Best small Case

[augustus524]

Cont' from
Best MicroATX "cube" case for DIY NAS box?

I'm also planning to DIY a NAS, I am after a case as small as possbile, doesn't have to be cube, can be mini, but it must be able to house 4x3.5" harddrive (for RAID 5) and 1x5.25" optical drive drive. As silent as possible, as it might be used next to a TV.

Any recommendation?

 

[Zepper]

Welcome to the AT Forums.

A small case that can hold lots of HDDs is a difficult find - the canned solutions tend to use custom cases. But check the Evercase 3505B at eWiz and here is the Mfr Link. It comes with a bracket for two HDDs, and even though it may not be designed for it, you can get another add-on rack for 2 more HDDs from Evercase (see the Optional/Replacement Parts list at the bottom of each mid-tower case page) that can be mounted on the floor of the case in front of the fan (their mid-tower cases all come with the two holes and alignment locators already drilled - not sure about the 3505 but since they don't offer the bracket as an option for that one... - no biggie to drill the two mounting holes though - the bracket is pre-tapped for 6-32 screws). Their shipping is egregious for small orders but it will still be the cheapest and most effective small case out there - one of the few with 120mm mounts F/R. It takes a standard size ATX PSU which is also very rare in small cases.
. I'd suggest one of the Silverstone PSUs with the SC suffix (short cable) or you could buy the Enhance 5140 or 5150GH from eWiz too which are the same as the Silverstones but with normal length cables (Enhance OEMs Silverstone PSUs). Save money at eWiz by linking to the products from Pricewatch (sometimes get free ground shipping or almost always a small discount) or by Froogle (usually a small discount) after going there directly to check the stuff out.

I usually have some of the Evercase HDD brackets and bushing kits on hand as they are 99.9% universal if your case has room for one. Don't forget to order the rubber bushing kit for the bracket too as noise is an issue for you. In the pictures I've seen, the bushing kit for the first bracket is included but it almost never is in the midtower boxes so I'd order a spare unless you wait to get the case first before ordering the bracket so you know what you have in the box. I do have a few extra bushing sets and will be placing an order for some more brackets soon if you aren't in a big hurry.

.bh.