March 9, 201115 yr I will be using 10 drives to start with and want to be able to expand, and also want hotswap for all drives. I know that I should just buy the Norco and be done as it offers the best value, but 2 things stop me - 1. I don't ever see myself using >15 hdd's. With 4TB drives around the corner, that's 60TB. 2. I live in an apt to space and noise need to be kept to a minimum After looking at the prototype builds I've narrowed down to the following hardware - Case - Azza Solano 1000 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004&cm_re=azza_solano_1000-_-11-517-004-_-Product Antec 902 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129097&Tpk=antec%20nine%20hundred%20two Aerocool VX-9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811196034 Xigmatec Utgard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815008 Azza Helios - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517007 5in3 cages - 1 Supermicro CSE-M35T-1B (already have) 1 Norco SS-500 and 1 more in future Will the full tower cases (the 1st two) will be easier to work with and fit the cages in? I really like the Utgard but it has some troubling reviews about bad front panel connectors. Most of these cases come with front fans, but those will have to be discarded to use the 5in3's. Does a top fan really help?
March 10, 201115 yr Mr. Crispy, unless the VX-9 is a bit deeper than the VS-9, I'd rule out the AeroCool. I have the VS-9 with an iStar BPU-350 Blue...and it's a tight fit. And the Supermicro cage is like the deepest there is; probably a good inch deeper than the iStar, so I don't think it would work. The Utgard looks cool...and the price is right. 1 vote for it. CD
March 10, 201115 yr The Utgard looks cool...and the price is right. 1 vote for it. I'm sorry, but everytime I read this name I see "Ugtard".
March 10, 201115 yr The Utgard looks cool...and the price is right. 1 vote for it. I'm sorry, but everytime I read this name I see "Ugtard". I do have one of those... just because of the funny name. They work... look like a chepo copy of an Antek 900. I have 2 5x3 Icy docks in it, and it was really easy to bend the rails on the drive bays. I really like the Utgard but it has some troubling reviews about bad front panel connectors. Most of these cases come with front fans, but those will have to be discarded to use the 5in3's. Does a top fan really help? Well, the connectors are fragile, but I don't use them that much. The USB connections work, haven't tried the eSata. At first I was controlling the case fans with the knobs on the panel, but after I just plugged them in my motherboard so I can control them via script. I do like the top fan... it runs really quiet but still moves a lot of air. Since I have a passive heatsink on my motherboard, it's good.
March 10, 201115 yr The Azza Helios has a 4-in-3, and you can buy additional cages for $14 (including shipping). Prevents having to file or bend any tabs, and would allow you up to 13 external drive bays (including the (1) 3.5 external drive bay). I use the Helios and cooling is excellent.
March 12, 201115 yr Not on your list but its worth checking out the Rosewill Destroyer. its a lot cheaper @ $49.99 and comes with 3x120mm fans. If noise is an issue you can buy quieter fans with the money saved or just run the ones it comes with at 7v or 5v, should be near silent at 7v and more then enough cooling. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147144
March 12, 201115 yr I bought an Azza Helios from Amazon (gotta love free shipping & no tax) and it's a great case. Azza has excellent customer support (they sent me an extra dozen thumbscrews for just the cost of shipping). The stock fans are a bit loud, so, if noise is a concern, I would highly recommend buying replacements. I replaced the top and rear fans and the case is near silent.
March 13, 201115 yr I bought an Azza Helios from Amazon (gotta love free shipping & no tax) and it's a great case. Azza has excellent customer support (they sent me an extra dozen thumbscrews for just the cost of shipping). The stock fans are a bit loud, so, if noise is a concern, I would highly recommend buying replacements. I replaced the top and rear fans and the case is near silent. Just curious, what replacement fans did you use?
March 13, 201115 yr Just curious, what replacement fans did you use? I bought two different Noctua fans from Amazon: Noctua NF-S12B ULN Noctua NF-P14 FLX I didn't find out until it arrived, but, the NF-P14 can also be installed in 120mm applications. Both come with inline resistors to lower the fan speed. These fans are keeping my 5 2T EARS right around 30C [i keep my drives constantly spun up].
March 14, 201115 yr Author Not on your list but its worth checking out the Rosewill Destroyer. its a lot cheaper @ $49.99 and comes with 3x120mm fans. If noise is an issue you can buy quieter fans with the money saved or just run the ones it comes with at 7v or 5v, should be near silent at 7v and more then enough cooling. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147144 Thanks, that's a great suggestion. Like I said its hard to find these cases on newegg as they don't show up in a 'case with 9 external bays' search. I will look at that case possibly using the fans listed by tkenn1s.
March 14, 201115 yr Author Not on your list but its worth checking out the Rosewill Destroyer. its a lot cheaper @ $49.99 and comes with 3x120mm fans. If noise is an issue you can buy quieter fans with the money saved or just run the ones it comes with at 7v or 5v, should be near silent at 7v and more then enough cooling. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147144 Can the destroyer have 9 external 5.25" bays? Now I'm not sure after reading the specs on their site - http://www.rosewill.com/products/1528/productDetail.htm 8 Drive Bays : -3x Internal 3.5”, 5x External 5.25”, or -3x Internal 3.5”, 1x External 3.5”, 4x External 5.25”
March 15, 201115 yr Can I make a further suggestion? I'm using the Thermaltake V5 Black. It comes with two fans which, to my ears, are silent. It does have nine full size external 5.25 bays. The only thing that I cannot guarantee is that there is sufficient clearance for the deepest 5in3 backplanes - by my measurement, there is about 225mm from the front edge of the front panel, and the motherboard, so I believe that the IcyDocks would fit. However, you might have problems with your SuperMicro backplane with the fan fitted (depending on the height of the mobo connectors and the clearance between fan and edge of the Supermicro.
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