WHS2011 / 7 HDD installed in Antec 900 - Thinking about upgrading to Fractal R4?

[eno]

I have Windows Home Server 2011 w/ 7 HDD currently installed in a Antec 900 case that I added an extra 3x HDD bay to. Each 3x HDD bay as a 120mm coolmaster fan blowing through the drives. I believe my cooling is about as good as I could hope for with the 3x 120 intakes directly on the drives and a 200mm & 120mm exhaust out the top/back.

Been having vibration noises, pain in the butt wire management with all the drives facing into the case and with the front being so open which is great for airflow I also hear the HDD noises. The case isn't loud but is louder than my Fractal Define XL R2 that I just ported over to (from a Antec 900 as well).

Just would like opinions if I should bother with the upgrade. I don't really want to spend the extra $80 for a new case but would like slightly quieter, much better cable management and far easier drive replacement. Looks like the big negative is I won't get as good of airflow on those drives.

Should I swap out the Antec 900 server for a Fractal Design R4?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020

Currently installed in this - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

 

[smitbret]

I have Windows Home Server 2011 w/ 7 HDD currently installed in a Antec 900 case that I added an extra 3x HDD bay to. Each 3x HDD bay as a 120mm coolmaster fan blowing through the drives. I believe my cooling is about as good as I could hope for with the 3x 120 intakes directly on the drives and a 200mm & 120mm exhaust out the top/back.

Been having vibration noises, pain in the butt wire management with all the drives facing into the case and with the front being so open which is great for airflow I also hear the HDD noises. The case isn't loud but is louder than my Fractal Define XL R2 that I just ported over to (from a Antec 900 as well).

Just would like opinions if I should bother with the upgrade. I don't really want to spend the extra $80 for a new case but would like slightly quieter, much better cable management and far easier drive replacement. Looks like the big negative is I won't get as good of airflow on those drives.

Should I swap out the Antec 900 server for a Fractal Design R4?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020

Currently installed in this - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Can't speak for the R4, but I have my NAS in FD Define Mini and I am nothing short of impressed by the noise. With the drive mounted sideways and 2 undervolted 120mm fans blowing across them, the HDD temps are rolling at about 28-30 degrees idle and 5-10 degrees warmer under load (WD Greens and Seagate 7200.14s). I don't hear the drives except for the occasional clicks of the Greens and have gotten a little resonance during RAID updates when several drives are spinning at the same time.

I would jump on the R4 at $80 myself if I could justify it.

 

[Cerb]

I don't know if you should or not, but cable management will be easier, and you shouldn't have any significant vibration transfer issues.

How Antec still gets $100 for those things is beyond my comprehension.

 

[Roman2179]

I have my server running in an R4 right now. The only reason I really know that the system is running is due to the power light.

Specs:
Supermicro X9SCM
Xeon E3-1230 V2
32GB RAM
IBM 1015(IT)
1 SSD
6xWD Red HDs
750watt PSU

All I did was move the two fans that come with the case to the front and added a corsair 140mm in the back. The fans run at 7volt with the integrated fan controller on the case.

Even at full load and the stock cpu cooler, my temps peak at about 40c. It becomes slightly more audible at that point but not annoying in any way. I could easily eliminate that noise with new CPU cooler though.

 

[piasabird]

Has a lot of hard drive slots but never used more than one or two hard drives. I have one computer in an Antec 300. Most of it is filled with air and wires. It runs quietly, but I dont have a video card in it either.

This case looks nice also:
MATX?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163186
This is like a cheaper version

 

[eno]

Yeah I ordered the R4. I know it won't have the airflow of my 900 but since I love my R2 XL(main rig) I know this is just the slighly smaller version. I ordered two more Artic140mm fans plus I had an extra Hyperborea 140mm. Total 5x 140mm. 3 on the intakes and 2 on top of case . Keep the fans on 7v and the intakes on PWM.

Hopefully my 7x HDD won't need 12v settings for fans.

 

[smitbret]

You'll be fine. Proibably won't even need the top fan. I have my Define Mini set up with 2x120 in front across the HDD bays and 1x120 in the back, exhausting. With 2 WD Greens and 4 7200rpm Barracudas they all idle in the 29-31 degree range and never get above 38 under load. The Define Mini has a variable speed controller so I don't know the voltage on the fans but I have it turned down to where I can't hear them (2 stock fans and a Xigmatek out of a cheapy 4 pack). If I were gambling, they're probably getting less than 7 volts.

 

[eno]

Well had the system up and running for over a week now. Easy enjoyable build. Love the routing of cables. I added 2 more 140mm fans and a extra 120mm all running on the middle 7v setting. Picked up a cheap tower cooler for my Pentium D and temps are good.

Not sure how long the fan bracket will last with me cleaning the filter at least once a month, cheap plastic, they should've used magnets like the front door instead of plastic clips.

My HDD's are around 31c and my boot WD Black is usually 37c. Quieter than my Antec 900.

If anyone is reading this and considering the Full Tower or Mid Tower version I would go Full Tower. I enjoy my XL R2 in most areas besides the missing removeable fan filter on the front which is handy to take it out into the garage and blow it off with the air compressor. The XL R2 has thicker metal and the side panels are much easier to press back on since it uses more of a hindge type instead of grooves. I have had to lay down my new R4 to get descent pressure for a easy closing of the rear panel compared to just closing it with a bit of force and putting the screw in place on my R2. My R2 was only $15 more too. The modern features like CPU cut out made my new cheap tower cooler install a breeze.

Thanks for your opinions on this topic.

 

[NesuD]

Been running my whs 2011 server out of the Define R4 for several months. it is quiet and cool. Like it so much I recently swapped my main workstation into one of these with fantastic results. You made a good choice.

 

[aigomorla]

very difficult to control vibrations of that many drives on a light class case.

u wont get rid of everything, because u have no mass to hold the case down.

Also sometimes its the rivits internally which is vibrating, and there isnt much u can do at that point minus unrivet everything and rubber gromet it.
Which can lead to you destorying the case if done wrong...

I would of suggested a Corsair 800D.. or a Silverstone TJ class, as those are built solid... heavy.... less chances of rivets or joints vibrating.