I am beginning to purchase the hardware for my new unRAID build.  I don't expect to use more than 5 drives on my server and thought it would be nice to get a very small mini ITX or micro ATX case and install a 5 in 3 backplane. 

 

This will be built with high efficiency / low power components so thermal management should not be an issue.

 

Goal:

• Smallest possible mini ITX or micro ATX case with 3 consecutive external 5-1/4" bays that will fit a 5 in 3 backplane.
   
  
• Would like to see something from a HIGH QUALITY case manufacturer
   
  

 

I am surprised to find that after an exhaustive search, I cannot find a good option that fits the above design objectives.  I found only two near-misses:

 

I found this one (which lacks the 5 drive cages I would like to see - and I have NO experience with the brand):

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-3406918&title=Chenbro-ES34069-BK-180-Mini-ITX-180W-Server-Chassis-w-4x-Hot-Swap-HDDs 

 

I also found this enermax on Newegg - but if you read the review, it sounds as if someone else has tried to use this as a compact NAS and the backplane will not fit with a motherboard installed:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124130&cm_re=enermax_case-_-11-124-130-_-Product

 

I look forward to hearing what others in the community have discovered in this category, if anything. 

I also found this enermax on Newegg - but if you read the review, it sounds as if someone else has tried to use this as a compact NAS and the backplane will not fit with a motherboard installed:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124130&cm_re=enermax_case-_-11-124-130-_-Product

 

If you go with a FLEX-ATX or M-ITX motherboard a single 5.25  5 in 3 "may work".

The Supermicro one will not as the fan extends far.

Others with embedded fans may fit.

 

The m-itx board will not be as high or wide as the micro-atx board which may provide room.

Good point.  That one may work.  Enermax makes great power supplies (no experience with their cases), but the one they include in this case is well below their normal standards for efficiency.  I will mark this one as a definate "maybe", though the boards I have been considering are mostly Micro ATX and I was leaning toward the Supermicro backplane this time around.

 

It will be interesting to see what others have come up with.

It should work with a mini-ITX motherboard. They only take the 4 mounting spots right around the backplate opening, in this case it would be the standoffs in line with the power supply wires hanging down.

 

There was a mini-ITX board posted here with I think 6 SATA connectors not too long ago. Zotac has a board, the 9300-G-E, where you could put a card in the PCIe slot too.

 

Peter

 

I am also interested in this, as I would like to build a small form factor 3-5 disk unRAID server for a friend.  I've come across the Chenbro before, but it is fairly pricey.  I guess the already-included hot swap bays help justify that.

 

The Enermax looks like a good find.  I would also replace the PSU, though, unRAID requires quality.

 

You will probably also be interested to see the Norco NS-520.  It is more of a prebuilt barebones-style NAS than it is a case, but it looks just perfect for unRAID.  The only catch is that I cannot find a reliable source for the product, and the few that I have found price it at around $800!

 

This Tranquil PC also looks pretty nice, and is sold through their website.

That Norco is interesting - but definitely cost prohibitive!  

 

A case like this would seem to be a great niche opportunity for Silverstone, Antec, Lian Li or any of the better case builders to produce.  

 

This reminds me of another thought I had.  I was actually considered buying one of these and gutting it since it has been for sale several times for $299 with a free 1TB low power (LP) Samsung drive (combo deal has since expired, but I suspect it will return):

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822319001&Tpk=LG%20N4B1N

 

It has a nice form factor, plus you get a free Bluray burner in the deal!  I was not clear, however, whether this was using a standard motherboard form factor, and I didn't care to have LG emblazoned on the side of my new NAS (what can I say - aesthetics really matter to me)!

 

 

Elite 360 (RC-360) mini/desktop might fit the bill, cant decide if the third bay would fit a 5.25... if it does it might be a winner.

http://www.xcase.co.uk/Elite-360-Black-Midi-Desktop-Case-No-PSU-p/case-cm-elite%20360.htm

 

 

Another interesting case

http://www.xcase.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Case-Atomic-Home+Server

 

Try looking at some desktop/cube cases they might work.

 

 

A case like this would seem to be a great niche opportunity for Silverstone, Antec, Lian Li or any of the better case builders to produce.  

Agreed.  I did find one Lian-Li that might fit the bill.  I personally discarded it because it has only the one external 5.25" bay (and I wanted at least 3 external hot swap bays), but perhaps it could be modded?  The price is certainly decent, and we all know Lian-Li ships quality.

 

This reminds me of another thought I had.  I was actually considered buying one of these and gutting it since it has been for sale several times for $299 with a free 1TB low power (LP) Samsung drive (combo deal has since expired, but I suspect it will return):

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822319001&Tpk=LG%20N4B1N

 

It has a nice form factor, plus you get a free Bluray burner in the deal!  I was not clear, however, whether this was using a standard motherboard form factor, and I didn't care to have LG emblazoned on the side of my new NAS (what can I say - aesthetics really matter to me)!

Certainly not a bad deal, especially with the free drive.  Even without it...a BluRay writer is worth $150 at least (assuming it is good quality).

 

As for the LG logo - you could always paint over it, or cover it with a sticker.  Perhaps a nice LimeTech logo? 

Elite 360 (RC-360) mini/desktop might fit the bill, cant decide if the third bay would fit a 5.25... if it does it might be a winner.

http://www.xcase.co.uk/Elite-360-Black-Midi-Desktop-Case-No-PSU-p/case-cm-elite%20360.htm

 

Another interesting case

http://www.xcase.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Case-Atomic-Home+Server

 

 

That second case is very similar to what I initially had in mind.  However, it will not hold a standard 5 in 3 hard drive backplane like this:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121405&cm_re=CSE-M35T-1B-_-17-121-405-_-Product

 

Why doesn't someone make a case JUST LIKE THIS with 3 standard 5.25" openings at the top?

 

That first one is a full ATX case, so if I were to buy something that big, I would probably just go ahead and buy one of the mid tower ATX cases similar to what LimeTech uses for their MD-1510 or RB-1200 servers (QTY 9 external 5-1/4" bays and around 8"x17"x20").

 

Thanks for all of the ideas, guys - we're getting close!

This Tranquil PC also looks pretty nice, and is sold through their website.

 

I really like the design of that Tranquil PC example - I would pick one of those up in a heartbeat if it took a standard ITX motherboard and you could purchase JUST the enclosure.  That's the best enclosure I've seen so far.  That's about as minimalist as I could hope for.

Couple of other ideas, short rack mount case, with two 3 into 2 cages.

 

itx case with esata and external 5 hdd case?

Couple of other ideas, short rack mount case, with two 3 into 2 cages.

 

itx case with esata and external 5 hdd case?

 

I love the ideas we have going here.  For me, I'm wanting everything in one box.  I thought about the rack mount case, but I'm not mounting in a rack, so not sure this is going to be a very attractive solution. 

 

I'm more about the size, quality, aesthetics and efficiency of the system (looking to minimize heat generated, power consumed and fans/failure prone parts) while maximizing over-the-wire performance. 

Nice mini ITX case and you could hide the array away. I realise this means two PSUs so potentially wasteful but you could use a pico style supply in the main itx case.

I also recently searched long and hard for a cube style case with 3 external 5.25 bays and came up with nothing apart from the tranquil PC box.

 

I think I will probably end up buying something Hi-Fi style but I wanted my friend to be able to add a drive without too much hassle.

I wonder if Tranquil PC builds that box or if it is available commercially from another manufacturer?  I haven't been able to track it down, but the Tranquil PC guys seem to be system integrators and not fabricators.  It seems that we should be able to buy that same box from the manufacturer if we could find out who it is.

I just spent some time corresponding with a rep at Tranquil PC.  They claim to fabricate and assemble their own chassis and they are not interested in selling the enclosure alone.  Too bad, this would be perfect.

You could try to find one of these, I'm sure you could mount a mini-ITX board in it.

 

http://www.chyangfun.com/pro02_1_8.asp

 

Here's a picture with everything mounted inside.

 

http://www.lundman.net/gallery/v/lraid5/P1150502.jpg.html

 

Peter

 

Great Find!

I wonder if this is the same?

http://www.addonics.com/products/nas/nasu2_stex_ideu2.asp

 

http://www.chyangfun.com/pro02_1_8.asp

 

 

Sure looks like it. Good catch matching that up. Look here;

 

http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/ast4.asp

 

STMPC or STMC-B = $119 which is the bare enclosure and is listed at bottom of the table for each colour.

 

You could grab a 5SA 5 into 3 adapter from them at the same time for $129.

 

Peter

Awesome find, guys.  This is perfect in black - even the optional handle could be a useful feature.

 

My lingering questions about this enclosure:

 

Does the enclosure without a back panel accept a standard Mini-ITX I/O Shield.

Does the enclosure have threaded holes for mounting the Mini-ITX motherboard?

Can the lowest drive bay be populated and still fit the motherboard?

What is the efficiency curve of the included power supply at 120v? 

What power supply standard is this (too bad it is not a standard ATX)?

 

I'm a little confused by this bullet point at the bottom of the page:  * Stylish clear acrylic exterior (?)

 

You could grab a 5SA 5 into 3 adapter from them at the same time for $129.

 

 

You can buy the Supermicro 5 in 3 right now at buy.com for $96 delivered.  Open box at newegg for $65 + ship.

Awesome find, guys.  This is perfect in black - even the optional handle could be a useful feature.

 

My lingering questions about this enclosure:

 

Does the enclosure without a back panel accept a standard Mini-ITX I/O Shield.

Does the enclosure have threaded holes for mounting the Mini-ITX motherboard?

Can the lowest drive bay be populated and still fit the motherboard?

What is the efficiency curve of the included power supply at 120v?  

What power supply standard is this (too bad it is not a standard ATX)?

 

I'm a little confused by this bullet point at the bottom of the page:  * Stylish clear acrylic exterior (?)

 

Looks like its just a disk enclosure to me... need a suitable PSU and maybe some modding to put a motherboard in it.  

 

Heres a UK supplier selling the same box :-

 

http://www.span.com/product_info.php?cPath=19_1001_1051&products_id=4778

I spoke with them on the phone:

 

 

Here are the answers:

 

Does the enclosure without a back panel accept a standard Mini-ITX I/O Shield.

    THEY DON'T BELIEVE THE CUTOUT IS CONSISTENT WITH A STANDARD MINI-ITX I/O SHIELD.

 

Does the enclosure have threaded holes for mounting the Mini-ITX motherboard?

    NO - YOU WOULD HAVE TO DRILL AND TAP YOUR OWN MOUNTING HOLES

 

Can the lowest drive bay be populated and still fit the motherboard?

    PROBABLY - IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM BEHIND THE BAY TO FIT A MINI-ITX MOTHERBOARD.  

    IF SO, THIS MAY BE A NICE PLACE TO PUT A CACHE DRIVE!

 

What is the efficiency curve of the included power supply at 120v?  

    POWER SUPPLY IS A Channel Well Technology PSF220T-20:  http://www.cwt.com.tw/english/2_product/1_detail.php?ID=427

    NOMINAL EFFICIENCY IS ONLY 68% (not very good)

 

What power supply standard is this (too bad it is not a standard ATX)?

    STILL DONT KNOW - based on the category, I would say FLEX ATX, but it doesn't look like it.

 

What about the "clear acrylic" reference?

    SIDES AND FRONT ARE MADE FRON ACRYLIC AROUND AN ALUMINUM FRAME.  APPARANTLY THE BACK OF THE ACRYLIC IS PAINTED SILVER OR BLACK.

 

 

 

I don't know... I'm not really excited about modding the case to make it work at this price point... and I think I would prefer painted steel or aluminum sides to the acrylic (although I could certainly live with this).  Still the best option to date.

 

You could grab a 5SA 5 into 3 adapter from them at the same time for $129.

 

 

You can buy the Supermicro 5 in 3 right now at buy.com for $96 delivered.  Open box at newegg for $65 + ship.

 

linky linky or did I miss the openbox special?

They must have a special version of the case. The standard version of that case definately has the mounting holes and I'd bet it also accepts the IO shield.

 

Here you can see the standoffs

 

http://www.lundman.net/gallery/v/lraid5/CGN-S40XBB.jpg.html

 

and here you can see one of the bosses in the enclosure which the standoff would thread into.

 

http://www.lundman.net/gallery/v/lraid5/P1150476.jpg.html

 

Still, the Addonics one is easily available and drilling the 4 standoff mounts would be no big deal. I'd also bet the Addonics version has the same IO shield cutout size because it wouldn't make sense to change that.

 

The bad part is the power supply - I don't think there is any standard for that thing. Maybe you could fit a smaller ATX supply in there the same way and make brackets to hold it in place. Another option would be to get a Minibox PicoPSU and their large 12V, 12.5A power brick. 150W should be more than enough to power an ITX motherboard and 5 drives. But, mod the wiring to ensure a set of 12V wires goes from the back panel right to the drive cages.

 

If I was building right now I'd love to try it, then I'd have a match to the ITX HTPC I recently built.

 

Peter