Looking for Server Case alternatives

[Gillbot]

I really like the Chenbro SR103 as seen here: http://www.chenbro.com.tw/product/product_preview.php?pid=74

But they are fairly pricey and hard to find. Are there any other options with perhaps more internal drive bay options? I really like the wheeled case as it would allow me to mount my switch and other components to the top and wheel it around as needed.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I don't have a link to the product page (will edit when I get home), but my case is an Enermax FS2300. You mentioned pricey, so it might be too much, but here's my machine's pics, if you want to check out the case. It definitely has enough bays.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Shop http://www.buildtoorderservers.com/ for a reasonably priced mega-case.

The only problem is they do not offer many pics and limited discription. If you call the
toll free number they will work with you. They normally build in house to customer spec.
I have only bought two Zippy/Emacs from them, so my experiance is limited.
I would buy from them again.

If you need a server grade PSU and noise is not a major factor, the HP2-6460P for $85
is a very good deal. The one with a thermally controlled fan is $108.


...Galvanized

 

[Gillbot]

I'm not really building a high end server, just something to use as file storage at lan parties and etc. so I'm trying to keep the cost down as this is all out of pocket. I just can't find a good case that will do what I want to do.

I like the short wide one like the Chenbro SR103 because I can mount my switches and other gear to the top of it and just wheel it around. I'm not opposed to a standard size ATX case either but I can't find one with many drive bays. They seem to have plenty of external 5.25" bays but not many with alot of internal 3.5" bays.

Edit: I guess my main want is a wheeled STURDY case so it's easily moved around, secondly it needs a decent amount of HDD bays so I can use many SCSI drives in a raid array.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
I don't have a link to the product page (will edit when I get home), but my case is an Enermax FS2300. You mentioned pricey, so it might be too much, but here's my machine's pics, if you want to check out the case. It definitely has enough bays.

wow, that thing is huge

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Edit: I guess my main want is a wheeled STURDY case so it's easily moved around, secondly it needs a decent amount of HDD bays so I can use many SCSI drives in a raid array.

Sturdy case you say? Me and the wife (not together; one at a time) have sat on the computer and rolled around the living & dining room... It's a sturdy case.

 

[AntiStatic]

So is a CM Stacker too small?

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: AntiStatic
So is a CM Stacker too small?

As long as it will fit all of the drives i plan on installing, ANY case will be considered. I plan to use at least 5 SCSI drives and approximately 4-6 optical drives. SCSI drives will take priority though.

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: AntiStatic
So is a CM Stacker too small?

thats my vote

 

[jwhitt]

just out of courisity why? i mean granted setting them all up in a linux box (this is if they are different sizes) and using lvm to use them as one big drive and mount it as a samba share would be amusing, but seeing as i can get a 300 gig ata hd from new egg for a hundred bucks that solution seems a lil overkill but maybe thats just me i mean your going to be limited by your bus anyway so even with high performance scsi drives i donno sorry man i diddnt mean to sound mean there

 

[Gillbot]

I have a total of ~$70 in my entire SCSI setup so far, including the RAID controller and SCSI drives. I'll have about 90GB of storage, IMHO that's not too bad for ~$70 and that includes data protection via raid 5. The downside to ATA (PATA or SATA) is the controller cost. While many ata controllers can do raid 0 or 1 cheaply, when you get into raid 3, 5, etc. the controller costs skyrocket. Granted, you can get large volumes cheaply with IDE but one failure and your data is gone. If you do mirroring you can salvage data but then you need to buy double drives and IMHO the performance of ATA isn't on par with SCSI but it's gaining ground.

 

[AntiStatic]

Look real hard at the Stacker. Huge and well cooled, it's got it all lol.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

The Supermicro SATA enclosure comes in SCSI flavors, so you could get away with a 7 5.25" bay case easily. Just a thought.

 

[Gillbot]

I'd rather just get a case full of 5.25 bays and go 1:1 with rails since I'm a cheap ..........

I like the CM stacker but it's nearly the same price as the Chenbro. Hmm, decisions.. They just don't make a lower priced nice full tower case anymore.

 

[ND40oz]

Antec Titan holds 6 hard drives and 4 5.25 drives and comes with a good power supply.

 

[Zepper]

I second checking the link that G-Y posted - go to the tower cases page. Also the Codegen S-101 or S-201 Not as well made as the Chenbro of course but equally roomy. Or you could strap a pair of Codegen 9011 cases together (newegg has them and perhaps dealsonic too).

.bh.