Looking for file server case

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 19:28

I'm looking for suggestions for a case to use for building a med-high end RAID 5 file server.

Requirements - *must*

be floor standing so a full tower would be ideal
use at least 2 x 120mm fans for cooling
have at least 7 externally accessible 5.25" drive bays
be reasonably quiet

Preferences - *would be nice if it is*

black
made from aluminium construction (for weight consideration)
styled not so boringly

Budget: £160 for case not including PSU but I might go higher if I think its worth it.

The reason I need at least 7 expansion bays is because I plan to use SATA backplanes + 1 for DVD-RW drive.

So far I've found 2 cases matching my criteria; Coolermaster Stacker 830 (Black) and Thermaltake Armour/Kandalf (virtually identical).

Messiah Khan · 5 Jul 2006 at 19:50

Coolermaster Stacker 810
Lian-Li PC V2000B PLUS Black Aluminium Full-Tower (No PSU) (CA-029-LL)

Herminator · 5 Jul 2006 at 19:50

How about a lovely V2000b, nice and big, black and aluminium.
7x 5.25" bays aswell as 12

3.5" internal bays
I'd love to see that lot filled up.

edit-too slow :rolleyes:

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 20:33

Hi yeah I did already look at the Stacker 810 - its got a nice clean stylish look I think.

If you ignore the price difference, which is better, the 810 or 830?

I'm checking out reviews of the Lian Li now and will let you know what I think.

Messiah Khan · 5 Jul 2006 at 20:42

The 810 is probably better, as Coolermaster's quality control has gone to pieces recently.

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 20:54

Ok first impressions of the Lian Li....

Quality build, lots of nice little touches, clever design.

However....

The reverse motherboard position will make it awkward for me to work on (its going to be positioned against a wall) and I'm a bit worried about the amount of clearance above (technically below) the motherboard for large HSF solutions.

Its also 1 5.25" drive bay short due to the floppy drive not going in a 3.5" bay. Although I could go with 5-in-3 + 3-in-2 backplane solution instead of 2 x 4-in-3's if push came to shove.

So far then its looking like the Stacker 810 or one of the Thermaltakes.

Herminator · 5 Jul 2006 at 21:38

Do you really need a floppy? put it inside for those rare occasions you need to use one.
As for HSF space, it would have to be an awfully big HSF to have any problems, guessing from my v1000 which has an asus A8N mobo and Akasa Evo33 HSF, a 120mm hsf should just about fit.
For the price it is on OCuk it's a steal, considering the sheer quality of it.

WJA96 · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:08

Is this a real server? ie. are you storing company information on it?

If so then I would strongly recommend you look at a proper server case like the Supermicro range with a proper 600W or 700W redundant power supply and hot swappable parts containers.

If you're going to have to work on it, then buy the right thing. They're big and they only come in beige or black, but they're the right part for the job.

If it's an audio server or something then the Stacker 810 is excellent. The Lian Li is also nice, but it's a lot of money

WJA96 · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:12

Herminator said:
Do you really need a floppy?

Yes. I would never leave a part 'hanging' inside a case. If another engineer was called in and they found that I'd be a laughing stock. All proper server cases have floppy drives. They are unbelievably useful in Win2K/Win2K3 and Linux server applications.

If nothing else, all the virus checkers will boot DOS off a locked floppy.

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:12

Yeah indeed it does seem a quality case packed with features - its just not right for me.

All my hdd's are going into backplanes so that clever hdd cooling wind tunnel at the bottom would be a waste of space. I wouldn't use those 80mm fan spaces either.

As for floppy - I would like it on the outside and built in

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:20

WJA96 said:
Is this a real server? ie. are you storing company information on it?

Yes and yes. I'm a web developer and I work from my home-office 99% of the time. So even though the company I work for will be paying for it, I'm the one who will have to find space for it and put up with the noise. On the bright side, I'm not paying for it and I have lots of other uses planned for it

I might buy the server back off the company at a "favourable price" after a year.

WJA96 said:
If so then I would strongly recommend you look at a proper server case like the Supermicro range with a proper 600W or 700W redundant power supply and hot swappable parts containers.

If you're going to have to work on it, then buy the right thing. They're big and they only come in beige or black, but they're the right part for the job.

Yep I've looked at all of them and they aren't too bad on price taking into account they come with the backplanes built in. My only concern is noise. Server cases can be incredibly loud, and its the screechy loud. Also not sure about the power supply support, think they need special ones?

I also have to work in the same room the server will be placed in and there will be up to another 2 computers in the room so really want to keep the overall noise down.

WJA96 · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:41

Imy said:
Also not sure about the power supply support, think they need special ones?

Well, if the PSU dies how long can you afford it not to be working? You could keep another PSU as a spare, but that doesn't allow for any data loss when the original one blows.

Imy said:
I also have to work in the same room the server will be placed in and there will be up to another 2 computers in the room so really want to keep the overall noise down.

With that amount of disk capacity it's going to be loud anyway. I'd be more concerned about the heat. If you put in a cheapish (£1500 fitted) through the wall Air Conditioner then you can cool the air in the room and with cool air, you don't need so much fan capacity so it will reduce the noise.

At this point you discover how committed you are to your home office!

I think, given the scenario, I would ask your 'corporate' IT to buy you a server suitable for the job. One of the pre-built Irish-American ones

It will save you time, effort and hassle over the next 3 years. Certainly compared to a home-build for a home office.

Imy · 5 Jul 2006 at 23:04

WJA96 said:
Well, if the PSU dies how long can you afford it not to be working? You could keep another PSU as a spare, but that doesn't allow for any data loss when the original one blows.

Going to have a separate network based live backup - either NAS or a lower spec RAID server. Will be able to work directly off that but won't be as quick.

WJA96 said:
With that amount of disk capacity it's going to be loud anyway. I'd be more concerned about the heat. If you put in a cheapish (£1500 fitted) through the wall Air Conditioner then you can cool the air in the room and with cool air, you don't need so much fan capacity so it will reduce the noise.

Hard disk noise has never really bothered me as its just occasional noise. I already have air conditioning - only cost £107 but its a single unit that has a really wide exhaust pipe that you hang out of the window. 2 x 120mm case fans should suffice for cooling and be quiet enough.

WJA96 said:
I think, given the scenario, I would ask your 'corporate' IT to buy you a server suitable for the job. One of the pre-built Irish-American ones It will save you time, effort and hassle over the next 3 years. Certainly compared to a home-build for a home office.

Being the only employee I have to sort all the IT stuff out as well

Don't worry though I enjoy it