For a 20-drive setup, would the Norco boxes be the only option available? I've never seen anyone reference anything else. Lime-tech hinted at a 20 drive setup and I'm wondering if they're likely to use the Norco?

For a 20-drive setup, would the Norco boxes be the only option available? I've never seen anyone reference anything else. Lime-tech hinted at a 20 drive setup and I'm wondering if they're likely to use the Norco?

 

 

if you don't mind using 5in3 modules something like the Antec 1200 would be good

Personally i would never buy a Norco again. They have almost doubled in cost here and there is no way I could keep it cool if all 20 drives were up for hours.

 

Just FYI

Personally i would never buy a Norco again. They have almost doubled in cost here and there is no way I could keep it cool if all 20 drives were up for hours.

 

Just FYI

 

Is that with the stock fans?

Yeah for sure. If you added larger uber fans the situation would change a bit but fundamentally for em at least the disk density at the front is too high and leaves not enough airflow.

I have the 4 - 3 varient of this brand but their is a 5 - 3 version, which to my experience is a very good build quality, solid aluminium trays and chasis, variable fan control, power on/off disk switches and LED hdd status:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SNT-3051-SAS-SATA-2-Backplane-5-Drive-HotSwap-RAID-HDD-/150431114746

 

Yeah for sure. If you added larger uber fans the situation would change a bit but fundamentally for em at least the disk density at the front is too high and leaves not enough airflow.

the cooling is fine.

 

i have the 5in3 which have the same trays but less airflow, and tehse actually cool better when all 5 are populated, which is why you have blanking bits iwth teh racks, make su reyou use them to target airflow across hdds. remember racks were meant for a 25C environment of a server room. if you have empty bays make sure therye blocked otherwise you will be overheating any hdds that are installed. my friend has 3x norco racks all populated with wd black/hitachi 7k and they run just fine even if ambient temps are 35C.

 

OP: we all talk norco because other brands cost 3-10x mroe expensive, and were all cheap they all do the same thing, build quality etc varies, norco is on the low end.

I think NAS (and probably OP) is talking about the 20 bay Norco 4U case(s) not any of the 4/5-in-3 backplanes.

I think NAS (and probably OP) is talking about the 20 bay Norco 4U case(s) not any of the 4/5-in-3 backplanes.

 

Yes I am.

i know. but the racks and 5in 3 sahre teh same trays, but the racks have much much more airflwo through teh open backplane compared to the little slot cut out in the backplane of the 5in3.

 

thers more airflow, and more space for air to flow through. if the 5in's work then the racks work.

Perhaps things have changed I am one generation behind on Norco. I will always stay that way though cause if i have put this case with non Eco drives in my cabinet it would have melted my drives.

 

Hopefully the new ones are better but im not spending that kind of money to find out

Surely it's the whole package that matters? Case size, density within the case, other cooling requirements? Not just the design of the trays.

 

I can't see comparing the 20 bay turnkey server's cooling to an individual (or even collective) 5-in-3 tray performance - even if they're the same physically as the trays in the server - as suitable. Given the myriad of other factors involved.

 

Slightly derailing the thread and ultimately I have neither the Norco 5-in-3's or the 20 bay 4u so what do I know

there actually isnt much to tray design, theres almsot no room between drives in tray systems vs trayless ones.

 

but yes density is an issue, if you dont have all 20 bays popylated you must make sure the ones you arent using are blocked off so air doesnt go through them.

 

the older norcos with the trays that almsot fall aport im not sure about, but ive worked with the current racks and stackers and the racks have by far way better cooling than the hotswaps. the racks have an almost totally open rear blackplane while the hotswasp have a small 4cm slot for each drive.

The backplane on the 4020 is blocking lot of the cooling air but the 4220 is way better with its horizontally laid 5 backplanes and it is a steal at that price. Remember that for 4x 5-in-3s you will have to spend at least $300 and that would be a 4220. Change the stock fans, go for high-static pressure fans, use PWM on the mobo and use software control to control RPMs based on actual HDD temps (there is a script from BubbaQ somewhere around). Right now I am exchanging all the stock fans on the middle fanboard with 120mm Delta AFC1212DE-PWM fans. Cavediver has made a 120mm fanboard (Looks like this: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=18001638&postcount=58) for the 4220 which works very good. Check on the Hardforum and also AVSforum. And of course look out for the newer 4224 as they will be even better!

Just fyi because of international exchange rates and the general crapness of all thing electrical the Norco is $554 delivered here. Add in new fans and you are at a whopping $600. Thats alot of cash for an empty rack thats at the bottom end of the scale

Personally, I love my Norco 4220. I changed the stock fans to 3 120mm and my hard drives temps are between 34-37C during parity check.

Anyway, anyone is free to decide for yourself. What is your suggestiong to get instead of the Norco? A Chenbro, a Supermicro or Antec 1200 and 4x 5-in-3's for about $400?? And while the 4220 has a modified backplanes which works good with cooling, those 5-in-3's don't!