So I'm going to need more storage before long... recently bought a 2tb external to keep me out of trouble, so should be ok for the time being, but still need to start considering my options.

 

My case is full atm 12 hdds 3 x 4 hdd cages in it, and no more space, apart from laying them on the bottom of the case.

 

So my first thoughts are either to get a bigger case. and either 1 replace current case, 2 do a whole new build for it, and have 2 servers, 3 just put a power supply in and somehow try and get longer cables to run over to the other case. Will need more pci sata cards as well. 8 on current board and a 4xpci for my 12 drives. (ps what are peoples thoughts on them sas card things?), 4 start replacing some of the smaller drives with bigger drives. have 3 750s and 4 1tb, that could be swaped out, but then what to do with the older smaller drivers. seems like a waste, unless i can get some decent money for them selling 2nd hand... which i kind of doubt.

 

So after opinions on what other people have done, when they have gotten to this point?

 

I was in the same boat, twelve drives, eleven 2tb one 1tb and nearly full, in a nine bay case using three 4x3's...

 

I picked up the Norco 4224 case, transplanted everything over and now have room for four more drives already wired to controllers (8 port sas card, 6 on board and one 2 port pci express card) and can have the other eight bays ready to go with a second 8 port sas card.  It was really easy to get everything over and after loading drives using the trays I don't ever want to go back to a case with internal drive bays again.  It's not a cheap solution but better than buying a new case + more 4x3 or 5x3's.

 

The reason I finally bit the bullet is the math just worked out better for that case in my view, even if you picked up a twelve bay case and four 5 in 3's you're looking at around 100 for a twelve bay case and 60-75 each for the four 5 in 3's.  So in the end you're in 350ish for a twentry drive case when you can find the norco for 400 when not on sale and less when it is.

Your options are:

 

- Start using unRAID 5.0 beta and replace smaller drives with 3-4 TB drives.  This will be expensive.

 

- Replace your 4-in-3s with 5-in-3s.

 

- Upgrade your case.  As ibixat described, a Norco is an unbeatable value.  However, if you prefer tower cases, the Antec 1200 is reasonably priced and will let you expand to 16 drives (with the addition of another 4-in-3) or 20 drives (with 4 x 5-in-3s).

 

- Add on a few drives externally via eSATA with something like this.  This will be your most economical option, but keep in mind that any drives in that external cage will be a bit slower during parity checks and the like.