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Antec, a global PC component manufacturer, has been a beloved brand among consumers in the PC case and power supply sectors since its establishment in 1986. In recent years, Antec has solidified its unique position in the PC case market by leading the trend of aquarium cases.
Aquarium cases are computer cases that feature tempered glass on the front and sides, offering a panoramic view of the interior, much like an aquarium. This design allows for a clear view of RGB lighting and internal components, maximizing the completeness of a PC build.
Today, we introduce the Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF, an innovative big tower aquarium case that combines curved tempered glass with a four-sided mesh design. It supports the BTF (Back To Future) motherboard, allowing for neat cable routing, making it a premium PC case.
Product Composition and Specifications
The specifications for the Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF Wood are as follows:
Product Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF |
| Form Factor | Full-Tower (Supports E-ATX) |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 303mm × 464mm × 476mm |
| Weight | Approx. 12.5kg |
| Supported Motherboards | E-ATX, ATX, ATX (Rear Connector), M-ATX, M-ATX (Rear Connector), ITX |
| Max VGA Length | 440mm |
| Max CPU Cooler Height | 175mm |
| Max PSU Length | 210mm |
| Key Features | – Curved Tempered Glass Panel – 4-Side Mesh Design – BTF Motherboard Support – Dual Chamber Structure – Natural Wood Front Panel |
The product includes the Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF case body, various screws and standoffs, four cable ties, a bottom fan bracket, and a product manual.
Design and Exterior Features
The Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF incorporates two major trends in the current PC case market: the aquarium case design offering a panoramic view and the luxurious feel of a front wood panel.
To address the chronic cooling performance issues of aquarium cases, Antec has introduced a four-sided mesh design. Unlike typical aquarium cases with a glass front, the C8 MESH CURVE BTF features perforations on the sides, top, bottom, and rear, ensuring ample airflow.
The top-mounted IO panel offers user convenience with two USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C port, and audio input/output jacks for connecting various devices.
A removable dust filter is applied to the bottom of the case. This filter can be easily removed without tools, making regular cleaning very convenient. It effectively blocks dust when using bottom intake fans.
Reflecting the recent wood case trend in the PC case market, a natural wood panel is applied to the right side of the front. The wood panel adds a warm and natural feel, and the combination of curved tempered glass and classic wood gives a luxurious and unique impression.
The curved tempered glass differs from traditional flat tempered glass, with a naturally curved transition from the front to the side. This curved glass can be easily removed by unscrewing two screws at the top.
The curved tempered glass allows for a natural view of the computer’s interior, and the RGB lighting gently spreads along the curve, providing a subtle effect.
Internal Structure and Expandability
The chassis of the Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF is made of thick steel plates ranging from 0.9T to 1.3T, boasting excellent durability. The main chassis, in particular, is 1.3T thick, safely supporting heavy, high-performance components.
As a big tower form factor, the interior space is very generous, supporting all motherboard sizes from large E-ATX to small ITX, and accommodating graphics cards up to 440mm in length. It can also house large CPU coolers up to 175mm in height, making it ideal for high-end system configurations.
This case can accommodate a total of 10 cooling fans on the top, bottom, sides, and rear, with the following specifications for each position:
Top: 120mm × 3, 140mm × 3, 160mm x 2
Bottom: 120mm × 3, 140mm × 3, 60mm x 2
Side: 120mm × 2, 140mm × 2
Rear: 120mm × 1, 140mm x 1
For liquid coolers, radiators up to 360mm can be mounted on the top, bottom, and sides, allowing for simultaneous installation of CPU and GPU liquid cooling products.
The case fully supports the BTF (Back To Future) motherboard, a next-generation cable management solution that relocates power connectors and various cable connections to the rear of the motherboard. The C8 MESH CURVE BTF provides openings in the motherboard tray for BTF connector passage, supporting neat cable routing.
The Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF features a dual chamber structure, separating the main area for the motherboard and graphics card from the auxiliary area for the power supply and storage. This design facilitates easy maintenance, such as heat separation and cable management.
There is ample space behind the side cooler mounting area (about 5cm) and for power cable storage (about 8.5cm), with six cable routing holes equipped with rubber grommets, making cable management very easy.
The power supply is installed in an independent space in the middle right, accommodating almost all ATX power supplies on the market up to 210mm in length.
Storage
The Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF can mount up to two 2.5-inch SSDs and one 3.5-inch HDD using a removable storage module tray. The hard disk tray features rubber dampers to minimize vibration and noise.
The Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF offers a single connector type front panel connector, integrating all front panel connections into one connector, significantly reducing assembly time compared to the traditional individual connector method.
System Installation
The true value of a big tower form factor is evident when building high-performance systems. It allows for the installation of large components like the latest RTX 5090 graphics card and 360mm liquid coolers without restrictions, with ample working space around the motherboard for easy component installation.
The dual chamber design makes cable management very convenient, allowing all power cables, including the 24-pin motherboard power cable, CPU 8-pin power cable, and PCIe power cables, to be neatly stored in the rear chamber, creating a tidy appearance.
The ability to mount up to 10 cooling fans on the top, bottom, sides, and rear is a major advantage of this case, satisfying both visual appeal with RGB coolers and cooling performance.
The view of the interior through the curved tempered glass is particularly attractive, with RGB lighting and high-performance components appearing more natural and three-dimensional through the curved glass.
Conclusion
The Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF is a next-generation aquarium case that perfectly combines all current trends in the PC case market. With its curved tempered glass, four-sided mesh design, BTF motherboard support, and luxurious wood panel application, it is a premium big tower case.
The support for 10 cooling fans offers excellent expandability for internal cooling systems, and the dual chamber design with ample cable routing space enhances assembly convenience, making it easy for beginners to assemble.
Despite being a big tower case for high-end systems, its price of around 170,000 KRW is quite attractive. We recommend the Antec C8 MESH CURVE BTF Wood case for those building high-performance gaming PCs.
