January 3, 201115 yr So, I'm looking for a new home for my unRAID server. It's currently in an Antec Three Hundred and I'm running out of space to fit the additional hard drives which I will eventually be adding. I'm specifically looking for a Tower type case, which has 12 or even more External 5.25" Drive Bays. I know there are the lots of Norco, SuperMicro, etc. Rackmount cases out there, but I'm not a fan of them and don't plan on going that route. Specifically only want a Tower. The only one that seems popular and easily available is the Antec Twelve Hundred, if anyone has any other suggestions that would be amazing. Thanks in advance.
January 3, 201115 yr The Sharkoon Rebel12, but it is generally only available in Europe. Anything in particular you don't like about the Antec 1200?
January 3, 201115 yr The fractal design define xl has 10x internal 3.5" drive bays as well as 4x 5.25" external drive bays. This could be an option. Has similar pricing to the antec 1200. There's also the Lian Li PC-A77FB has 12x 5.25" drive bays although its about twice the price of the antec and fractal.
January 3, 201115 yr Anyone using this one (NZXT Whisper Full-tower)?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146051 Has 9 disk bays, and seven 5-1/2" bays. It wouldn't be hard to get 20 disks in it.
January 4, 201115 yr Author I've got nothing against the Twelve Hundred, it's a great case. I just like choice in my life. =) One thing I should have mentioned this is a 100% passive/fanless system, so I need an top exhaust for hot air to rise through, which the Twelve Hundred also has. It really doesn't seem like there is much options in what I'm looking for. I thought I had missed something in my exhaustive searches, but apparently not.
January 4, 201115 yr One thing I should have mentioned this is a 100% passive/fanless system, so I need an top exhaust for hot air to rise through, which the Twelve Hundred also has. Now you got my attention. Any details on what you are planning, other than the case?
January 4, 201115 yr Author Well, the system is already up and running. I'm just looking to expand and want a bigger case for it. The current components are: SeaSonic X650 Gold (has a 'smart' fan which only turns on when there's high power use, therefore it is never on in here, and barely makes heat) AMD Sempron 140 Sargas with 1GB DDR2 on an Asus M2A74-AM. Using a COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus to cool the CPU, no fan installed, hot air exits through the top of the 300 where the 20cm fan hole is. It runs at around 40-50 celcius, but thats only using a Infrared Thermometer, as I coulnd't get a temp readout in unRAID or unmenu. Currently housing 6x2TB drives, which run at 30-40 celcius when in use. So other than drive spinup, and running, which I have set to spindown in 15 mins, no noise. When they are spun down, and the case is open with your ear in the heart of it, it does not make a noise. I love it. I had to plugin the power light pins on the motherboard to be sure when its on and off now. Heh
January 4, 201115 yr That's pretty impressive. However, with 12 - 20 drives I don't think you'll be able to get away without dedicated cooling for the HDDs. I would recommend looking into a single large fan, such as a 200 mm top or rear mounted fan. There are water cooling systems for HDDs, but I really don't think they are worth the expense. Also, a good drill bit will add air holes to any case
January 4, 201115 yr Once you get lots of drives in there I also think you will have cooling issues during parity checks.
January 4, 201115 yr Well, the system is already up and running. I'm just looking to expand and want a bigger case for it. The current components are: SeaSonic X650 Gold (has a 'smart' fan which only turns on when there's high power use, therefore it is never on in here, and barely makes heat) AMD Sempron 140 Sargas with 1GB DDR2 on an Asus M2A74-AM. Using a COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus to cool the CPU, no fan installed, hot air exits through the top of the 300 where the 20cm fan hole is. It runs at around 40-50 celcius, but thats only using a Infrared Thermometer, as I coulnd't get a temp readout in unRAID or unmenu. Currently housing 6x2TB drives, which run at 30-40 celcius when in use. So other than drive spinup, and running, which I have set to spindown in 15 mins, no noise. When they are spun down, and the case is open with your ear in the heart of it, it does not make a noise. I love it. I had to plugin the power light pins on the motherboard to be sure when its on and off now. Heh Nice! Can I ask what the ambient temperature is? I would love to try this. I've experience unacceptable temperatures (>55C) for some of my HDD when I did not have then in a case with active cooling. i.e. when I was building and testing the system before final assembly in the summer. Post some pics on the U.C.D. section!
January 5, 201115 yr I use the Coolmaster 590 - it holds 12 drives when you purchase 2 additional 4 in 3 enclosures: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817993002&cm_re=4_in_3-_-17-993-002-_-Product
January 5, 201115 yr Author Room temperature is 22.5 During a parity check the hottest and topmost drive gets to no higher than 50 celsius. I have some temp readouts from the infrared thermometer, 60.0 celsius was the hottest spot I could find on the cpu. My only way of reading the CPU as I could never get k8temp to function. Here's a few pics of the server for the curious. Not the best pics, as its nestled in the basement underneath a staircase. Yes, there are still fans in the box, but none are plugged in. If anyone is curious, I'm using the MASSCOOL PCI Card, 4 internal SATA found here -> http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815280003
January 5, 201115 yr The Sharkoon Rebel12, but it is generally only available in Europe. Anything in particular you don't like about the Antec 1200? In Asia they are sold by ICUTE http://icute.com.tw/english/A18.html going to see if i find one in Thailand
January 6, 201115 yr I love that coolermaster case that fits the modules in. That is probably the direction I will go in when the time comes. I don't believe in spending money on a case that will sit in a closet and never be seen.
January 6, 201115 yr FWIW, here's another vote for the CoolerMaster 590 case with two CoolerMaster 4-in-3 cages for a total of twelve drives. Pluses for the CoolerMaster: - nine 5" drive bays, externally accessible - Price: around $70 for the case; $20 to $25 for the 4-in-3 cages - Front bezel doesn't have any wires attached to it --- very easy to pull off/on - The 4-in-3 cages do come with 120mm fans. I under volt them to keep them quiet - Lots of room, especially when using mATX motherboards (i.e., drives don't overlap motherboard) Minuses: - Doesn't have a reset button If I was going for the maxed out 15 drive option I wouldn't buy those $100 5-in-3 cages. It do I rather go for the NORCO RPC-4220 for less.
January 6, 201115 yr FWIW, here's another vote for the CoolerMaster 590 case with two CoolerMaster 4-in-3 cages for a total of twelve drives. Pluses for the CoolerMaster: - nine 5" drive bays, externally accessible - Price: around $70 for the case; $20 to $25 for the 4-in-3 cages - Front bezel doesn't have any wires attached to it --- very easy to pull off/on - The 4-in-3 cages do come with 120mm fans. I under volt them to keep them quiet - Lots of room, especially when using mATX motherboards (i.e., drives don't overlap motherboard) Minuses: - Doesn't have a reset button If I was going for the maxed out 15 drive option I wouldn't buy those $100 5-in-3 cages. It do I rather go for the NORCO RPC-4220 for less. I was dead set to get a 590 till they vanished from everywhere....lol i went with a Antec 1200.....got lucky and got it at a steal of a price.....but even at reg price to get to that 15 or 16 drive case then all it would take is 4 of the cm 4 in 3's and your still cheaper than the Norco just have to be realistic on how many drives your gonna expand to......we would all love to have a 20 drive beast but those 20 drives are expensive....lol and now with movement on getting support for 3tb drives means more space with less drives happening soon so like i said....it is much better to bang your head against the wall now and really figure out what you need than to find out later you wasted a bunch of money....lol
January 12, 201214 yr I have the NZXT Whisper Full-tower and its a good cheap case. Definite potential to get 20 drives in it, 9 internal and 7 external bays (2 X 5 in 3 + 1 on rails). My internal drives run between 32c - 44c degrees and externals usual run around the 40c mark. I see only two minor issues with it; 1) very heavy even when not fully stacked with drives, 2) cooling fans not very powerful (would benefit from a couple Noctua's but that would boost the price). Regards, Adz
January 12, 201214 yr I have an Antec 300 and if you wanted to stay with it I think you can get 12 drives inside. 6 x 3.5 internal 3 x 5.25 external (use a 5in3) 1 x 2.5 internal (at the bottom of the case) for a laptop drive or SSD Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
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