Storage case

[JetreL]

Ok, So I have a ton of hobbies and most of them relate to computers. Thus I wind up buying computer parts and then after a while they become paper weights.

So, I was cleaning out my office and was a little surprised at how many SATA drives that I have just laying around doing nothing. This leads me to my real question does anyone have any recommendation for cases that have front access to storage that will accommodate 8 or more drives? I currently have 10 SATA drives total. (4 being used in my SageTV box and 6 holding down papers)

I did a few searches in the forums and on the Internet but didn't find anything that popped out. Light and noise is an issue so something that is quiet doesn't have any damn LED fans are preferable.

Any help given would certainly be appreciated! Thanks guys!

[Fuzzy]

You looking specifically for a storage case, or a full blown pc case? for storage, the best 'storage towers' I've seen seem to be from addonics. Lots of possibilities with all their different adapter options. (like the abililty to put 4x2½" drives in a single 5¼" drive bay, or 5x3½" drives in 3x5¼" bays.)

[pukka]

or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EdgeStore-DA.../dp/B001H54JWW

[JetreL]

Thanks so much for both posts. It appears that either way I am going to have to get a new case. I am currently using a media server case. I really like the modular build of Addonics not to mention it has its own fan on the back to assure airflow. Is the fan very loud?

[Fuzzy]

It's temperature controlled, so it really just depends on the heat load.

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by pukka

or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EdgeStore-DA.../dp/B001H54JWW

that's pretty cool.. ill have to look into that more when it comes time to upgrade my storage space....

if you are looking at 5in3's i would look at the supermicro ones... they look like much better build quality... and im sure the electronics in them are better then the addonics ones... since they are from supermicro ... i have 3 addonics ones and while they do work i wish i went with the supermicro ones

[Fuzzy]

I don't think there are any 'electronics' in the addonics ones. Just the cable to jumper from the connections in the back to the drives, and a thermal controller for the fan speed.

[Peter_h]

I would look at some other ones besides the addonics/istar/athena hot swap bays.

I have 2 of the addonics hot swap bays, the 3 to 2 and 4 to 3 hot swap bays. I hate them. The fan's are extremely noisy and not very easy to replace. They are a non standard size (80mmx15mm) and use the motherboard header style connector as well as no real way to mount them.

Another downside is the buttons are on the exterior and my two year old found it fun to push the bright buttons on the computer.

When it was time for me to get another hotswap bay I went with this norco unit. It takes a regular size fan which I replaced when it was installed and I love it.

It does have some cons.
1.) It's really deep. Be sure your case is deep and motherboard componenets are not in the way.
2.) it does not have grooves for drive bays. I had to pry them out of the way on my case. Not a big deal for me but something to be mentioned.
3.) LED's are super bright.

[Fuzzy]

well, they aren't THAT rare of a fan.. Newegg sells 3 of them.. one that is only 11dBA for $10. The 15mm fan is WHY the addonics unit isn't as deep as that norco one.

The addonics units are ultimately designed to go in their own raid towers, which are pretty tight.

[wolfie99]

I have the TowerRAID TR8M. Works great!

[Peter_h]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

well, they aren't THAT rare of a fan.. Newegg sells 3 of them.. one that is only 11dBA for $10. The 15mm fan is WHY the addonics unit isn't as deep as that norco one.

The addonics units are ultimately designed to go in their own raid towers, which are pretty tight.

Right, 3 as opposed to 100 in the standard 80x25mm fair. Of those 3 none are a direct replacement. The addonics uses a non standard connector for the fan. I want to say that it uses a 2 pin connector for the fan instead of the standard 3 pin or 4 pin molex. It required soldering a new connector on to. I remember this clearly because I bought the silenx fans you linked, 2 to be exact. Both failed in 1 month. I was pissed that I had to take it all apart and do it all again so soon.

If I could do it all over again, I would not buy the addonics units.

[Peter_h]

I believe wegotserved.com did a comparison of 3 or 4 different brand hot swap bays sometime last year. You might want to check it out.

[JetreL]

I figured out a better way to find what I was looking for. I did a search for SATA backplane. That gave me a good deal of results. I did find an image of this case.



It solves a ton of issues that I have. 8 drive bays, lockable storage (small children), ports for my super quiet fans, and of course no damn LED fans!
Now, if I could just find who makes it and where to get it I think I will be in business.

Anyone know where to find it?

Here is one that is close. Link

[razrsharpe]

looks like that is a supermicro variety... like this one: http://www.supermicro.com/products/c...47TQ-R1400.cfm


i like this one though: http://www.supermicro.com/products/c...936E1-R900.cfm

[sic0048]

It is a Supermicro variety! Good eye.

Here it is, the CSE-743TQ-865B.