Alternatives to Lian-li PC-Q28B

[somail]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am getting ready to upgrade my existing 5 year old build.  For the most part I have everything picked out but am having trouble finding the perfect case.  Currently I use a cheap hand me down which has seen its last days.

 

My build will have 6x HDD and 1x SDD (7 total) with eventual expansion to 9-10.  Right now I have the Fractal Design R4 penciled in, but I am in love with the lian-Li PC-Q28B case and its similar cousins.  Basically, I really like the square design. 

 

I have two issues:

1. I do not think the Lian-Li can easily fit 10 drives.

2. I plan to go with a mATX motherboard to both maximize SATA slots (6 on board + 4 on PCI card) and stay within budget (Intel x97 mini-ITX boards w/6x SATA are $140+).  All the square Lian-Li cases I have found are mini-itx.

 

Am I missing an obvious choice here?  Is there another decenlty priced square case ($90-$120) out there that can fit mATX and 9-10 drives.

 

Thanks for the help.

[somail]

Just found the Fractal Node 804.  Seems fairly popular and a good mix of space and cost.

[Leifgg]

Just found the Fractal Node 804.  Seems fairly popular and a good mix of space and cost.

 

Have ordered the Fractal Node 804 and will do a build next week. Initially with 8 drives and two SSD:s. From what I understand it’s possible to install two additional 3.5” drives without any problems.

[somail]

Just found the Fractal Node 804.  Seems fairly popular and a good mix of space and cost.

 

Have ordered the Fractal Node 804 and will do a build next week. Initially with 8 drives and two SSD:s. From what I understand it’s possible to install two additional 3.5” drives without any problems.

 

Excellent.  I understood the same.  Seems like it will be a tight fit but airflow still remains good.

[HellDiverUK]

PC-Q26.  Yes, it's miniITX, but it takes 10 drives.

[garycase]

The new PC-Q26 is indeed a VERY nice looking case that holds 10 3.5" drives plus an SSD ... but it's FAR over the budget of "... ($90-$120) ..." => especially if you add 8 additional hot-swap backplanes.

 

[notandor]

The new PC-Q26 is indeed a VERY nice looking case that holds 10 3.5" drives plus an SSD ... but it's FAR over the budget of "... ($90-$120) ..." => especially if you add 8 additional hot-swap backplanes.

 

Yes, expensive with 8 hot-swap backplanes. Also, the case almost looks like a microATX case for its size... ~8"x~16"x~16"

 

At almost 3/8 the size!!, this one (~8"x~8"x~12") will be tough to beat by any standards

http://www.oemproduction.com/storage/NAS860N10.asp

10 drives...and probably mini-itx at bottom. But availability of just the case is a big big question.

 

 

[garycase]

... At almost 3/8 the size!!, this one (~8"x~8"x~12") will be tough to beat by any standards

http://www.oemproduction.com/storage/NAS860N10.asp

10 drives...and probably mini-itx at bottom. But availability of just the case is a big big question.

 

It's not just a question -- unless you're buying 5,000 units it's not clear you can buy it at all.  It's apparently sold as a NAS with a system board already installed (I'd assume it's mini-ITX, but that's not actually stated) ... but that was an early configuration that's since been modified for a different drive orientation.

 

The "NAS-only with no drives" version was sold by Newegg (no longer available):  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856205026

 

A fully populated version with the newer drive orientation is sold by Polywell with either 10 3TB drives ($2,599) or 10 4TB drives ($3,799):  http://www.polywell.com/us/storage/MiniStor860N10.asp

 

Kinda makes a Q26 with 8 extra hot-swap bays look pretty inexpensive