ATX NAS/Home Server Case

Vandey · May 5, 2022

As title suggests looking for a case that fits ATX that's not too expensive to house my old 3770K. I have an AIO so it'll also need to accommodate a 240 AIO. Looking to run a home server from it mainly using it for PLEX Server for now. It'd be nice to have lots of hard drive room so I can eventually use it as my NAS as well. Currently running a QNAP TS-469L that's about 8 years old. PLEX seems to like to run up the CPU on it pretty high, since I still have my old 3770K laying around I figured I could put it to use as it should easily handle all my needs.

IkeaGnome · May 5, 2022

How cheap are you hoping for?

~~https://www.antec.com/product/case/p101-silent~~

~~https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/antec-p101-silent-case,6114-3.html~~

AIO probably won't fit in that case. Bad suggestion unless you went air cooling. Sorry.

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/define/define-xl-r2/black-pearl/

Vandey · May 5, 2022

2 hours ago, IkeaGnome said:

How cheap are you hoping for?

~~https://www.antec.com/product/case/p101-silent~~

~~https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/antec-p101-silent-case,6114-3.html~~

AIO probably won't fit in that case. Bad suggestion unless you went air cooling. Sorry.

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/define/define-xl-r2/black-pearl/

was hopeful for < $100... looking on newegg there isn't a lot out there that has more than 2 or 3 3.5" drive slots

IkeaGnome · May 5, 2022

13 minutes ago, Vandey said:

was hopeful for < $100... looking on newegg there isn't a lot out there that has more than 2 or 3 3.5" drive slots

Tiny bit over budget at $140 with shipping. The AIO is going to make it difficult though.

https://www.newegg.com/black-fractal-design-define-r5-atx-micro-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352048?Item=N82E16811352048&quicklink=true

How many HDDs are you trying to put in the case?

https://www.newegg.com/white-fractal-design-focus-g-series-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352067?Item=N82E16811352067&quicklink=true

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032UUGF4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This case and adapter would allow for up to 5 3.5' drives and SHOULD still fit the 240mm AIO in the top of the case.

You could also use something like these and velcro them to the bottom of the case instead of the HDD cage that comes with the Focus G. I had a stack of 6 of these on a mining frame for a while.

https://www.newegg.com/phanteks-ph-hddkt-03-stackable-3-5-hdd-bracket/p/N82E16817972005?Description=hard drive cage phanteks&cm_re=hard_drive cage phanteks-_-17-972-005-_-Product&quicklink=true

(which actually just solved a configuration issue I was having with the current case my NAS is in)