Looking for case for small (storage) server

[Jagoop]

Hello everyone!

I'm planning to replace my HP MediaSmart homeserver.

Ideally I would like to build a Mini ITX or Micro ATX based computer, with room for 6-8 drives (mainly 3.5" HDDs), a Haswell i5/i7, and no optical drives.
I would prefer a small case, either with hotswap build in or with the ability to mount a custom hotswap module for some or alle of the HDDs.

I've looked at cases such as the Chenbro ES34169 , Fractal Design Node 304 , Hfx PowerNAS. But haven't found the perfect case just yet.

I know I can build the server in any old mini/midi-tower, but I really like the small form factor of the HP MediaSmart.

Any suggestions for a good case?

 

[Zap]

The Lian Li PC-Q25B is an ITX case with 5x hot swap bays and cost around half what the PowerNAS case costs but you have to take the side panel off to access them. The ARK ITX/CS-CI03 cost a bit more and only has 4x hot swap bays, but they are front accessible, but seems to be of questionable quality (including included PSU).

HP makes a few versions of the ProLiant Micro Server. There is a cheap one often on sale under $300. It has four hot swap bays (well, not exactly sure they are hot swap, or merely "easy access") and an external 5¼" bay. Comes as a "complete" system with a mobile dual core AMD chip, motherboard, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD. You just need to add OS and more drives.

There is also a newer and higher end version (Gen 8) that seems to use socket 1155 low voltage dual core Ivy Bridge CPUs, plus slim optical drives. The slim drives makes them smaller, but less flexible since a lot of people were using the full size 5¼" for another HDD.

 

[Jagoop]

Thank you for the suggestions. The ARK case looks too shabby in my opinion.

The Lian-Li PC-Q25B (and 28) looks very interesting. I've also come across the Bit Fenix Prodigy, which looks interesting.

 

[gorobei]

wow, that lianli Q25b looks perfect for a nas/htpc. the only downside seems to be the space available for the psu and the 4pin molex requirements for the hotswap backplane.

 

[aigomorla]

The Fractal Node is kinda big...
I have one, and well, i was assuming it would be smaller.
My shuttle XSPC case is actually smaller...

I honestly was assuming smaller..

wow, that lianli Q25b looks perfect for a nas/htpc. the only downside seems to be the space available for the psu and the 4pin molex requirements for the hotswap backplane.

But how often are you gonna hotswap on a NAS?
Because you cant put in a hotswap, thats what makes it small.

 

[gorobei]

The Fractal Node is kinda big...

I honestly was assuming smaller..



But how often are you gonna hotswap on a NAS?
Because you cant put in a hotswap, thats what makes it small.

it already has hotswap built in, but it takes 3x 4pin molex connections which seems weird and kinda outdated. my complaint is that it makes it a bit of a wiring mess. especially if you cant find a fully modular psu under 5.5" length.

for a zfs system upgrading the array is pretty common.