Antec DF-35 Dark Fleet Computer Case

Written by David Ramsey

Wednesday, 07 July 2010

Article Index
Antec DF-35 Dark Fleet Computer Case
Closer Look: Dark Fleet Exterior
DF-35 Detailed Exterior Features
Closer Look: Dark Fleet Interior
DF-35 Detailed Interior Features
Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Page 1 of 6

Antec Dark Fleet DF-35 Computer Case Review

Antec is one of the premier computer accessory manufacturers, and their cases have garnered a well-earned reputation for quality and features. Indeed, the Antec "Hundred" series of cases (the Two Hundred, Three Hundred, Six Hundred, Nine Hundred, and Twelve Hundred) are considered by many to be the benchmarks in their classes for cost-effective enthusiast level cases. Antec has just introduced their new "Dark Fleet" series, with several new models sporting an edgier style than they've previously shown. Benchmark Reviews examines the mid-tower DF-35 case to see how it fares against the competition.

Antec's been around since the mid-80s, and has been making computer cases almost that long. They produce cases for servers, for HTPCs, and for your grandmother's e-mail and web browsing machine. They make cases with no discernible market (the Skeleton series) as well as cases for gamers and enthusiasts. The Dark Fleet series is "...designed to meet the cooling and convenience demands of PC gamers and professional users." Well, there are a lot of cases designed to meet those demands; Antec's Dark Fleet series brings new styling, hot-swappable drive bays, and some serious cooling to the show.

antec df-35 mid-tower computer case review

Antec DF-35 Features and Specifications

Two Fleet-Release access doors open separately for convenient entry to drives
Top-loaded 2.5" hot swap SATA (SSD-compatible) drive bay
Two washable fan filters allow for easy cleaning
Bottom-mounted power supply isolates heat
CPU cutout for easy installation of CPU coolers
Cable management compartment organizes cables discreetly
11 drive bays:
- Up to 6 x internal 3.5"
- 3 x external 5.25"
- 1 x top external 2.5" hot swap SATA drive bay
- 2 x internal 3.5" Fleet-Swap^TM SATA drive bays (position changeable)
- 1 x internal bottom-mounted 2.5" SSD bay
Advanced cooling system: - 1 x top 140mm TwoCool fan
- 1 x rear white 120mm TwoCool fans with white LED
- 2 x front variable-speed 120mm LED fans with white LED
- 1 x side 120mm fan for graphics cards (optional)
7 expansion slots
Maximum graphics card size: 11.5" / 292 mm
Stylish blacked-out interior
Windowed side panel
Front ports:
- 2 x USB 2.0
- Audio (AC'97 and HDA compatible) In and Out
Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX
Power supply not included
Unit Dimension
- 485mm (H) x 198mm (W) x 486mm (D)
- 19.1" (H) x 7.8" (W) x 19.1" (D)
Weight: 15.1 lb / 6.9 kg

About Antec Inc.

Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.

Antec's offering of enclosures includes a wide range of cases, such as its advanced Performance One Series, economical New Solution Series and VERIS family of media components designed for the home theater PC market. Antec's products also include front line power supplies, such as its premium Signature Series, powerful TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are designed for the gaming demographic, like the premier gamer enclosure: the Nine Hundred. Antec also offers a line of computer accessories comprising many original products, including its patented LED fans and notebook cooling solutions.

Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in Germany, China and Taiwan. The company's products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.

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Comments

# RE: Antec DF-35 Dark Fleet Computer Case — Adam 2010-07-08 04:23

Sweet mother of muffins that's ugly.

# Poor Design — Robert Johnson 2010-07-08 11:10

I have to agree with your review. Antec did not design this at all well and it is far overpriced. Antec needs to stop trying to figure out how to design PC cases and get feedback from gamers and other people that love to build their own PCs. If Antec doesn't watch out Cooler Master will steal all of their marketshare. If you decide to review the DF-85 I think you'll come to relatively the same conclusions that you did here

# RE: Poor Design — Servando Silva 2010-07-08 11:40

I have to agreee on this one. What's up with Antec's new cases?
Other revisions are in the oven :).

# Safety Requirements — Paul Parkinson 2010-07-08 13:31

The reason that the power supply is oriented with the fan pulling air from inside the case is based on producing a design that actually meets the required product safety requirements in place in the US and other countries around the world. Any chassis that orients the power supply to pull external air via an opening in the bottom of the case does not have a suitable fire enclosure. Power supplies do die and they do pop capacitors or catch on fire. The openings in the bottom of a chassis with the fan oriented fan down simply run the risk of dropping material out of the chassis that may cause a fire. These incidents do happen and people try to sue the power supply and chassis manufacturer. Antec is simply doing it correctly.

# RE: Safety Requirements — David Ramsey 2010-07-08 14:11

So, you're saying that all those other cases that _do_ have bottom ventilation holes are in violation of some "product safety requirement"? I would think if there were such a requirement then those cases couldn't be sold here.

# It does actually happen.... — BruceBruce 2010-07-08 15:53

Check out Austin's tale of woe here: #forum.benchmarkreviews.com/showthread.php?t=16145&highlight=damage

Also, Lian Li is using louvres on some of their new cases to reduce the risk: #benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=526&Itemid=61&limit=1&limitstart=3

# mr — Dale Lancaster 2010-07-25 13:02

3 x external 5.25" only 3? Don,t want supplied fans so to expensive case. pity would have bought this case. would replacing fans with new make be possible- Dale Lancaster

# RE: mr — David Ramsey 2010-07-27 08:13

You could replace the supplied fans, but you'd lose the integrated controllers built into the existing fans (as I mentioned in the review).

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