A Closer Look - Inside

On the inside, the Antec P82 is one of the simplest and cleanest-looking mid-tower cases I have seen in a while. That could be both good and bad as there are very specific openings along the edge of the motherboard, as well as two on the metal shroud. This means you will not be able to install anything bigger than an ATX board, for example, while many other choices out there these days allow for slightly more flexibility.


The same trend of a lack of things continues on the backside of the motherboard tray. Besides the large opening for the CPU cooler base, the internal cables are squeezed between the SSD mounting plate, which may hold two 2.5" drives, and the openings to the interior.


On the floor, underneath the shroud, is a basic cage which holds a single 3.5" tray. You may install a second 2.5" or 3.5" drive by taking the whole tray out. The contraption may also be moved towards the back of the chassis by about an inch, which gives you enough space for a thin 360 radiator in the front without sacrificing precious storage space.


Towards the rear, the PSU bay is pretty basic, with foam covered points on which the power supply will rest. Above that are the aforementioned seven expansion slots, with the very top slot already equipped with a removable cover. The 140 mm fan in the top looks pretty generic, but of appropriate quality, and like all other included units, it comes with a 3-pin header.


Looking at the ceiling, it becomes apparent that the whole top panel offers cooling support. The compact size of the case is why you cannot go for a 360 mm radiator here, as it would clash with the front and/or rear fans.


As the I/O is pretty standard, all the cables are of the usual fare, and naturally come sleeved in black.