New Server Tower - With Hard drive bays

[Sprawlie]

Good morning LTT Community:

 

I'm looking to migrate my "Server" from its existing poor configuration. Currently my server is an i5-4570, 8gb RAM, and a unhealthy hodge podge of misc hard drives I've accumulated over the years. All stuffed inside an HP Pavilion case. The server is exclusively used with a CentOS installation, running as a fileserver and Plex server. With the occasional windows VM (that I use to record video from my desktop)

 

Now, you can all get past the Cringe. This year, my plan is to "rebuild" this server in a more robust, redundant and safe setup. 

I am not looking to replace the hardware just yet (CPU and RAM are more than enough for what I use for).

 

Your mission, if you choose to accept it is help me pick out the case, and or accessories required.

 

Requirements: 

1. ATX (I am not looking to replace the motherboard, memory or CPU at this time)

2. 4+ 3.5" front facing drive bays

3. Quiet (the server is in my office. Quiet as possible is needed.

4. Affordable (don't price out $4000000 parts, this is a home server build, be reasonable)

5. Tower - NOT a rack case (Sorry to add this, I do not have a rack as this is a home server)

 

Thanks Friends!

 

 

[fredih]

Are you looking for a 19" case then?

[fredih]

I found  few 19" ones:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219036

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIACSJ57T8478

 

[porina]

I'm not sure I understand what is meant by front facing 3.5" bays. If it doesn't conflict with this requirement, I went with the Fractal Define R5 for my file server, as it has 8x internal 3.5" bays, as well as two each 2.5" and 5.25" if I ever need to go beyond that.

[Sprawlie]

6 minutes ago, fredih said:

I found  few 19" ones:

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219036

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIACSJ57T8478

 

Good options, unfortunately, I did miss a requirement earlier that I don't have a rack and a rack mounted server isn't an option.

 

[techmattr]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152273

 

Also, you can throw hot swap drive cages in any case with enough 5.25" slots. Like a  CSE-M35TQB or one of the Icy Dock ones.

[fredih]

Ah ok then. I'd go with a case which simply has the space for 4 HDD's, and if you have to change them, you'd have to unplug the cables, etc.. But if you want to build something like Linus did with the 4-drive hot-swap case insert then it'll cost you a lot more. (Remember that video about that storage server for homes he did?)

@porina's suggestion was not bad.. I'd aggree with it.

[fredih]

What about this case?:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235058

[Dark]

Find a case with ample 5.25 bays and add a drive cage.  You'll have better options versus looking for one with an external cage.

 

I've had great luck with Icy Dock.

 

http://www.icydock.com/category.php?id=113

 

 

[Sprawlie]

Thanks @techmattr  @Dark and @fredih

 

I think that's the route I'm going to go. Get a normal cheap ATX case and one of those drive bay enclosures. 4 storage drives in the enclosure, and an OS drive can be mounted internally.

[techmattr]

The Supermicro drive cages are the best but pretty unattractive. I've always had great experience with the Icy Dock ones as well which will fit a bit better with modern/sleek designs.

[Gerr]

How about a Fractal Design Define XL?  8 internal 3.5 bays and 4 external 5.25" bays that you can install a 5.25" to 3.5" hot swap adapter like this...

https://www.amazon.com/iStarUSA-BPN-DE350SS-Drive-Enclosure-BPN-DE350SS-SIL/dp/B009XA2LLY

That would give you 13 total 3.5" bays plus an available 5.25" bay for an optical drive or a 14th HDD.  Plus those 5.25" to 3.5" adapters use only 2 SATA power adapters to power 5 HDD's!

[Trippik]

On 02/02/2017 at 4:34 PM, porina said:

I'm not sure I understand what is meant by front facing 3.5" bays. If it doesn't conflict with this requirement, I went with the Fractal Define R5 for my file server, as it has 8x internal 3.5" bays, as well as two each 2.5" and 5.25" if I ever need to go beyond that.

I Use a Fractal Design Define R5 for my FreeNAS home server build, it's well priced, quiet, looks good, and has plenty have room for all the drives I need

[AshleyAshes]

I got 12 internal 3.5" bays with my Corsair 750D. :V

 

[TapfererToaster]

Same. Really satisfied with it.