the knobbled LCD readout and lack of remote are major disappointments. Antec have really dropped the ball here, seriously compromising what should have been a must-have home theatre case. While the SilverStone GD01MX may not look quite as elegant or be as well designed, it certainly delivers the goods and offers a little more head room for those who want to try cards with big heatsinks like Gigabyte's new ATI Radeon 2600 XT.

If you want the best of both worlds, consider Antec's silver NSK2400 case - the exact same case as the Fusion but with a 380W PSU and missing the LCD and volume knob. Put the savings towards buying the SoundGraph LCD seperately in the form of SilverStone's MFP51 LCD and remote package. Lounge room nerdvana awaits.

Antec's Fusion Black case retails for $AU308, for more details visit www.antec.com

SilverStone's GD01MX case retails for $AU299, for more details visit www.silverstonetek.com

SilverStone's MFP51 LCD and remote retails for around $US100, for more details visit www.silverstonetek.com