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7 months later: suggest me Another case?

CMetaphor

Quadfather
Joined
May 5, 2007
Messages
6,822
Location
Montreal, Canada
Seems like every 4th post in this subforum is, so sue me I guess? I like PC builds.

Today's menu (read: help me remember?):
I'm thinking about ditching windows and my current file server case. And I'm trying to remember if there are Any cases out there that once again could meet my strange criteria.

Current case is an old Antec 1200. Why? 5.25" spots. 12x of them to be precise. My problem is trying to find a more modern case that has the same (or more) 5.25" slots. You see, I like my file server to be a workstation, rather than a rack mount (there is literally no place in my home for a full-depth rack anyways). But in spite of that, I like removable drives, individual HDD LEDs, dedicated fans to pull cool air in... I like my (startech? It's certainly not an icydock) hot swap bays. Each is the height of 3x 5.25" slots and fits 4x 3.5" HDDs, and I'd like my next file server to be fit 4x such bays, so math = 12x 5.25" bays or more.

"Next" file server does not mean modern hardware, however, I really don't want to deal with the ancient layout and non-existent cable management of my Antec 1200. Seriously, It's a gross mess of wires bundled on the edge of the motherboard. It's like a 12-15 year old case (? I'm not even sure tbh) and I'd really like to find something better.

For the right, modern case I might consider a but less than 12x bays, so don't be too shy about replying with 1qx case ideas and such. I'll consider them.

Current possibilities:
1) Coolermaster Stacker (Original)? Sorry, Behemoths case is the only one I've ever found, and regardless it is barely more modern and spacious than a 1200. File server ain't getting B's case... so unless someone has an SSI-MEB case laying around somewhere? Didn't think so...
2) CM Cosmos / Cosmos 2 / Cosmos S? I actually have an S, and it has 11x bays. It's a much nicer and more modern case the 1200, and has a nice 200mm side fan and other modern(er) things. Will consider it more seriously if no other options present themselves.
3) Lian Li has some old monsterous cases with plenty of room for wiring. Hell, I nearly bought a used PC-343 (an absolute giant) except the seller wanted 600 shipping and more for the case itself.
4) An old Mountains mods case? Some have the space, but actually just full the spaces with fans. Ye olde days of 120mm led fans everywhere.
5) There are a couple of Xigmateks... I'm reaching here.




... let's be real here. It's a stupid question that I've sortof asked in the past. For some reason all my builds are either huge or SFF.. almost nothing in-between. If you're read this far, thanks btw. Have a dam good day 👍
 

Jokester

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
1,145
Location
North Shore
Someone had a mountain mod case for sale in the Vancouver area. Not sure where you are located tho?

 

Bond007

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Messages
8,644
Location
Nova Scotia
ca.pcpartpicker shows 6 options with 12 external 5.25, with none available. It also shows 32 options with 9-10 external 5.25” external…also none available for sale. There are no cases available new in Canada based on pcpartpicker that have more than a couple external 5.25”.
 

Izerous

Well-known member
Folding Team
Joined
Feb 7, 2019
Messages
4,747
Location
Edmonton
When 2U 12x3.5in bay servers can be had for <$200 CAD with 2xcpus+ram your basically looking for a unicorn in what was already a small and now dead market to begin with. Even in the use server/workstation area the "workstations" don't normally have that kind of hot-swap drive capacity.

CSE-846 fetches the price it does because it has 24x drive capacity and a generic 4U size in the back for a generic whatever you want computer. I took a hit on the CSE-847 I sold because it has extra drives but only 2U for generic computer so still need to mess with half height cards. But those going back to rack mounts again.
 

FreeKnight

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Messages
5,063
Location
Edmonton, AB
If you've got, or are able to run some CAT 6 through a couple walls in the house, why not trim down to fewer larger drives and have a storage dedicated NAS? Good cases with oodles of 5.25" bays don't exist anymore and a 6 or 8 drive NAS takes up about as much space as a microwave.
 

Bond007

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Messages
8,644
Location
Nova Scotia
I should have put this in my first post, but here are the results for cases with 8 or more external 5.25"...again, no stock, but it may give you options if you find something used.

 

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