Help with server case choices

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whakojacko

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May 4, 2007
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I am deciding on cases for a small server build and would like input. Based largely on reviews I have found both here and elsewhere, I plan on going for some Lian-Li case (although other suggestions appreciated). The PC-V1XXX and PC-V2XXX are both too big and too expensive (I am looking at a case budget of max ~$150 and Height<20in). For their compact sizes, I have mainly been looking at the PC-A05 and PC-V600 So I was looking for some help to all the [H] members.
1. Can the V600 (with the odd PSU configuration) fit a zalman 7000? Im not planning on OCing my E6600, but I would like to keep it cool
2. Can people with the A05 USING ALL 3 HD BAYS give me some ideas of temps their setups are getting ?
3. How powerful/Loud are the provided 120s for these cases??
Any other case Recommendations? (Lian-Li midtowers or others) It needs have at least 4 3.5" (including 3.5"->5.25" converters), decent cooling, modetately quiet, and as above no more than ~$150 or 20in tall.
Thanks in advance
 
http://nlancaster.shackspace.com/HTPC server.jpg

I Think this fullfills all your requirements. Although I am not sure about one of them.I am not sure about fitting a zalman cu7000 in the machine. But I am using a Thermalright XP-120 without a fan and a customer cardboard shroud from the Silverstone ST60F PSU to draw air over the CPU heatsink. My temps are around 43 degrees celcius on the CPU. And rock stable. I also crammed in an Icydock 5-in-3 Sata Backplane, sometime in the future I am planing to mod the case to take a second 5-in-3 HD rack for a total of 10HDs. :D I am using this machine as my Home Theater / network Server. And also with a little bit of modding you probably could fit in more internal hard drives. But it does have space for 3 of them in the case.

O and I forgot to mention. This machine is only 15inches tall because of the same odd Power supply placment as the V600.

http://www.lian-li.com/product/product06.php?pr_index=14&cl_index=1&sc_index=1&ss_index=4&type=a



HTPC%20server.jpg
 
nlancaster said:
http://nlancaster.shackspace.com/HTPC server.jpg

I Think this fullfills all your requirements. Although I am not sure about one of them.I am not sure about fitting a zalman cu7000 in the machine. But I am using a Thermalright XP-120 without a fan and a customer cardboard shroud from the Silverstone ST60F PSU to draw air over the CPU heatsink. My temps are around 43 degrees celcius on the CPU. And rock stable. I also crammed in an Icydock 5-in-3 Sata Backplane, sometime in the future I am planing to mod the case to take a second 5-in-3 HD rack for a total of 10HDs. :D I am using this machine as my Home Theater / network Server. And also with a little bit of modding you probably could fit in more internal hard drives. But it does have space for 3 of them in the case.

O and I forgot to mention. This machine is only 15inches tall because of the same odd Power supply placment as the V600.

http://www.lian-li.com/product/product06.php?pr_index=14&cl_index=1&sc_index=1&ss_index=4&type=a



HTPC%20server.jpg
Click to expand...
the G50 and V600 seem to be pretty much identical cases except for the V600's more rounded appearance and (more importantly) easier internal hdd access due to horizontal mounting (although the G50 is a good bit cheaper to compensate and if I get that backplane I wont have much inside anyways). Another a quick question, are you using raid at all and if so what card/software.
 
Right now I am not using raid. But if you look at the backplane only 2 of the drive bays are populated right now, 500gb and 300gb Seagates. Also there is one 300GB seagate in the internal drive bay. I will be adding 3 1TB HDs to this machine when they get down to $300 bucks each. The motherboard Has 6 sata ports on it, Nforce 570, and I will be putting those 1TB drives into Raid 5 when I get them in the 3 empty slots of the backplane.
 
Cpt Twitchy said:
If you need room for a lot of hard drives the A16 would probably suit you well but it cost more then the A05 and other mentioned.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112132
Click to expand...

that case looks very nice because you can get a 3x.3.5" to 3x 5.25" converter with 120mm fan identical to what comes with the case. Not hot-swappable (dont care) or high density (also not a huge deal) as other hdd enclosures, but the great cooling is a plus and it looks very nice. Thanks a bunch for pointing this out, this case is looking very likely. http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...ct_info&manufacturers_id=37&products_id=21294
On another note (just me being extremely worried) I assume this case will have no issues
with a zalman 9500 It would seem to be, although the side fan could possibly interfere
 
If the side fan was a problem you could pull it out easily as it's held on by four thumb screws.
 
I just built my new rig in an A05, I have all three drive bays filled, and everything keeps pretty cool. Using the stock intel fan on a 6600 I am getting temps of 41c at idle and around 55c at full load. Zero problems and I love the case.
 
Cpt Twitchy said:
If the side fan was a problem you could pull it out easily as it's held on by four thumb screws.
Click to expand...
Thanks. This case is looking better and better. If I replace all 6 5.25" with 2 of the 3x 3.5" adapaters (l wont need optical drives), I would have 3x120mms on the front. :D
 
What I would like is something small like an X-QPack but with 4 5.25" bays for the hard drive module.
 
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