Hi

Currently I have 3x CM 4-in-3 modules in my server and have been thinking about replacing them with 3x 5-in-3 cages.

 

The reason for the change is I have a few drives to add to the server and have got to the point where I'm tired of opening the box up every time I want to change a drive.

 

My budget isn't massive but the wife has said she is looking for xmas ideas so thought what the hell, she get one I get two or if the in-laws are looking for ideas they get one too lol.

 

I've been looking at the following:

 

Icy Box IB-555SSK Dual Channel Backplane

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Icy-Box-IB-555SSK-Channel-Backplane/dp/B002BLZ8TO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_1

 

Icy Box IB-545SSK 5-Bay Tray Less Dual Channel SATA/SAS Back Plane for 3 x 5.25 inch Bay

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Icy-Box-IB-545SSK-5-Bay-Channel/dp/B006BQYSFA/ref=pd_cp_computers_1

 

X-Case 5 in 3 Hotswap Caddy V2- Fits in 3 x 5.25 Bays - SATA III 3.5" and 2.5"

http://www.xcase.co.uk/component-parts/storage-caddy/x-case-5-in-3-hotswap-caddy-v2-fits-in-3-x-5-25-bays-sata-iii-3-5-and-2-5.html

 

The 555SSK  and the X-Case have a 80mm fan and i was thinking about replacing them with the following to keep the noise down :

 

Noctua NF-R8 80mm Quiet Case Fan

http://www.quietpc.com/nf-r8

 

The 545SSK  has 2x 60mm  fans and thought about replacing them with the following to keep the noise down :

 

Nanoxia Deep Silence 60mm Ultra-Quiet PC Fan, 2000 RPM

http://www.quietpc.com/na-ds-60

 

What do you guys think any experiences with any of the above?

 

Do you think the the 545SSK  would be quieter with the 2x 60mm fans i linked or am i better off with the 1x 80mm fan?

 

I'm leaning towards the X-Case cage but cant find much on it i.e. depth, to see if it will fit in case.

 

All suggestions welcome.

I've used both of the IcyBox units, and they work fine.    HOWEVER ... I now only use the CoolerMaster 4-in-3 cages that you already have whenever I need a multiple drive cage

 

The reason is simple:  The front-mounted 120mm fan does a MUCH better job of keeping your drives cool than the smaller, "puller" fans on the 5-in-3 cages ... and I'm sure that's true for any of these units.    The drives in my CM cages run 5 degrees cooler than those in the 5-in-3 cages (same model drives; same case).   

 

If you want to add more drives than your case holds, you may want to consider something like this connected via eSATA:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198047

 

I agree gray that the CM 4-in-3 are great but after playing with my micro server and being able to take drives in and out with such ease I've come to the conclusion that I want the same for the server. In theory a 5 degree rise would put the drives in mid to high thirties, think I could live with that.

 

Can't seem to find any info on X-Case cage, my search foo not that great lol. Need dimensions or even a review would be great, may just by one see what it like.

I agree gray that the CM 4-in-3 are great but after playing with my micro server and being able to take drives in and out with such ease I've come to the conclusion that I want the same for the server. In theory a 5 degree rise would put the drives in mid to high thirties, think I could live with that.

 

Can't seem to find any info on X-Case cage, my search foo not that great lol. Need dimensions or even a review would be great, may just by one see what it like.

There is a lot of discussion in the 5-in-3 cage thread from this post forward about X-Case cages and fan replacement. X-Case recently updated their website and for some reason they removed a lot of links to existing video review etc.

 

I have 4 X-Case 5-in-3 caddies still waiting for installation and I can provide you the dimensions later this evening. You obviously found the official place: http://www.xcase.co.uk/component-parts/storage-caddy/x-case-5-in-3-hotswap-caddy-v2-fits-in-3-x-5-25-bays-sata-iii-3-5-and-2-5.html

 

 

There is a lot of discussion in the 5-in-3 cage thread from this post forward about X-Case cages and fan replacement. X-Case recently updated their website and for some reason they removed a lot of links to existing video review etc.

 

I have 4 X-Case 5-in-3 caddies still waiting for installation and I can provide you the dimensions later this evening. You obviously found the official place: http://www.xcase.co.uk/component-parts/storage-caddy/x-case-5-in-3-hotswap-caddy-v2-fits-in-3-x-5-25-bays-sata-iii-3-5-and-2-5.html

 

If you could provide dimensions and a pic of the back that would be great, i could them measure up and see if they will fit.

 

There are quite good pics here: http://www.xcase.co.uk/component-parts/storage-caddy/x-case-5-in-3-hotswap-caddy-v2-fits-in-3-x-5-25-bays-sata-iii-3-5-and-2-5.html

The caddy is however on it's side in these pics as you can see from the side mounting holes. I installed it so that the connectors were at the bottom but you place it also the other way around.

 

Dimensions

Depth: 218mm (from front side to the back of the fan grill = total depth)

Width: 145mm

Height: 126mm

 

The connectors are placed in a inset which is 189mm from the front side.

 

Backside image: http://www.xcase.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/5/-/5-3-4.jpg

Wow thanks for the info, when I get 5 I'll have a measure up :-) they look like they will fit nicely.

 

Quick question, how noisy are the stock fans, is it worth replacing them with the 80mm fan I mentioned above?

Quick question, how noisy are the stock fans, is it worth replacing them with the 80mm fan I mentioned above?

It all depends, some have considered the stock fans to be acceptable and some said they are loud. There might even be some unit wise differences. Personally I consider them loud enough to justify the replacement but my whole setup has pretty quiet Noctua fans. If time is not critical, I would buy them and test with the stock fans and only after decide whether replacement is necessary.

 

Just be sure to use a replacement fan with air flow matching your hard drives, hotter/older 7200rpm drives seem to require much more air flow than greener/newer drives.

Well the 5in3 X-Case Cage turned up at the weekend and I fitted it in the top of the server, was nice and easy, only thing I had to do was bend the little tabs out of the way in the drive bays, had to do this with screwdriver as didn't have a clamp big enough.

 

At the moment I have my dives in the cage in the following order:

 

Parity | Disk 1 | Disk 2 | Disk 3 | Disk 4

 

With regard to the SATA sockets on the back of the cage I take it they run in the same order Left to Right as you looking from the front, ie the far left bay far left socket and so on?

 

Currently running a parity check (20% through) and the drive temps are great, the 5 drives in the cage haven't exceeded 33°C, this may go up a little when santa brings the 2 remaining cages so far so good, the remaining drives in the last two CM 4in3 Modules are sitting around 33°C also so I'm happy.

 

The stock fans don't seem any louder then the removed CM 4in3 module as I haven't noticed it and more importantly neither has the wife.

 

I have brought some AcoustiFeet Firm Anti-Vibration Feet ACF3007-30B as I have noticed a little resonance / vibration from the severs plastic feet to the computer cupboard / cabinet it currently lives in.

 

Computer cupboard / cabinet is basically a nice big old pine ikea wardrobe with two shelves, one acting as a desk part with monitor speakers and switch on with an ikea slide out tray attached for mouse and keyboard and another higher up for all my crap and a LED strip light attached on the underside.  Wife loves it as you can shut the doors and it can all be hid away, keeps kids out also lol.

 

Doesn't really affect temperatures that much also when shut up as have a two computer width hole cut-out of the back bottom right corner where server and main computer live.

 

Hopping these feet stop some of the resonance / vibration.

http://www.quietpc.com/acoustifeet

while not 5-in-3, i like the 4-in-3 and 3-in-2 kingwin products.

 

http://kingwin.com/products/cate/mobile/racks/kf_4002_bk.asp

 

the 3002 has a 80 or 92mm fan and 4002 has a 120mm fan.