My ideal case doesn't exist - I have high-level requirements

[MichaelD]

I need a bigger case. 8800GT + 6 HDs + a SATA RAID card = a lot of cables and you need space for all that. I love my P180 (modded to a P182) but it's way out of room...and I'd like to add more HDs!

I've literally looked at 100 cases over the past weeks. It ain't out there.

There are tens of GREAT choices for "Joe Average" computer builder/user. But for the "Really Picky Super User" your choices are really limited, even if price is no object (within reason of course).

If you want an idea of what my ideal case would be, it's simple, really. Imagine this: A GIANT-SIZE P182: Take that case and supersize it by 50%

Same exterior and interior, but bigger.
Takes an E-ATX motherboard.
TWO drive cages that fit 4 drives each with quiet mounts. (needs to take 8 HDs internally)
Still has filters.
Door. (not an absolute requirement)
At least 4 5.25" bays. (would take only 2 5.25" bays if internal HD requirement is met)
NO side fans or vents to mess up airflow; traditional front->back airflow; no fancy schmancy super side-o-matic ventilation.
120mm fans ONLY. 80mm fans are so 1980s and 92mms aren't any quieter.
Some wire management features (holes in MB).
Semi-quiet.


The closest thing to perfect that I've found is the LianLi A70x line. LianLi A71 with the A70 a close second. <--but even they have funky hard drive mounting...not secure.

LianLi's got lots of great cases that have things wrong with them; some major problems. The V2100PlusII has the BEST HD layout ever...and a completely fuxored main chamber airflow. Rear intake and side exhaust? :laugh: I don't think so. So that's out.

Looked at CM Stackers...they all got disqualified too. Half of them are all mesh (no filters and LOUD)...so out. All others have side vents and/or 80mm fans....out.

There are several SuperMicro pedestal server cases that would work, except they have no filters and 92mm fans that spin at 5K rpm. :shocked: Can you say "WHAT DID YOU SAAAAY? Can't hear yooooou!"

I'm probably going to wind up buying an E-ATX case with a ton of 5.25" bays and two, 5-drive SATA hotswap cages. I won't have my filters, but I'll have my HDs and plenty of space and airflow.

Based on my (admittedly) strict requirements, is there anything out there for me?

 

[aigomorla]

what about a lian Li 343 series? aka modular cube?

theres also a lot of options you can buy for the case, to tweek it out as you see fit.

But that would be my first choice if it was something of this calibur.

If your watering it would most definitely need to be a MM Dualy, or horizon.

 

[MichaelD]

The biggest disappointment about the LianLi 343 is that despite the fact it's the size of a dorm fridge, it only takes ATX motherboards. Ugh....W_T_F?

Don't get me wrong; the case is gorgeous. But despite it's $$$$ pricetag you still need to spend more even to use it. HD trays, etc. Size-wise it's beyond perfect but value-wise it doesn't score too well.

There's the PC626 and i wish I could see more detailed pics!!! Too bad it's not black...I'd probably buy it right now. MMMM! 8 internal HDs!!!

OMG, I found a review with PICS!!!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Ask and ye shall recieve

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
Ask and ye shall recieve

LOL! Thanks man!! While you were posting, I was furiously surfing looking for pics. I found the same review you did. And it seems to be the ONLY set of pics out there.

I wonder if LianLi would make me this case in black if I asked nicely? What about if I offered to do a review with pics? What do you think?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
Ask and ye shall recieve

LOL! Thanks man!! While you were posting, I was furiously surfing looking for pics. I found the same review you did. And it seems to be the ONLY set of pics out there.

I wonder if LianLi would make me this case in black if I asked nicely? What about if I offered to do a review with pics? What do you think?

maybe if you offered to do a full, picture posted review, on a top review site like AT and about $500. Then all you'd have to do is write a good enough review that Anand would post it on his website. :thumbsup:

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm. Good suggestion! I really dig this case. It doesn't have silicone mounts for the HDs, but it does have a filter, 120mm fans, 8HD bays, takes EATX MB. Wow.

This is seriously giving me The Jones, man. I will email LianLi...they can only say no, right?

 

[Rubycon]

If you have those hard drive requirements I'd forget about bay arrangement like Lian Li and concentrate on sheer number of 5 1/4 bays. Why? Because using just three 5 1/4" bays you can mount five (5) SATA, SAS, or U320 drives. I have a Stacker 830 with 12 drives mounted this way. 10 are mounted in SuperMicro SAS cages and two others in standard 5 1/4" trays that are keylocked. The last 5 1/4" bay is occupied by a SATA DVD-RW. No chassis mounted floppy but I have one on the desktop hitched to the USB 2.0 bus ride.

If you want a real server case I'd suggest the Chenbro or SuperMicro chassis. The Chenbro is very heavy and quite inexpensive for what you get.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
If you have those hard drive requirements I'd forget about bay arrangement like Lian Li and concentrate on sheer number of 5 1/4 bays. Why? Because using just three 5 1/4" bays you can mount five (5) SATA, SAS, or U320 drives. I have a Stacker 830 with 12 drives mounted this way. 10 are mounted in SuperMicro SAS cages and two others in standard 5 1/4" trays that are keylocked. The last 5 1/4" bay is occupied by a SATA DVD-RW. No chassis mounted floppy but I have one on the desktop hitched to the USB 2.0 bus ride.

If you want a real server case I'd suggest the Chenbro or SuperMicro chassis. The Chenbro is very heavy and quite inexpensive for what you get.

Thanks, Rubycon. In my OP I mentioned "I've looked at 100 cases"; I've also looked at the Chenbro cases. I own a 105; nice case, too small for current needs.

The 107 series would fit the bill but I'd need to shell out MORE money for the two hot-swap bays than for the case itself...plus, I'm not sure how quiet it is. Though that option is still on the table.

Do you have any pics of your Stacker with the HD bays? How's the main chamber cooling in it with the huge side vent? Any issues w/HD temps in those 5-drive SM racks?

I've also looked at 4U/5U server cases (seriously). As expected, most of them are aimed at max cooling and have 10 80mm fans that spin at 5K rpm.

 

[Rubycon]

This is my setup here.

Drive temps are GOOD (mid to upper 30's according to SMART on HBA status page). The fans (92mm) that supermicro supplies are LOUD AS HORSE PEE Sanyo's. Great for server but HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLO CAN YOU HEAR ME YET????!!! Loud for control room work! Ok I think you get the idea. So they were replaced with thermally controlled fans supplied by Dell, Inc. (surplus purchase item) and work great! I actually have the fans blowing from inside out the front as the three 120mm fans I have in the side of the case blowing in help cool the video card, raid card and cpu/mem, etc. Each bay requires two standard molex type connector that you would hitch to an optical/hdd, etc.

EDIT: That's an older pic before I added the two drives in the ICYdock enclosures but you get the idea.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for the honest opinion on the stock SM cages. And thanks for the pic; I get the idea. What's with the studio microphone? Serious testing?

 

[Rubycon]

We record everything to get a sonic fingerprint. This is then fed into a system that produces something called an impulse file. It's used for data for a project to destroy noise. The bonus is I can upload really high quality noises of stuff like MT Catsup bottles being impatiently squeezed! :laugh:

 

[MichaelD]

OMG...2.5 megs worth of a ketchup bottle being squeezed...impressive, but can't say I have much use for that particular soundclip. I'm sure it has everything to do w/your job though.

Thanks for your help w/my case quest; it helped.

 

[Rubycon]

Well yeah everything gets recorded at 24 bits so the files are bigger. Actually that noise is quite funny to play at times. Just a part of it sounds like "the wind". :laugh:

Those bottles can definitely make some gross noises though. :disgust:

 

[PCTC2]

If you have enough money and time...

1) Buy Solidworks.
2) Design your own case
3) Send schematics to mountain mods and they will custom fabricate your case for $$$$$$$.

 

[Zepper]

Have you looked at the Silverstone Temjin 5 or Kublai 3? Soon the Kublai Kage (1 comes with each Kublai case) will be available separately. Much less expensive than your server-grade, hot-plug/swap cages ($40. retail with all 4 CP05 devices). See my review of the KL01 here: http://www.techimo.com/articles/ - just for a better idea of the Kublai Kage (c)2007 by me. HardwareSecrets.com recently reviewed the KL03 and I'll have the exact same unit soon with a review to follow at some point on TechIMO. The KL03 is a LOT like the TJ05 inside, just has more 5" bays where the HDD bays are on the 05. The KL03 has room in its 5" bays for two Kages and room for 1 extra HDD plus one optical and two external 3.5" bays

BTW, the side arm with the fans is totally removable and you can block the side vents with saran wrap and tape as I do. On the TJ05, the side arm can also hold two more HDDs instead of fans - looks like that flexibility was left off the KL03 - but a little drilling and voila, she's back...

The Gigabyte Aurora 3D 570 is another option. It has room for 5 HDDs in its HDD rack, plus room for a Kublai Kage and a couple of Opticals - plus two external 3.5" bays.

All the ones I mentioned (except the KL01) support EATX mobos and long cards.

.bh.

 

[Quiksilver]

What about the coolermaster cosmos 1000 or silverstone tj07 or one of the newer tj 09/10's.

honestly your not going to find the perfect case, your going to have to make a sacrifcae somewhere or buy a custom one.

 

[NinjaJedi]

I 2nd the mountainmods. I think a U2_UFO would do nice. They now have a choice your own parts/panels page. U2_UFO will hole 6 HDDs out of the box and up to 18 if you buy more brackets. Can also substitute the M/B tray for a EATX

http://www.mountainmods.com/

 

[Zepper]

And there might be something on this page: http://www.arrowmax.com/index.php?cPath=25_89_29 - as the Domino 800B and 800C are much like the Temjin 5 or Kublai 3 inside but w/o all the frippery that makes a Silverstone a Silverstone. Add 2 Kublai kages when they become available and you're set. Just have to block off any extraneous venting as mentioned earlier. You can remove the side bar or just leave them fanless to use the card supports. I think these have the mounting holes on the sidebar for the HDDs as mentioned earlier. A very inexpensive solution. More pix of the same boxes on http://www.servercase.com . My first "enthusiast case", the Silverstone Berserker, was based on a similar chassis. The 120mm fans on the HDD cages will be your front fans.
. It's apparent that the rear fan grill will need cutting out - too restrictive.

.bh.

 

[ChefJoe]

I've often wondered if something like a P190 could fit a second hard drive cage in the lower chamber after removing the fan plate. Basically make two hard drive cages line up one after the other. I bet antec could sell you an extra drive cage for such purposes.

The P190 is 3.5" deeper than my P180 so I think it could work. You know.... since you otherwise really like the 182.

And if that didn't work so well the upper cage could probably be modded to hold the extra lower cage.

Well, I just read that you don't like the side vent... that's another thing you'd have to mod.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

the Lian Li v2000 case meets every one of your needs
-120mm fans only
-e-atx capable
-larger than the p180
-holds 12 hard drives mounted via LL's hdd mounting mechanism w/ their own screws
-7 external5.25drive bays
-filters+wire management behind the case
-removable&filtered side 120mm fan.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

the a71 looks fantastic tho... tossup!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
the Lian Li v2000 case meets every one of your needs
-120mm fans only
-e-atx capable
-larger than the p180
-holds 12 hard drives mounted via LL's hdd mounting mechanism w/ their own screws
-7 external5.25drive bays
-filters+wire management behind the case
-removable&filtered side 120mm fan.

only difficulty there is depending on the motherboard and everything, he may have to route sata cables all the way from the top of the case to the bottom, which is going to take sata cables about a meter long to do it neatly. I still think the 343 or 626 are his best bets. I actually really like the 626 and am going to keep my eye out for one, I think I may have seen a video editing workstation in one at a client's office that I may have to talk him into upgrading now.

 

[Sheninat0r]

The hard drive mounting mechanism on the A7x is not insecure - even with only the two screws in, your hard drives won't fall out unless you tip your case over. There is also the optional third mounting hole which lets you hard mount the drive to the case, so there is zero chance of it coming out.

 

[MichaelD]

Sorry I was away from the thread for so long; went away this weekend and the wireless in the hotel was not working and they had no business center either. :roll:

I do now, however, have 3 more hours of video to edit; so now I really need to get my HD situation sorted out.

Thanks very much everyone for all the detailed replies/posts/links/ideas.

I'm really undecided whether to go:

1. The "interior" route with as many 3.5" bays as possible
2. The exterior route and get removable hotswap cages

As nice as the LianLi V2000/2100 cases are, the airflow for the main chamber is totally messed up. And that's a REAL shame since I like the looks and the layout (upper/lower chambers).

I would like to retain some semblance of quiet; I still have not so fond memories of my Antec 1040 case with 5, 80mm fans howling away and the whole case vibrating like mad. Dont' want a repeat performance.

I'm not opposed to modding. I have a Dremel and I'm not afraid to use it; I turned my P180 into a P182 (it was a lot of work, but worth it.)

The multilane cables for the 3Ware9650 I'm using are 1-meter long; at first I thought they were ridiculously long but now I'm grateful!

I'm going to spend the next few hours checking out the new ideas you guys gave me.

Thanks again. :thumbsup: