Antec SOLO II User Manual

S O L O

I I

U

SER

M

ANUAL

S

ILENCE

R

ENEWED

SOLO II U

Congratulations on your purchase of the Antec SOLO II.

The SOLO II emphasizes Quiet Computing™ and reinvents Antec’s renowned Sonata line with a new
set of attractive, practical features. Externally, the SOLO II’s dual-layer 1.0 mm SECC / polycarbonate
top & side panels absorb noise for exceptional sound dampening. To reduce vibration-related noise,
the dual hard drive mounting system gives you the option of mounting your hard drives using tray
mounts with silicone grommets or the tool-less suspension mount system. SOLO II features an
anodized aluminum front bezel and piano black exterior for an elegant, professional appearance.
With washable fan filters and two front panel USB 3.0 ports, the SOLO II is the rebirth of Quiet
Computing™.

The SOLO II does not include a power supply. Make sure you choose a power supply that is
compatible with your computer components and has a long enough power harness to reach your
motherboard and peripheral devices. We recommend our High Current Gamer, High Current Pro or
Earthwatts power supplies for the latest ATX specification compliance, broad compatibility, and
power savings capability.

At Antec, we continually refine and improve our products to ensure the highest quality. As such,
your new chassis may differ slightly from the description in this manual due to improvements
applied for the optimal building experience. As of the date of publication, all features, descriptions,
and illustrations in this manual are correct.

Disclaimer

This manual is intended only as a guide for Antec’s computer enclosures. For more

comprehensive instructions on installing the motherboard and peripherals, please refer to the

manuals that come with those components.

SER’S

M

ANUAL

2

T

ABLE OF CONTENTS

S

ECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Getting to Know your Chassis ..................................................................5

1.2 Chassis Specifications...............................................................................6

1.3 Included Screws .......................................................................................6

1.4 Before you Begin ......................................................................................7

S

ECTION 2: HARDWARE INSTALLATION

2.1 Setting up .................................................................................................9

2.2 Motherboard Installation ........................................................................10

2.3 Installing the KUHLER H2O .......................................................................11

2.4 Power Supply Installation ........................................................................12

2.5 Cable Management ..................................................................................14

2.6 External 5.25” Device Installation ............................................................14

2.7 Internal 3.5”/2.5” Device Installation using tray mounts ........................16

Suspension mounting ..............................................................................17

2.8 Internal 2.5” Device Installation ..............................................................18

S

ECTION 3: FRONT

3.1 USB 2.0 .....................................................................................................20

3.2 USB 3.0 .....................................................................................................20

3.3 AC’97 / HD audio ports ............................................................................21

3.4 Power Switch / Reset Switch / Hard Disk Drive LED Connectors.............21

3.5 Rewiring Motherboard Header Connections ...........................................22

S

ECTION 4: COOLING SYSTEM

4.1 Included 120 mm TrueQuiet™ rear fan ...................................................24

4.3 Washable Air Filters .................................................................................24

4.2 Optional Fans ...........................................................................................25

I/O P

ORTS

3

I

S

1

ECTION

NTRODUCTION

4

1.1 G

1

2

3

4

5

8

8

9

6

7

ETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHASSIS

1. Internal: 3 x 3.5” / 2.5”using tray mount OR 2 x 3.5” with suspension mount cables

2. Internal: 1 x 2.5” SSD (dedicated)

3. External: 2 x 5.25”

4. 1 x rear 120 mm TrueQuiet™ fan with 2-speed switch

5. 2 x front 120 mm fans (optional) and removable, washable air filters

6. Anodized aluminum front bezel

7. Front ports

8. Power supply mount

9. 7 expansion slots

5

1.2 C

Chassis

Type

Chassis

Color

Dimensions

Weight

Cooling

Drive Bays

Motherboard Size

Front I/O Panel

A E D C B

HASSIS SPECIFICATIONS

Mid Tower

Piano Black

17.3” (H) x 8.1” (W) x 18.5” (D)
440 mm (H) x 205 mm (W) x 470 mm (D)

20.2 lbs / 9.1 kg

- Rear 120 mm TrueQuiet™ fan with preinstalled silicone grommets

and 2-speed switch

- 2 front 120 mm fan mounts (optional)

- 3 x 3.5”/2.5” using tray mounts with preinstalled silicone grommets

OR 2 x 3.5” with suspension mounting system

- 2 x external 5.25”

- 1 x 2.5” (dedicated)

Expansion Slots

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Standard ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX

- 2 x USB 3.0

- 2 x USB 2.0

- AC’97 / HD Audio In and Out

- On/Off Button

- Reset

1.3

I

NCLUDED SCREWS

An inventory of all screws and intended usage and quantity is provided here:

A. Motherboard standoffs (9; 4 preinstalled)
B. Motherboard / PSU / mounting screws (15)
C. 5.25” external drive mounting screws / dedicated 2.5” drive bay (12)
D. 3.5” tray mount screws – coarse threading (14)
E. 2.5” drive mounting screws (tray mount) – fine threading (8)

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1.4 B

EFORE YOU BEGIN

In order to ensure that your building experience with the SOLO II will be a positive one, please take
note of the following:

• While working inside your SOLO II, keep your chassis on a flat, stable surface. Make sure your

build environment is clean, well-lit, and free of dust.

• Antec chassis feature rounded edges that minimize the occurrence of hand injuries. Nonetheless,

exercise caution and control when handling chassis interiors. We strongly recommend taking the
appropriate time and care when working inside the chassis. Avoid hurried or careless motions.

• Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the unshielded components or contacts

on a card. Hold a card by its edges. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, never by
its pins.

• To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself periodically by touching an unpainted metal

surface (such as a connector or screw on the back of this computer) or by using a wrist
grounding strap.

• Before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly aligned and oriented.

Bent pins can be difficult to fix and may require replacement of the entire connector.

• This manual is not designed to cover CPU, RAM, or expansion card installation. Please consult

your motherboard manual for specific mounting instructions and troubleshooting. Before
proceeding, check the manual for your CPU cooler to find out if there are steps you must take
before installing the motherboard.

• Do not sit on your chassis. Although it is constructed of heavy-duty steel and internally

reinforced, it is not designed to support the weight of an adult, and may buckle.

• Remember to use the right tools for each task. Do not use improvised screwdrivers like coins,

nails or knife blades as they may result in damage to screw threads or even injury. Do not use
your fingernails to separate edges or lift the sides of the chassis, as paint chipping or injury may
occur.

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H

S

2

ECTION

ARDWARE

I

NSTALLATION

8

2.1 S

ETTING UP

Begin by removing the left side panel by loosening the thumbscrews and swinging the panel outward,
pulling it back towards you; this will completely remove it. Cut the ties on the 5.25” drive cage with a
wire cutter and remove the plastic bag of screws.

The SOLO II should now look like this.

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2.2 M

OTHERBOARD INSTALLATION

Before proceeding:

Check the manual for your CPU cooler to find out if there are steps you must do before installing the
motherboard.

Make sure you have the correct I/O panel for your motherboard. If the panel provided with the
chassis isn’t suitable, please contact your motherboard manufacturer for the correct I/O panel.

Make sure you have the correct I/O panel.

The SOLO II comes with four preinstalled motherboard standoffs. These are positioned for Standard
ATX motherboards but can be relocated to accommodate other form factors.

1. Align the motherboard with the standoff holes on the motherboard tray and remember or mark

which holes are lined up

2. Install standoffs as needed and put the motherboard in. The motherboard tray has indicators

pertaining to specific form factors. Use the holes marked “A” for Standard ATX and the holes
marked “M” for microATX.

Caution: Make sure to remove any unused motherboard standoffs. They may come into contact with

the back of the motherboard and may electrify your chassis exterior if left connected.

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3. Screw your motherboard into the standoffs with the provided motherboard mounting screws.

2.3 I

NSTALLING THE

KUHLER H2O

The following instructs how to install the Antec KUHLER H2O liquid CPU cooler (620 / 920). For any other
CPU coolers, please consult your manufacturer’s installation guide.

Caution:

- We strongly recommend installing the KUHLER H2O only after installing the power supply (See Step 2.4).

PSU installation will be difficult otherwise.

- DO NOT clip the ends of the silicone mounting pins included with the preinstalled 120 mm TrueQuiet™

fan yet. Doing so will make the reinstalling this fan very difficult.

- Check your motherboard’s CPU socket to ensure its compatibility with the KUHLER H2O. The KUHLER

H2O 620 / 920 is compatible with the following CPU sockets:

Intel® LGA 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011
AMD® AM2 / AM3 / AM2+ / AM3+

- Be sure to install the KUHLER H2O with the end of the tubes positioned at the bottom of the radiator.

1. Remove the TrueQuiet™ fan mounting pins by pulling slowly on the head of the mounting pin

while pushing the tail of the pin through the rear of the case. This ensures that the mounting
pins stay intact. Apply a firm, consistent force, but do not yank the pin through.

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2. The TrueQuiet™ fan has two small black clips attached to the fan’s two-speed switch. With your

thumb and forefinger, spread the clips while pushing from the rear of the case to remove the
switch.

3. Preparing the KUHLER H2O backplate is specific to your CPU socket. Please refer to the KUHLER

H2O installation guide, available at

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=Mjc2OCYxNw== (KUHLER H2O 620) or
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzA0MzcwJjE3 (KUHLER H2O 920) for more

information.

4. Prepare the retention ring according to the CPU socket you’re using.

5. Complete installation according to the KUHLER H2O instructions.

2.4 P

OWER SUPPLY INSTALLATION

We recommend removing the PSU support beam to facilitate installation. The power supply support
beam has two screws on both sides: two attached to the 5.25” drive cage and two at the rear.

1. Locate and remove the first screw on the drive cage.

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2. Remove the second screw with your other hand supporting the beam so the beam won’t drop.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the support beam screws at the rear of the case.

.

4. Place the SOLO II on its side. Position the PSU into the mount and secure it with the PSU screws

provided. If your PSU has a fan on its top side, make sure it aligns with the SOLO II’s top intake
vent.

5. Re-attach the PSU support beam.

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2.5 C

ABLE MANAGEMENT

There is a cable management area between the motherboard and right side panel as well as cable hooks
located on the side of the 3.5” drive cage. You can tuck excess cables in this area or route them to the
drive bays.

Choose the cables you would like to pass through the holes behind the motherboard tray. Pull them
through the hole toward the right side of the case.

For cables which will be routed directly to front drives or other internal accessories, cable hooks are
located along the drive cage. Bundle front drives’ or other internal accessories’ cables together and
secure them using the hooks.

2.6 E

There are two externally accessible 5.25” drive bays. Before you begin, remove the 5.25” drive bay
covers on the rear of the front bezel.

XTERNAL

5.25” D

EVICE INSTALLATION

To install a 5.25” drive:

1. Locate and remove two 5.25” rails from the bottom of the case.

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2. Attach the drive rails to your 5.25” device. These rails have three depth settings that

accommodate the depth of your 5.25” drive.

3. Make sure to properly align your drive rails with your 5.25” drive. We recommend attaching one

rail with one of the 5.25” drive screws and closing the bezel as a trial. Use the four 5.25” drive
screws to secure your drive.

4. Slide the 5.25” drive into the appropriate drive bay. You will know the drive is secure when you

hear a “click.”

5. Mount any other 5.25” devices accordingly.

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3.5” position

2

.5” position

2.7 I

NTERNAL

3.5”

AND

2.5” I

NSTALLATION (TRAY MOUNTS AND SUSPENSION MOUNTING SYSTEM

The following text outlines the preparatory stages for installing 3.5” / 2.5” drives using drives trays
and the suspension mounting system.

1. If you have reattached it, remove the left side panel. Loosen the side panel screws and swing the

panel outward, pulling it back towards you; this will completely remove it.

2. Remove the front bezel by locating the bezel tabs and pulling them to release the bezel .The

bezel will swing outward like a door. Lift the bezel upwards to remove it from its hinges.

)

3. Open the drive cage by loosening the top thumbscrew.

For Tray Mount Installation:

The SOLO II comes preinstalled with silicone grommets positioned for 3.5” drive installation. You
may remove the grommets and position them as so to accommodate a 2.5” drive.

4. Position your drive on top of the grommets with the SATA connectors facing away from the tray

rails. Turn the tray + drive upside-down, and secure the drive using the appropriate tray-mount
screws. Do not over-tighten the screws, as this will cause the grommets to lose their sound­dampening function.

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3.5” drive

2.5”

drive

3.5”

drive

2.5”

drive

5. Insert the 3.5” / 2.5” drive into the drive cage by pinching the ends of the drive tray and sliding

the tray along the rails until the tray locks firmly into position.

6. Mount any other 3.5” / 2.5” devices accordingly.

For Suspension Mounting Installation:

The SOLO II accommodates two 3.5” drives using the suspension mounting system. Each hard drive
needs two suspenders (front and rear) to mount.

Note: Please DO NOT transport your system with your hard disks suspension mounted. The drives may
slip from the suspenders causing damage to the hard drives and to other components inside the case.

To install a 3.5” using the suspension mounting system:

1. Remove two drive trays from the cage.

2. Twist the front suspender.

3. Insert the hard drive through the front suspender from the front.

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4. Twist the rear suspender and guide the hard drive through it.

5. Find the appropriate power connector on the PSU and connect it to the device.

6. Repeat the same procedure for a second drive if necessary.

7. Close and secure the drive cage door.

2.8 I

Toward the bottom-right of the motherboard tray, you will see a mount for a 2.5” device. To install a

2.5” device:

1. Align the 2.5” drive with the mounting holes with the back of the drive facing the back of the

chassis.

NTERNAL

2.5” D

EVICE INSTALLATION

2. Secure the drive to the chassis using the 2.5” drive mounting screws (same as 5.25” screws.

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F

I/O

S

3

ECTION

RONT

P

ORTS

19

3.1 USB 2.0

1 2

9 10

Connect the front I/O panel USB cable to the USB header pin on your motherboard. Check your
motherboard user’s manual to ensure that it matches the table below:

Pin Signal

USB

1

3

5

7

9

Power1

Negative

Positive

Ground1

Key

(No

Names

Signal1

Signal1

Connection)

Pin Signal

2

USB

Power2

4

Negative

6

Positive

8

Ground2

10

Empty

Names

Signal2

Signal2

Pin

3.2 USB 3.0

The SOLO II comes with two front panel USB 3.0 ports and includes an internal motherboard
connector. To access USB 3.0 capability from the front panel:

1. Identify the USB 3.0 header on your motherboard.

2. Connect the USB 3.0 header to the motherboard port. Be sure to align the connector in the

proper orientation so that you do not damage the pins on your motherboard.

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

3.3 AC’97 / HD A

UDIOPORTS

There is an Intel® standard 10-pin AC’97 connector and an Intel® 10-pin HDA (High Definition Audio)
connectorlinked to the front panel of the chassis.

Pin

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

You can connect either the AC’97 or the HDA connector, depending on your motherboard. Locate
the internal audio connectors from your motherboard or sound card and connect the corresponding
audio cable. Consult your motherboard or sound card manual for the pin-out positions. Even if your
system supports both standards, only use one connector

Signal

Names

(HDA)

MIC2

L

AGND

MIC2

AVCC

FRO-R

MIC2_JD

F_IO_SEN

Key(nopin)

FRO-L

LINE2_JD

R

.

Pin

Signal

Names

(AC’97)

MICIn

GND

MICPower

N

C

Line

Out

(R)

Line

Out

(R)

N

C

Key(nopin)

Line

Out

(L)

Line

Out

(L)

3.4 P

OWER SWITCH / RESET SWITCH / HARD DISK DRIVE

LED C

ONNECTORS

Connected to your front panel are LED leads for power and HDD activity, as well as switch leads for the power
and reset buttons. Attach these to the corresponding connectors on your motherboard. Consult your
motherboard manual for specific pin header locations. For LEDs, colored wires are positive ( + ). White or black
wires are negative ( – ). If the LED does not light up when the system is powered on, try reversing the
connection. For more information on connecting LEDs to your motherboard, see your motherboard user’s
manual.

Front panel leads

Note: Polarity (positive and negative) does not matter for switches.

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3.5 R

There may come a time when you need to reconfigure the pin-out of a motherboard header
connector. Examples could be for your USB header, audio input header, or some other front panel
connector such as the Power Button connector.

Before performing any work, please refer to your motherboard user’s manual or your motherboard
manufacturer's website to confirm the pin-out needed for your connector. We strongly recommend
making a notated drawing before beginning work so that you can recover if your work gets
disturbed.

EWIRING MOTHERBOARD HEADER CONNECTIONS

Determine which wires you need to remove in order to rewire your plug to match the USB pin-outs on
your motherboard (refer to your motherboard user’s manual). Working on one connector at a time, use
a very small flathead screwdriver or similar tool to lift up on the black tab located beside the gold posts
(squares). This will allow you to easily slide out the pins from the USB plug.

Front panel headers

Working carefully so as not to damage the wires, connectors, or pins, slowly remove the pin from the
connector. Repeat these steps for each wire you need to change.

Working carefully so as not to damage the wires, connectors or pins, slowly insert the pin into the
correct slot of the connector then snap closed the black tab that was lifted in step 1. Repeat these steps
for each wire you need to change.

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C

S

4

ECTION

OOLING

S

YSTEM

23

4.1 I

The SOLO II comes with a 120 mm TrueQuiet™ rear fan. This fan has a two-speed switch that lets you choose
the speed best suited to your need. The switch is located at the rear of the case. The default fan speed setting
is Low.

120 mm Fan Specifications:

Size: 120 x 25mm two-speed fan
Rated Voltage: 12V DC
Operating Voltage: 10.8V ~ 13.2 V

Speed Input Current Air Flow Static Pressure Noise Input Power
High
1000RPM
Low
600RPM

NCLUDED

0.12A 1.0m³ / min

0.06A 0.6m³ / min

120

MM TRUEQUIET™ REAR FAN

(35.8 CFM)

(21.5 CFM)

0.29 mm-H2O
(0.7inch-H2O)

0.27 mm-H2O
(0.1inch-H2O)

19.9 dBA 1.44W

8.9 dBA 0.72W

Note: The minimum voltage to start a typical TrueQuiet™ fan is 7V. We recommend that you set the fan speed

to High if you choose to connect the fan(s) to a fan control device or to the Fan-Only connector found on
some Antec power supplies. A fan control device regulates the fan speed by varying the voltage, which
may start as low as 4.5V to 5V. Connecting a TrueQuiet ™ fan set on Low to a fan-control device may
result in the fan not being able to start because the already lowered voltage from the fan control device
will be further reduced by the TrueQuiet ™ circuitry below 5V.

4.2 W

ASHABLE AIR FILTERS

There are two filters located behind the SOLO II’s front bezel.

To clean the filter: Open the front bezel and locate the filter tabs. Push down on the tab and pull the
filter away from the case to completely remove it.

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4.3 O

PTIONAL FANS

The SOLO II can accommodate two 120 mm front intake fans. The following shows you how to install
one of thesefans using a 120 mm TrueQuiet™ fan:

1. Remove the fan filter as depicted in section 4.2.

2. Insert the mounting pin through the mounting hole tail-first. Pull the tail through the hole and

push the pin through with the head of the pin. Apply a firm, consistent force, but do not yank
the pin through.

3. If this is your desired final position for the fan’s position, you may clip the tail of the mounting

pin.

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Antec, Inc.

47900 Fremont Blvd.

Fremont, CA94538

tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

Antec Europe B.V.

Stuttgartstraat 12

3047 AS Rotterdam

The Netherlands

tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

Technical Support:

US &Canada

1-800-22ANTEC

[e-mail]

-

Europe

[phone]

[e-mail]

www.antec.com

© Copyright 2011 Antec, Inc. All rights reserved.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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