Good WHS case

[coolVariable]

We have been having a discussion over in the SFF forum about home server cases.
With the exception of the chenbro 340 NAS case and the HP Windows Home Server cases there seem to be no mini-itx small form factor cases that support 4+ HDDs.
Looking for something less than $100 ideally.

 

[Zap]

I don't think you'd get a different answer here. Mini ITX is low volume, therefore expect higher prices. Also, traditionally it was used for embedded applications, thus not many suitable cases for home servers.

 

[coolVariable]

This is the cases and cooling forum. That is rather disappointing.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I think that all mini-ITX motherboards are limited to 2 SATA ports

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I think that all mini-ITX motherboards are limited to 2 SATA ports

no. The Intel G45 miniITX Skt775 board has 4 SATA ports, as the AM2+ Zotac 780G and nForce 8200 have 4 SATA ports. The only case I really like for WHS is the Chenbro, which you can pick up at eWiz for $160.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: PCTC2

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I think that all mini-ITX motherboards are limited to 2 SATA ports

no. The Intel G45 miniITX Skt775 board has 4 SATA ports, as the AM2+ Zotac 780G and nForce 8200 have 4 SATA ports. The only case I really like for WHS is the Chenbro, which you can pick up at eWiz for $160.

You're right. I was thinking Atom's (doh)

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: coolVariable
This is the cases and cooling forum. That is rather disappointing.

What, that nobody can come up with an answer that doesn't exist outside of that Chenbro case and pre-built WHS systems?

Your only other options are to mod your own or make your own. For making, sky's the limit (that, and your skills/tools). For modding, there are cases available similar to the original Shuttle mini systems. Just yank out the existing drive bays (usually an optical or two and a hard drive or two) and put in your own.

 

[Zepper]

I'd suggest you go with mATX instead. More flexibility, more choices, plenty of cases out there. Plus the PSUs can handle 4 HDDs starting at once (36W or more just on the 12V plus a bit more from the 5V) better than what is out there for mini ITX...

.bh.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: PCTC2
The only case I really like for WHS is the Chenbro, which you can pick up at eWiz for $160.

I only see it for $190

Originally posted by: Zepper
I'd suggest you go with mATX instead. More flexibility, more choices, plenty of cases out there. Plus the PSUs can handle 4 HDDs starting at once (36W or more just on the 12V plus a bit more from the 5V) better than what is out there for mini ITX...

.bh.

I might be forced to.
Would have been very nice to have a small case with multiple drives.

 

[aigomorla]

why do you need multipul drives?

If you absolutely need something like that, maybe lappy drives on a SAS backplate is ideal?

You can stuff 4 lappy drives in 1 5 1/4 sas backplate, and sas is backwards compatitable with SATA.

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...gomorla/Harddrives.jpg

other route would be to just get a firewire or usb enclosure and just addon.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
why do you need multipul drives?

Because I want to use it as a home server.
Without lots of storage that doesn't really make sense, does it?

I am not going to take that Laptop HDD suggestion seriously:

1. Laptop HDDs are too small ... 500GB come on.

2. Laptop HDDs are expensive compared to desktop HDDs ... if I am complaining about a $200 case ... do you REALLY think I will spend extra for laptop HDDs if I can get 2x - 2.5x the capacity for the same price? And that idea also doesn't work. If I ask for 4x 3.5" ... that means I can fit 4x 1.5TB ... 6TB. I would need 12 laptop HDDs to do the same.

3. I asked for help finding a case that fits my specs ... not making those sucky cases work

 

[Knavish]

How about this one:
Morex Venus 668B

I've never seen it, but I have ordered parts from Logic Supply before. It has the capacity for 4 HDs if you use adapters to put the drives in the 2 external 5.25" bays. FWIW I think it's easier to find mini ITX related stuff on more industrial oriented sites rather than consumer sites like Newegg. I think mini ITX is starting to shift more into the consumer space, though.

lol took me 3 tries to get my http link formatted correctly

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: aigomorla
why do you need multipul drives?

Because I want to use it as a home server.
Without lots of storage that doesn't really make sense, does it?

I am not going to take that Laptop HDD suggestion seriously:

LOL..

i thought u were needing it for RAID purposes.

2 primary and 2 secondary.

Yes if its for storage, lappy drives are a joke.


Its gonna be hard finding a small case that can take that many drives. Theres a reason why there called MATX.

If you dont have the drives for it, maybe a presetup NAS would be more ideal if you accounted the cost of the drives?

Still think your best solution would be to stack USB drives ontop of each other and build yourself a RACK storage.

like this:
http://www.buy.com/prod/ultra-...loc/101/204253340.html

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: coolVariable
If I ask for 4x 3.5" ... that means I can fit 4x 1.5TB ... 6TB.

Why settle for such small drives? WD 2TB drive just showed up on Newegg today.