New server case? (Alternative to Storinator?)

[casperse]

Hi All

I always wanted a Storinator case but the cost is just to high!

Lately I might have found a alternative, that might solve allot of my problems?

 

Most cases that have +36 drive bays and above only have half heights on PCie slots! (You cant even have a P2000 in it!)
Also the new CPU's are requiring allot more cooling, so having half the Hight for a fan cooler isn't really ideal.

 

So This might be a solution? (I would appreciate any input to possible problems?)

I am new to backplane extenders and not sure my existing HBA would be compatible with this case?

 

My HBA is a LSI Logic SAS 9305-24i Host Bus Adapter - x8, PCIe 3.0, 8000 MB/s 

Would this be able to utilize all these bays?

 

I also have, from my last build:

LSI Logic SAS 9201-8i PCI-e Controller / 9211-8i (IT-mode) / Full height bracket (2 connectors = 8 Sata)

LSI Logic SAS 9201-16i PCI-e 2.0 x8 SAS 6Gbs HBA Card (4 connectors = 16 Sata)

 

Again I really like the airflow and height of this case for a full height CPU air cooler!
and the 8 x 120mm fans (According to the specs) - noise is not an issue

 

High Dense Rack Mount 8U 72bay Top-loaded Storage Server Chassis

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12 by casperse

[OrneryTaurus]

That's a beefy chassis. Expander backplanes should allow you to use a single cable per backplane to see the drives IIRC. You will need at least 2, maybe 3 cables to connect to it (not sure if they split the front into two backplanes or not).

 

I was looking at something similar from the same place for more storage with full height slots. However, I personally picked up a 36-bay supermicro superchassis and upgraded from a P2000 GPU to a Tesla P4 instead ($800 all in for the two).

 

Only issues I can think of would be related to shipping and availability of replacement parts / racking the damn thing.

[casperse]

On 5/13/2023 at 8:17 AM, OrneryTaurus said:

That's a beefy chassis. Expander backplanes should allow you to use a single cable per backplane to see the drives IIRC. You will need at least 2, maybe 3 cables to connect to it (not sure if they split the front into two backplanes or not).

 

I was looking at something similar from the same place for more storage with full height slots. However, I personally picked up a 36-bay supermicro superchassis and upgraded from a P2000 GPU to a Tesla P4 instead ($800 all in for the two).

 

Only issues I can think of would be related to shipping and availability of replacement parts / racking the damn thing.

$800 Nice price! (I haven't found anything in that pricerange) I did 'nt know about the Tesla 4 card but I have other cards and I dont want to replace them all with other ones that are 1/2 height 🙂
Also the future of cooling new CPU looks like it will requires bigger fans so the extra height would allow me to use something like a Noctua NH-D15.
Yes the shipping and quality of the case would be a risk I agree. But so was buying my last case from the UK and so far that has been working great
Old Norco RPC-4224 4U (UK SC-4324S) I am talking to them about another case with 36 drives that they claim have full PCie height?
I have written to them again and they say it is full height?

 

In-Win IW-RS436-07 - 2U Server Chassis with 36x SATA/SAS/NVMe Hot-Swap Bays - Includes 1200W CRPS Redundant PSU and Rail Kit - Server Case

 

I think this one is better build quality and the price of this i allot higher! But I will get 2xPSU (1200W) with me in this buy! (Not sure this would

have all the new power cables needed for new CPU's & Motherboards/GPU etc.

 

Drawbacks: "Only 36 drives and not room for the extreme high CPU fan coolers"

 

I just cant believe that this is really full height PCie? (The seller claims this, but the pictures doesn't look it? or does it?)

 

 

So either go for this or try a the Innovision case?

Thanks for your feedback! @OrneryTaurus much appreciated!
I just really want one new case to "rule them all" the 72 is a beast and if the quality is ok, I might dare to roll the dice on it🙂 or buy some spare parts when ordering?
I could even have two Unraid servers running in the same case, and use the old server for backup and experimenting with Proxmox and VM's
 

 

 

 

Edited May 16 by casperse

[OrneryTaurus]

That In-Win case is definitely half height slots as the design is exactly like a supermicro 36-bay. I would go with your original case.