12+ 3.5" bay case?

[Mr Bob]

Anyone have suggestions for a case that can hold 12+ hard drives?

Cooling & cable management is a huge factor. I've stayed out of the high end case market, so I'm not quite sure what to do. My Kandalf has no space left inside

This case will have to be able to support any future upgrade to a server board. I might upgrade to a quad cpu MB in the next year or so.

The only case I have seen so far is the Lian Li V PC-V2100A PLUS @ $300.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I have this case, the Enermax FS2300BB. Plenty of room, 23 bays, etc. Or, you could get two or three Supermicro SATA enclosures, and put hds in those. What kind of budget are you looking at? And are these SATA, IDE, SAS, SCSI, etc drives?

EDIT: And the Enermax case does support EATX (server) mobos, as I have one in right now. Forgot to mention, as you asked about that. Also, search for the Chenbro cases. They are large server cases, and are usually pretty good deals for the requirement they fill.

 

[Mr Bob]

"And are these SATA, IDE, SAS, SCSI, etc drives? "
- All SATA drives. Rig is in the sig.

What's the cost on that case?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Mr Bob,

Look at the cases at http://www.buildtoorderservers.com/ or http://www.servercase.com/

Both these outfits carry Zippy/Emacs PSUs and do get a real server grade SMPS for your build. George at Build To Order Servers has been in the server business for 35+years and is a good guy for offering any info you need.


...Galvanized

 

[Mr Bob]

I should have specified this earlier, my budget is $325 and no more. It looks like those server cases are pretty expensive.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

The Enermax FS2300 is something around $450, and it having 100 pounds shipping weight (freight), it's quite expensive to ship as well.

 

[Mr Bob]

Ouch, I'll pass on that. I think I need to stick to a "normal" tower. Like the Lian Li, or the Kandalf.

 

[Toadster]

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...oduct_Code=100379&Category_Code=C1-ALL

 

[Mr Bob]

Thanks Toadster, I'll keep that in mind as an option

 

[Toadster]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Thanks Toadster, I'll keep that in mind as an option

sure no problemo - i really like Monarch, great customer service (so far)

the $129 price is without P/S - but you have a lot of variance there!

 

[Mr Bob]

"the $129 price is without P/S - but you have a lot of variance there! "
- Yup, we'll see what happens about the PSU > http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1872316&enterthread=y

I'm not sure what the standard name is for server boards, but will they be supported?

This is what appears on monarch's site:
* Micro ATX
* ATX
* E-ATX 12"-13"
* W-ATX 13"-16"

 

[Zepper]

You can put 12+ hard drives in a Thermaltake Armor, Kandalf, etc., some of the CM Stackers any case with 10 or more 5" bays. That's assuming you need at least one bay left over for an optical drive. You just have to use the 4-in-3 drive cages made by Lian Li or CoolerMaster - 9 free, " bays hold up to 12 drives - you can also get 3-in-2 cages. More bays more drives. The Codegen S101 or S201 cases (at Dealsonic et al. - the Egg doesn't seem to carry much Codegen any more) aren't fancy but they can hold lots of cages and several PSUs. Lots cheaper to use a couple of reasonably powered PSUs than one monster. Pretty sure they can take EATX mobos too.
. The Aerocool Masstige/Coolview have ten 5" bays and cases like the Aerocool Spiral Galaxies have a good number of 5" bays and a some dedicated HDD bays too. Here are a few more sites that carry server type cases with lots of bays: www.yycase.com, www.bowsystem.com, www.kpi.com. I also like the sites that Galvanized linked - you don't have to buy the cases that only take the fancy hot-swap cages unless that's something you really need. I see that servercase has one that has ten 5" bays for just a bit over $100. in the Entry Level server case section. I didn't note how big a mobo it could handle - I went back and it can only do standard ATX mobo.

.bh.

 

[Mr Bob]

I have the Kandalf right now. Even though I have my floppy drive inside the power button bay, I still have no room to expand.

I want to prepare for the future, now. I want a "normal" case that has a lot of hard drive bay support, I can't do the hot-swap cage route :/ and these server racks are too ugly.

I looked @ yycase and didn't find any decent looking cases with more than 12 3.5" base. It redirected me to http://www.gigacase.com

Appreciate the help

 

[Mr Bob]

Will that Lian Li V2100 case support a server board? I'm not sure what kind of server board I would upgrade to, so I don't know what the type is...

 

[Zepper]

Whaddya have against the CM Stackers? They come with one 4-in-3 cage and you can add at least two more.

.bh.

 

[Mr Bob]

I want a regular looking computer case :/

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
I want a regular looking computer case :/

Did you even look at the regular server cases at the sites I linked above??
Both have good cases for cheap. Mod in 120s if need be.


...Galvanized

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Is making a second machine an option at all? Just a machine for storage purposes?

 

[Mr Bob]

"Did you even look at the regular server cases at the sites I linked above?? "
- Yes.

http://www.bowsystem.com/new%20bow/product/product.htm > I don't see any normal looking cases, all are server cases....
http://kpi.com/products_services.htm > I went to products, and I don't see any products....
http://www.gigacase.com/ > The 'YY-5603' model has 4 5.25" bays and the 'YY-W201' has 8 5.25" bays. What do you suggest the fits my criteria?

"Is making a second machine an option at all? Just a machine for storage purposes? "
- Nah, I sometimes take my computer with me while I am on the road. It is hard enough to carry one huge computer, can't imagine trying to do two!

 

[Zepper]

Sorry, it's http://www.keypower.com - they have a 10-bay, aluminum tower. You have to call them as the price isn't listed.

"Normal" cases just aren't built to deal with that many drives. Except for the LL niche market produsts, that's an oxymoron. The Silverstone SST-TJ05 has eight 3.5" bays and four 5" bays - all that would need is one LL or CM 4-in-3 cage to handle 12 drives. I think the TJ-07 is out of your $$ range - that could handle 16 drives by replacing the 3-drive bottom cages with 4in3s and a couple more up top.

What's "normal" in cases anyway. You get one that can handle your space requirements and the devil take the hindmost. If it was me, one of those Codegens and as many CM 4in3s as I needed would already be on the way. The heck with whether it looks "normal" or not. The OP's application isn't "normal", so let's get over it...

.bh.

 

[Mr Bob]

Will that Lian Li V2100 case support a server board? I'm not sure what kind of server board I would upgrade to, so I don't know what the type is.

"Has to be http://www.kpi.com - leave off the www and you get a different site. Don't ask me how that works."
- Tried both and they take me to the same site.

Can you link me to any specific models on the other two suggested sites? I can't really find anything on those either.

Appreciate the help

 

[Mr Bob]

Any other suggestions are welcomed

I want to make the purchase tonight or tomorrow morning.