Whats a good case for a home server?

[Squibward]

Please post all the cases you guys think would be decent for a home plex server! My friend has a thermaltake w100 and i love it but the darn thing is like $400.  Holiday sales are here and I really wanna snag a case on sale. I don't have a fixed budget but if it's less that 400 I'll definitely consider it haha

I've never had a home server before so I don't really know what features are nice to have for this sort of project.  

 

I do know that it needs to have the following:

Room for a standard size atx pc build, no small form factor, mid tower and bigger. 

Needs 3.5 bays... atleast 2 but the more the better. 

I'd really like it to have space for a 5.5 bay... I'll be digitizing my media collection. But I can use a usb cd drive if need be.  

I'm not size restricted, I've got plenty of room for it, I would do a server rack but expense what stops me there.  

 

So may options out there so I'd love to see yall's builds or ideas! 

[heimdali]

Check out Chenbro and Supermicro cases.  Get at least 4U, anything smaller is troublesome.  A rack is worthwhile and basically a lifetime expense.  They don't deteriorate or break down or anything.  Just keep your eyes open and you'll find a good offer.  When you get one, put wheels under it.  You have to be able to get at it from all sides, especially the rear.

 

When you have a dual CPU board/server, have 2 CPUs in it.  When you buy a server/chassis, make sure the trays are included.  You may need to get screws for the trays or things aren't gona fit.  When you have a rack, you need the rails, so offers with rails included can be more interesting.  New 19" cases may come with rails included.  When you buy a server, don't buy too old because it'll draw way too much power and it'll be loud --- that means anything older than HP gen7 is too old.  Don't buy HP servers unless they're still under warranty or if you have a service contract because otherwise you won't get any firmware updates and nothing.

 

It is a hell of a lot cheaper (factor 2--5) to buy a complete server than building one from parts.  With a $400 budget, you have to buy a complete server.

 

https://www.ebay.de/itm/325221121207

https://www.ebay.de/itm/275530713778?hash=item4026e90ab2:g:KacAAOSw2RpjaQ3P&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoFPcnehlfxhpK%2Fa8t9OlpZ3%2Bj49gOyRtGgrWADId%2FaTlNu6xNv0N7VXrS4s5z9yt2qUJy%2F2E5Y%2BXMKAEcTAAP16f82JUVDa5K00N7pTylB6EEkZwSxk1AZLJSKCEgX6CvFwUcnDMnjzbVeXxx93vL5%2BPSKSQqU%2BV9KOWv%2Bvb6pdw1mmIfzjI4pLvCoJyEQf2pbxy8NpgNtY7rG3bPm21TF4%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9TLlYaWYQ

https://www.ebay.de/itm/134307820807?hash=item1f455eb507:g:BCoAAOSw-gxjX3sd&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4IAxHxgvNeVvXQoN8M526XUktC1ioziVUAXsiYry8QgZHNb88LeGzDahw%2B2MzdODYK4dMGEYnI%2BgtIx8jGepfir%2BKcLNY1kCfb6c4Z48oQqvc%2BRkT9Ky%2BtmL7PCL0IC3EUH1XNSM1huUK1tJL4%2BKlx5RFYmagMrom1cgplNtJYn%2BeuU4MzVCBqtMtp0sqpDbSbLXpVgCU0egIfen8YsZaRTmaP889FFqt3Cf8%2Fvi4KRztIAyS5ffVi4cAoNON4hwTj%2FTYnhOJQwlr6C8j5Fu2Cll8VM35xJ0xTV3GlxeDfsu|tkp%3ABFBMrpOohpZh

https://www.ebay.de/itm/125627666111?hash=item1d3ffe0ebf:g:HQ4AAOSw4ixjflbc&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoKvYw%2F2p3FkewJupE%2BN%2Fe0fWvw1wdzL%2FmyX6CzH2%2B1kEmBlofUrrvaKyfc8jAyjxpDVvDEa0W0eIzJT7QCNGbYnQFLD%2FYs2huY1WiEIlmSWI9k7bVKCtU12byi9jC8veDv98HrL%2FAYaPTGxXw7diOPgmxcRoMvwP5haR8ekEL1tbcNK1Uwx0dnzeBLfzp3jlGi0a1fWtfrvHLUJI50YK8Jk%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_KK7YaWYQ

https://www.ebay.de/itm/361964258894

 

[LIGISTX]

I like my Corsair 750d for my homelab. Its served me well.

[heimdali]

That's not a server case.

 

[Squibward]

It doesn't have to be a server case per se, I just want alot of useful storage and bay space.  These are some good recommendations! 

[thrasher_565]

Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Thermaltake Core V71 TG

Rosewill RISE

 

i think the w100 was dc

[Squibward]

13 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Thermaltake Core V71 TG

Rosewill RISE

 

i think the w100 was dc

Good suggestions! 

Yeah that might be why the remaining few are so expensive haha

[fonzz1e]

how much hdd u plan on using?

[Squibward]

36 minutes ago, fonzz1e said:

how much hdd u plan on using?

Ideally, in the long run I'd like to have room for 4-8 drives, in order to have everything configured in raid 1.  Room for 8 is probably excessive for my needs, but with how much space 2k and 4k media can take up... I'd rather not have to buy a different case in a few years lol. 

 

But raid 1 for anything other than important things like fam photo albums and stuff, isn't exactly necessary... just nice to have that extra peace of mind I guess.

[heimdali]

You can as well use RAID5.  If a disk fails, you still have your backups to recover from if you need to.

 

Really, get an R720, that's your best option within your budget.  Otherwise you can easily end up paying more for a mainboard alone than for the whole server.

 

[fonzz1e]

IMO if yer planning for 8 hdd, it's better to go for NAS (i use unraid on my old mini pc for this)

 

else you might wanna check out

• fractal meshify 2 / define 7
• phanteks p500a, enthoo pro2 / 719

[Squibward]

46 minutes ago, fonzz1e said:

IMO if yer planning for 8 hdd, it's better to go for NAS (i use unraid on my old mini pc for this)

 

Good point! the only thing that keeps me from just buying something like an r720 is that I already have an amd 3800x, psu and fans laying around. I can find a decent am4 mobo and ram for really cheap right now on the used market. However, I could sell the cpu and use the $ elsewhere.    There too many options now haha

[andrewmp6]

The define  7 can hold like 18 or 20 drives in it

 

[fonzz1e]

9 hours ago, Squibward said:

I already have an amd 3800x, psu and fans laying around

I use my old 4770k & z87 matx mobo for unraid, it's in silverstone tj08-e with 8 hdd

 

u can look around for cheap used b450 mortar max, the downside for older ryzen is they don't have igp (for unraid it only matter during initial setup) 

[Squibward]

15 hours ago, fonzz1e said:

I use my old 4770k & z87 matx mobo for unraid, it's in silverstone tj08-e with 8 hdd

 

u can look around for cheap used b450 mortar max, the downside for older ryzen is they don't have igp (for unraid it only matter during initial setup) 

AH, forgot to mention that I also have an RX 460, so display output is covered too.