What is the smallest ATX case that supports 9 5 1/4" drives?

BlizzardX · 24 Dec 2014 at 21:56

Hi,

I'm currently using an Antec Nine Hundred as my server case with 3 4 in 3 HDD hotswap caddies, but I'm looking at moving the system to a new place which doesn't have the same depth, so I am in need of a case with the smallest depth, but still having space for an atx motherboard (microatx at a push) and nine drive bays...

Do any exist?

Quartz · 24 Dec 2014 at 23:32

How about taking the opportunity to move to fewer higher-capacity drives? You can fit 7 drives in a Lian Li PC-Q25 ITX case

BlizzardX · 25 Dec 2014 at 10:57

I already own the 3 4in3 units so want to make full use of them as getting to the server once installed will be more awkward if I have to take the case off, thanks for the suggestion though.

Quartz · 25 Dec 2014 at 12:32

I know you want to keep the 4 in 3 units but if your primary requirement is the space requirement, then you might have to give them up. Would a short 4U rackmount case be suitable? It has 8 hot-swap bays built in. It's on a competitor site, alas. You might also consider a NAS chassis - something like the Silverstone DS380B?

chaparral · 26 Dec 2014 at 08:31

What do you need to have 9 drives in your system for ?? :confused:

Surely you be better off using just a few large 3TB or 4TB harddrives

BlizzardX · 26 Dec 2014 at 08:38

I basically run a large number of virtual machines across a number of hosts, have an extensive media collection, store my steam games on the server... Basically I cannot afford to switch to 4 or 6tb drives so I add drives as I can afford them... using Drivepool to blend them in to one single set from a use perspective makes it nice and easy.