How to get HDD separate from PC

bally30 · Jan 22, 2017

I want to buy a PC Show case with tempered glass but most only have 2 or 3 hard drive bays, Wanted to know if i could have all hard drives operating in another case & connected to my PC

Q: Would i need a Sever

geofelt · Jan 22, 2017

What case are you looking at?
What cpu/gpu will go inside?

You could have a separate NAS server box.
But, you would likely need to have a ssd tucked away somewhere to control it.

How much drive storage do you need?
There are some truly large ssd devices available that could disappear in a showcase box.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

bally30 :

4 bay, USB or eSATA connection.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X26VV4

I have one. It works great.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

You could use a Raspberry Pi and create a NAS;

http://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/how-to-build-your-own-raspberry-pi-nas-1315968

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

Multiple options here:

1. Buy larger drives to go in this case.
2. USB connected multi drive bay.
3. Prebuilt NAS box, connected over the LAN.
4. Roll your own NAS box, via Pi.

13thmonkey · Jan 22, 2017

Use a NAS rather than a server. But with the right initial choice of HDD's you'll be fine anyway, get an NVME for the OS a large HDD for bulk, and an SSD for further fast storage, and you've only taken two bays, possibly only 1 if the case allows you to bolt it to the back of the mobo.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

https://www.wdc.com/products/personal-cloud-storage/my-cloud-mirror-gen2.html#WDBWVZ0160JWT-NESN

bally30 · Jan 22, 2017

CPU 6700K
MOBO Maximus VIII Hero
GPU GTX 780 but will be getting 1080ti or Vega when released
PSU Corsair TX650
H100i Corsair Heatsink its broken at the moment waiting to RMA am temporarily using Noctura NH D14

Cases Im looking at either
NZXT S340 Elite
Corsair Crystal 460X

bally30 · Jan 22, 2017

thanks USAFRet thats what i want but with 6 to 8 bays is what i need
I dont have much money so something cost effective something i could make or buy cheap would be best

im from UK

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

bally30 :

OK, then...the same thing in an 8 bay:
http://www.mediasonic.ca/product.php?id=1357290608

$270 at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-H82-SU3S2-ProBox-External-Enclosure/dp/B005GYDMYG

Or $99 each for 4 bay enclosures, linked earlier.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

bally30 :

Since you are only talking about 6 to 8 bays, that is not very much. The case that I own holds 8 bays for hard drives, the Fractal Design R5;

http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-titanium

13thmonkey · Jan 22, 2017

or a pair of these https://www.scan.co.uk/products/4-bay-icy-box-ib-3640su3-external-jbod-system-for-35-sata-hdds-with-usb-30-and-esata-host running off of esata/USB3.0

Same device at USAFret's just the european/UK version. I've got the non-raid version in a 4 bay.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

Yes, the IcyBox ones are good as well.

13thmonkey · Jan 22, 2017

USAFRet :

same device 99% certain, can't get mediasonic in the UK. Wasn't sure it was the same until the image loaded on the second viewing of the page.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

With my fractal Design I can put 8 hard drives in it plus 2 SSDs, for a total of 10 separate drives. For my situation that is plenty.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

Rocky Bennett :

Right.
And the OP has a particular case that can only hold 2-3 drives.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

Then he might have bought the wrong case for his needs.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

USAFRet :

Wait a cotton-pickin' minute. The OP clearly states that he does not have a case yet, he is only looking at cases. I thought that is what I had read.

Maybe I am missing something.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

Rocky Bennett :

Given the plethora of other options to connect a bunch of other drives, the case he wishes to use may be exactly what he wants/needs.

For instance, I am about to buy a NAS.
I will be using 7 or 8 drives. A mix of 3.5", 2.5" SSD, and mSATA, with a 2.5" passthrough adapter
However, I'm only getting a 4 bay NAS.
Why? The price difference between 4 bay and 8 bay is horrendous, and I already have the 4 bay USB external enclosure.

Or, if I were building a small HTPC. ITX, maybe. The big box of drives could live elsewhere, and the small PC case on the shelf under the TV.

USAFRet · Jan 22, 2017

Rocky Bennett :

USAFRet :

Wait a cotton-pickin' minute. The OP clearly states that he does not have a case yet, he is only looking at cases. I thought that is what I had read.

Maybe I am missing something.

Either way.
Not everyone wants a big honkin case that with 10 drive bays.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

I look at my case and it does seem too larger. It fits nicely under my desk near my feet and does not really take up very much space. It has a window on the side, but maybe not a large enough window to fit the OP's wants. With the platinum finish, it just seems classy.

Rocky Bennett · Jan 22, 2017

USAFRet, I was just watching a couple of videos over at Paul's Hardware and I was thinking about your posts. You are absolutely correct in all of your suggestions and I absolutely love the way you think through these type of issues. That is what makes this hobby so fun. The diversity of ideas and products is so large that there is no one way to do things. There is an answer and a solution for almost everybody's needs.

Thanks for putting up with me.

How to get HDD separate from PC

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