A successor to the Antec Nine Hundred, the Twelve Hundred too is intende,d for hard core gamers and server machines. However, this version is even more powerful than its predecessor, making it much more imposing. Its feature set and heat dissipation are comparatively superior. So, let's find out whether it lives up to the image.

FEATURES: The Twelve Hundred has plenty of room for air cirCUlation, thanks to the number of installed fans in the cabinet. Along with the 200 mm fan on top, the two 120 mm fans at the rear blow hot air out of the case and the controllers at the rear control their speeds. For fresh-air intake, the front panel houses three 120 mm fans which are equipped with air filters, these fans also have controllers
on the front panel of the case. The transparent side cover has a provision to install an inlet fan as well.

The three inlet fans occupy three 3.5¬inch bays each. These bays are actually
a result of the conversion of 5.25-inch to 3.5-inch bays. Therefore, there are three converters and nine 3.5-inch bays overall. For installing optical drives, there are
three vacant 5.25-inch bays at the top

If you want to install more optical drives or a watercooler, at least one of the fans needs to be sacrificed. This gives you three 5.25-inch bays. The front panel has an eSATA port and two USB ports, and audio jacks as well. If you have many installable hard drives as well as graphics cards and the existing number of fans, it's advisable to install at least an 800 or 1000 Watt PSU. Speaking of which, the case has an inverted design, so the PSU rests at the bottom.

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BUILD QUALITY: The build quality and the design are astounding. The jet black body, the matt finish and the fans make it look like a modified battle tank.

While it is much more attractive than its predecessor-the Nine Hundred, the image of an imposing elder brother is quite justified. Regarding build quality, the heavy metal gauge ensures better stability and durability. Even the plastic used, is of top notch quality.

For ease of use, the Power and Reset buttons and ports are well placed. The cable management .is a treat; this is because the cables hide behin.d the motherboard chassis. The thumb screws make installing hard drives and other components,. much more convenient.

VERDICT: With an excellent cooling environment; ample room, top notch build quality and design, this case is a gamer's• delight. Here, the price becomes a secondary factor. Only someone who has a high-end rig needs and would opt for such a case. In our opinion, this baby scores a five on five.

So, if you're planning to invest your money in a gaming cabinet, this is a good option. There are other cabinets too, that offer similar features and may even look quite slick, but not as many are as good as one, especially at this price.

FOR: Excellent design, cooling and ample room for high-end hardware.

AGAINST: None.