Any ideas for an ideal hard drive storage case with proper cooling?

[imported_Fatbuddha]

I'm a computer pack rat. I back up everything I own... I used to have more HD's but I ditched a few and got bigger ones to replace a few. I'm still having problems with heat in my case though. I deffinately need something with a lot of air flow over the HDs and room for HDs.

I'm looking for a nice case with enough HD slots and fans or a water cooling solution that will cool them. Let me know if you have come across anything, while I continue my search for a new case. Thanks

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/elenor911/CIMG0482.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/elenor911/CIMG0480.jpg

 

[HardWarrior]

Wow. Any water-cooling solution you try is going to require a second loop and a very powerful pump(s). My 75b could be made to fit 8-drives and leave 2*5 1/4 inch bays for opticals. I'm sure there are more modern alternatives. Think a really spacious full-tower and be prepared to use lots of fans.

 

[imported_Fatbuddha]

Yeah I would rather go air cooled. Reccomend anything?

 

[potato28]

How 'bout having 1 HDD in the case and the rest in a hot swap bay? Theyll stay cool , and itll be quieter.

 

[imported_Fatbuddha]

Sounds like a plan but could I get some links to things, I'm not extactly sure what to google. Thanks.

BTW I looked at the Coolermaster Stacker beautiful case perfect for me except its $130 plus shipping.

 

[Zepper]

How about this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811182545

And a couple of these:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Coolermaster-4-...-Device-Module-STB-3T4-E1-pr-2429.html

.bh.

 

[Madwand1]

An Antec SLK3000B + a Thermaltake iCage + 1 120mm fan (e.g. Arctic Cooling 12 exhaust-only) + 2 Zalman Fanmates can handle 8 drives air cooled (with room for just 1 optical drive.) Many cases can do this configuration (ideally ones with >=4 external 5.25 drive slots, and a door / cover in front; the Antec's one of the cheapest.

Lian Li, Coolermaster, and probably others have similar cooled drive cages to the Thermaltake iCage, however, the Coolermaster ones don't fit in all cases; the Thermaltakes fit in many/most (and certainly the Antec), and I'm not sure about the Lian Li's (never used them). The Lian Li's have a couple of advantages -- built-in fan filter and different versions that can fit 4 drives in 3 slots or 3 drives in 2 slots vs. the Thermaltake's 3 for 3. Coolermaster also handles 4 in 3.

Edit: Corrected capacity and slots for Lian Li.

 

[Zepper]

The Thermaltake cages are too simple-minded - they don't even increase the storage density. It's one HD per 5" bay - what a waste...

.bh.

 

[EatSpam]

This case: Lian Li PC-60BPLUSII Black Computer Case
This drive cooler bracket: Lian Li EX-23B Black 3.5" Hard Driver Rack

That'll get you 8 drive bays and enough cooling capacity for them. Also, there will be room for 2 optical drives...

Its pricey, but with Lian-Li, you typically get what you pay for.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Zepper
thermaltake cages are too simple-minded - they don't even increase the storage density.

They work. I had to return Coolermasters because they wouldn't fit in my case.

 

[imported_Fatbuddha]

Thanks for this: http://www.jab-tech.com/Coolermaster-4-...-Device-Module-STB-3T4-E1-pr-2429.html

What a simple solution and such a great alternative. I found one site with good feedback, shipping, and price www.case-mod.com but they're out of it ATM. Don't know why several places are, seems like it would be a simple piece to manufacture. Any other cheap solutions are appreciated.

 

[RallyMaster]

Serious answer but might be considered naive: why not just get another case to put all the hard drives? I'm sure you can find 5.25" to 3.5" convertors. Those will fit.

 

[Zepper]

I heard that CM was going to try to limit distribution of some of their Stacker accys. Seems like SundialMicro is going to be their 'fair-haired boy' for those (I just looked and they don't have 'em either - due the 4th?). But that's OK as if CM insists on doing stupid stuff like that, someone else will come along and eat their cake. I'm sure the same thing could be done equally well for less money - just cutting the metal back to 1.0mm will save a lot. If folks wanna buy 'em, you damn well better be sellin' 'em...

Lian Li also makes a 4 in 3 but used to be it was only for L-L cases - supposed to work with others now. It is prettier and about $10. more expensive, but you'll save some of it on shipping - that CM 4 in 1 is a cast-iron mutha. See my pix of it over on the http://www.techimo.com site in the "Photos" section: Linkage . Damps a lot of vibes just from the mass of the thing and those huge blue dampers take care of the rest. I have pix of the other HD racks I've found there too (Tt, LL, etc.). Just do an "Advanced" search on my User name and you'll find 'em.

Here's a 3 in 2 that I found: Linkage .

.bh.

 

[imported_Fatbuddha]

It could be that I'm tired or it could be that I'm blind but I can find squat under your name. Thanks for the Lian Li idea I'll look into that too. Thanks

 

[Zepper]

To search on TechIMO, go to the photo section > click on "search" > a small box will open with the words "Advanced Search" at the bottom > click on the words "advanced search" > a new window will open > scroll down (if necessary) and enter my user name in the "User Name" field > press Enter. That should do it. Or just click on Linkage in my previous messae > once you've looked at the CM unit, browse around on that same page and you'll see most of the others. The LLs have pretty fronts on them, the Tt has a blue fan and looks like three bay adapters glued/welded together (which it is for all practical purposes), and the one from BTOS is there too with its front open.

zepper is my user name there too.

Jab-tech says that their CM distributor will have stock on the 4-in-3 box by mid month if you want it and can wait.

.bh.

 

[Zap]

External quad drive Firewire tower

This looks pretty cool, supporting up to four 500GB EIDE drives with an 80mm exhaust fan and supporting Firewire 400 and 800.

If your drives are all SATA, you can get an eSATA multi drive box that will be faster than Firewire. Some motherboards now are coming with eSATA connectors, or you can buy a PCI card.

I personally went with a dual 5¼" Firewire box, with two mobile racks (and a bunch of empty trays). Works well enough. Included fan was kind of noisy but it's only on when I need to access certain data (such as pr0n ).