March 21, 201016 yr Found this on the net and wanted to share as they look really great. This is a 4x disk case, an 8x case is available too: http://atechfabrication.com/products/mass_storage_NAS4X.htm They also have great HTPC cases too.
March 21, 201016 yr Looks like a good slim NAS server case, though I'd be concerned about heat it would generate, even though it has air fins, you'll need some kind of fan ventilation to keep it cool. For a HTPC case, I bought a Antec Fusion Remote Max. It can house 4 disks, a full sized mobo, 1 optical drive and full height cards. Has also front usb posts, esata port, firewire, dot matrix display, and a volume control knob and comes with a mce compatible remote, which doubles as a mouse pointer. I got it for $216 aud. It is a great case, very, very quiet operation (with a ultra quiet Cooler Master Silent PSU, which is optional), good build and great features. It could double as a unraid server too, but a max of 4 disks, you'll be limiting yourself. This case is better suited for a HTPC case.
March 21, 201016 yr I built an HTPC box based on an Antec NSK2480 case, details here: http://vermeulen.ca/computer-gigabyte-ma78gm.html It has two 3.5 inch internal drive bays and two 5.25 inch externally accessible bays, so could hold 4 drives. It runs cool and has mountings on the side for two fans (though I only used one). Since the fans are the medium sized ones they are pretty quiet. An external view of it is here: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18762%28ME%29.aspx Regards, Stephen
March 22, 201016 yr Yes I use to see those cases a while ago, but they might of discontinued them here in Australia now. Antec seem to make really sturdy cases, whether it be for HTPCs, desktops or servers. I bought a CoolerMaster Centurion 590 for my unraid server and it is fine, 9 5 1/4 bays, plenty of room and easy to work in, toolless too (though I can't bare the though of installing an addon card without a securing it in with a case screw). I was annoyed with the metal slots between the 5 1/4 bays, which made me resort to using a 4/3 disk enclosure which accommodated these metal slots in the bays. The build quality of the CoolerMaster case seems sturdy too, but the feel that the Antec cases seem a little better and smarter with their designs. What appealed to me using the CoolerMaster Centurion 590 was it was plain looking (not too modern or out there or those see through gamers cases), sported 9 1/4 bays and had heaps of ventilation for 4x 90-140mm fans, price was reasonable too, at $129 aud. I built an HTPC box based on an Antec NSK2480 case, details here: http://vermeulen.ca/computer-gigabyte-ma78gm.html It has two 3.5 inch internal drive bays and two 5.25 inch externally accessible bays, so could hold 4 drives. It runs cool and has mountings on the side for two fans (though I only used one). Since the fans are the medium sized ones they are pretty quiet. An external view of it is here: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18762%28ME%29.aspx Regards, Stephen
March 22, 201016 yr Found this on the net and wanted to share as they look really great. This is a 4x disk case, an 8x case is available too: http://atechfabrication.com/products/mass_storage_NAS4X.htm They also have great HTPC cases too. Good lord those are some sexy cases. I especially like the Mini-Client 2500.
March 22, 201016 yr Found this on the net and wanted to share as they look really great. This is a 4x disk case, an 8x case is available too: http://atechfabrication.com/products/mass_storage_NAS4X.htm They also have great HTPC cases too. look nice but the prices are crazy. $549 for the case linked...
March 22, 201016 yr Yep. I customized the Mini-Client 2500 with what I considered a 'reasonable' setup (no optical drive, no video card (would use the Zotac board with built in ION GPU), minimal add-ons such as IR and their custom CPU heatsink, etc.). Total came out over $700 - just the case, no core components. Ooof. It will be many years before I can justify that kind of expense just for cosmetic appeal and a few dBs of reduced noise..... If these cases were in the sub $300 range, I would start considering them. I think they are quite innovative, though, I really like the idea of a fanless system in which the case itself is a massive heatsink - quite clever.
March 22, 201016 yr Author Good lord those are some sexy cases. I especially like the Mini-Client 2500. This is what I thought when I first saw them, never saw anything similar. I am running a Zalman HD135 but those are simply stunning! And yes, they must be expensive, as it is the HD135 that is in the $300 range, those are way above, engineering at its best!
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