Large Case Needed!

scott.holmes

scott.holmes

scott.holmes

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Joined
24 Mar 2004
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Blackpool, England
Hi All

Im thinking about Merging two computers into one, and using it as a storage comptuer. Currently i have 2 computers with 9 HDDs between them, so id need a case with at least 8 3.5" bays in there.

Ive been looking around and most seem to have more 5.25" than 3.5"! Which is very frustrating. I know i could get kits and put the HDDs in the Optical Bays but id rather try and get one that has more 3.5" bays if possible.

Does anyone know of a case with shed loads of 3.5" storage possibilities?
 
Sparky__H said:
CoolerMaster Stacker STC-T01 - Silver Trim (No PSU) (CA-054-CM)
One of the best home server cases around, can be wisper quiet with a bit of effort and has enough space for 12 HDD's.
All for £100 :D

Lian-Li PC V2100 Silver Aluminium Full-Tower (No PSU) (CA-032-LL)
Well what can be said about this case, it’s gorgeous and it’s a Lain-Li , more to the point 12 internal 3 ½ drive bays and 7 x ¼ means it’s a born server case.

£200 Not cheep but it’s a Lian-Li!

There are a few true home-server cases that I’ve worked with but sadly OCUK don’t stock them so if you want some info I’ll link you to the manufacturer’s site :)

But as for a recommendation the CM Stacker is the best space/noise/size case I’ve worked with in a long time and with a little bit of money spent on padding material to blot out the fan and seek noise its bedroom friendly too.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for all the info. The Lian Li is out of the question, i dont think ive ever spent £200 on a Comptuer component! Do like the look of the Staker tho, £100 is what i was hoping to spend...

I did also think of SuperMicro too, squiffy. Will have to have a google around for them. The looks of the case are too important either as it will be stuck in a cupboard or loft somewhere... IIRC the supermicro ones dont look the best!

The staker tho, looks nice.... choices choices!
 
http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/..._serial=STC-T01&other_title=STC-T01CM Stacker

Looking at that its full of 5.25".... i didnt want to get enclosures for them...? Or am i missing something here. Is this not the same case squiffy pictured?


Can you still get those yewen? I had one years ago, weighed a ton if i remember correctly!

Edit: Just read a rewiew, and it told me you add "Modules" in. Nice one :) I should read before i ask! lol
 
Sparky__H said:
The SuperMicro cases are purpose built server cases; their big, their clunky and they do the job they were designed for.

Points agenised them are their ugly as hell, heavy as an American and not quiet at all, they are not bedroom friendly cases because they were never designed to be.

I take it I’m right in assuming that this is a “bedroom” system in that its going to live in a room frequently occupied by persons?
Click to expand...

It wont be in a bedroom where people are, so looks/noise dont matter *too* much. It will either be in an office or stuck in the loft if i can get it up there! lol
 
squiffy said:
Yes, you can add or remove them. However to fit a HD into a module that's already in the case you need to remove the module, and to do so need to remove the front covers (and of course disconnect power and data cables to the hard drives.. Bit of a pain for swoppable drives, but ok if they're permenent. The fan is silent, but I would remove the front guard and trim away the metal behind the fan.

The top 5.25" for some reason cannot fit optical drive (something gets caught) but the front panel could stay there (I have it at the bottom) so you have a total of 11 usable. The module takes up three slots, so that's roughly 9 drives in those. You have two spare, possible for two optical drives, or one optical, one hotswappable HD. I would fit a card reader externally to save a slot if you need one.
Click to expand...

Sounds perfect... Do you get the modules with it, or do you have to buy them all seperatly?
 
Ooo, well its between the stacker and the Bomb Proof Chieftec then :) I did find this:

http://www.aerocool.com.tw/p-case/baydream/baydream.htm

Hope that links ok, its only a Manufacturer site!!

Quite cheap, but i would have to eitehr buy more 3.5/5.25 adpater kits, or get enclosures which adds to the cost.

If i was to get a Stacker, id need two extra modules would take it to near £140... bit to pricy for what i was looking at :( Really nice looking case tho, and tons of room inside!

That Chieftec is HUGE, that would be perfect tho, side mounted HDDs tho.. the wiring problems that could come from that would be annoying, i have a Mix of IDe and Sata HDDs... Do you find any problems fitting he wires in
 
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Aerocool that bad? If so i will steer clear :)

Could be the Chieftec then, its the cheapest for what i need and doesnt need to be a supermodel as i wont be looking at it much!

Need to see if i can find somewhere that sells em now...

Thanks for all your help people, which i could stretch to a Stacker tho, they do look nice!!

Scott
 
Hrmm, i dont like issues. Think i have had to discount that anyway, the cost for what i need is just too much. I could sell my P160 and PC37 to find it, but i was going to keep those as spares, and just build a cheap arse computer in the Lian Li....

Ive found a place that does the Chieftec mentioned up there, be about £90 delivered which is an idea price i think.

Might take the plunge and get it ordered on Fridays PayDay :)
 
Well, i had to settle on something else :(

cheiftec.jpg


Id forgotton my car tax was due this month, so could warrant spending £90 on the Cheiftec in the posts above, so i did a google and found the above. Ive had one of these before, so it should suit me me!

£42 delivered, so i didnt think that was a bad price, free delivery helps! If i dont have enough room for all my HDDs, i might either mount them in the 5.25 or sell a couple and get a larger size...

Should be here tomorrow all being well :)
 
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Ye, i noticed that when i reread. Didnt think you'd still be able to get them, especially at this price!

I have only one reservation, im sure there is a dividing/support strut that goes across the middle of the case, stopped me last time using a decent large but quiet cooler....

Might have to get the dremel out IIRC :(
 
Ya, i saw in a previous thread ** PSU blew. Unlucky, least it was powering a £400 CPU and taking that with it!!

I was tempted to get a cheap Dual Core Smithfield P4 + Mobo, one of OcUK competitors had it on a daily deal, Dual Core 2.66 + MSI Motherboard for £120 delivered, thought that was an excellent price.

If i had decided to get it, i would have been without a car for a month... tempting but glad i resisted!

Once the Scorpio comes, will have to sell this Lian Li PC37, great little case and in perfect Nic, just not big enuff for me now.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the cable length, u were right i need longer Sata cables :(

Luckily my main drive is IDE and i have a 90cm IDE so i can at least get it up and running. It just arrived so ive transferred it all across, and apart from the 2 Sata drives i need longer cables, its all working perfectly!!

I do however have a question, i think for Yewen... The internal layout is slightly different than my Other Scorpio, in *** fact there are 4 HDD cage mounted in the top part, and where they used to be is just empty space...

Now, from memory i had 2 removeable HDD cages, that could hold 3 HDDs each, with a fan in front that were mounted on the front, behind the power button... It looks like there is still room and holes to put these in. This would be Ideal if i needed more HDD space...

Do you know where i can buy these cages from?
 
Huh, im lost?

In the last pic, right hand side is where they used to be.. Those Purple fan holder things pop right out, so i presumed i could fit some there?

That divider is exactly as i remembered, but all the HDDs would be under that...

Not sure i follow what ya mean? :(
 
Ahhh yeah, i remember now!! Got ya, they were there on the old case i had....

Hrmm, i need to find a welder me thinks :)

Edit: Or i could just find a cage from somewhere, and stick it at the bottom, the case isnt going to move so resting on some rubber would be cool....
 
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