Looking for a smaller than mid tower, home server case:

[OmenemO]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my esxi home server, and will be downgrading from 20* 3.5" hdd's to just 10.

I've got some 3* 5.25" to 5* 3.5" drive caddies, which means I can theoretically rebuild my server in a case that's smaller than mid tower size.

Does anyone know of some cases that are compatible with:

• Smaller than mid tower
• micro ATX mobo
• ATX PSU
• At least 6* external 5.25" bays
• USB 3.0 ports

I've been hunting for a while, but haven't found anything yet.

 

[Boil]

I don't really think the "smaller than mid tower" & "six external 5.25" bays" quite go together…

 

[jjsyht]

Maybe u-nas can hâve something for you

 

[OmenemO]

I don't really think the "smaller than mid tower" & "six external 5.25" bays" quite go together…

I'm not hopeful, but figure it's worth asking. Mid tower is up to 10* 5.25" bays tall, so there is potentially something out there.

 

[Zepher]

The YY-0221 would work but I doubt you'll find one easily. It is a small cube case. I bought it in 2005, traded it to my brother in 2011, and it went through a couple more hands then I got it back last week.
Currently setting it up with a new old Gigabyte board and Windows 10 to play around with.

 

[Zepher]

The case also holds 8 3.5" drives behind the 5-1/4 bays.

looks like a mini fridge,

 

[OmenemO]

Thanks Zepher, I hadn't even considered looking into cuboid cases. I've actually got a friend who used to use one of those, hopefully he didn't toss it.

 

[EdZ]

If you're willing to forego the hotswap bays, the Node 804 can fit 10x 3.5" drives using the 2x 4-drive sleds and the two lower mounting points.

 

[Zepher]

If you're willing to forego the hotswap bays, the Node 804 can fit 10x 3.5" drives using the 2x 4-drive sleds and the two lower mounting points.

I was looking at that as well as the Silverstone DS380, SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- DS380
the cost was kinda high for the DS380 as well as needing a special SFX PSU.
DS380 has 8 hot swap bays in it.

I ended up buying an Intel based machine recently from a member here.

 

[OmenemO]

The DS380 is a nice case, but at this stage I can't get away with downsizing all the way to mini itx, I will need at least 2 expansion slots for the foreseeable future.

If you're willing to forego the hotswap bays, the Node 804 can fit 10x 3.5" drives using the 2x 4-drive sleds and the two lower mounting points.

I would much prefer to keep & build around the hotswap bays.

 

[Zepher]

cost of a decent miniITX and lack of SATA ports was the drawbacks for me.