Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > Case with the most 3.5 bays

Case with the most 3.5 bays

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Case with the most 3.5 bays

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

Ask the community Add a reply

Bottom Search this thread

So I'm building an Media Server, and am looking at cases. I have many, many terabytes of movies, music, and photos I am serving up for my household, and therefor, need lots of hard drives.

Newegg has an http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811103022 with 12 hdd spots, but I was hoping for a little more than that. I recognize I will probably need multiple PSUs to handle so many drives.

I was even thinking about a server chassis, but the cost is prohibitive. $500 I can do heck within $50-$60, a few thousand? Nah.

Anyone know of a case that has maybe 14, 16 drive spots? Again, I'm not worried about finding ways to power that, or about having to get another drive controller. I just need the space.

Add a reply

This thread may point you towards useful information: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ys-desired

In any case, the only cases I've found online that suit your needs (lotsa bays, low price) are here (look for "730-ATX" ). A bit above $100.

Seems space and high cost are inseperable unfortunately. Have you considered making a custom chassis yourself? Or having one made? I'm sure you could save money that way if you provide very clear specs to the maker.

Reply to r_manic

Good reads, thanks.

I've thought about custom cases, although sites I've looked at with do-it-yourself cases have been "iffy." MountainMods.com has some do it yourself assembly, but looking at what I see, its going to take some doing to get lotsa 3.5 inch space.

Building my own from the ground up is attractive, but I lack the tools and time to make my own aluminum or steel case. Wood? Could do it, but it'd look a little shoddy, wouldn't you agree?

Reply to scryer_360

If you aren't looking for hot swappable, you can look at an Antec 1200 and purchase 4 cooler master or silverstone 3 -5.25 in drive bay to 4 - 3.5 in drive bay converters ($250-300 US total). If you are looking for hot swappable, you can buy ICY Dock MB455 5 Drive (3 Bay) Hotswap devices to replace the cooler master converters ($110 each US) which will allow you to plug in 20 drives total. Power supply wise, if you get a beefy single rail power supply, you should be able to power 14-16 drives easily. I have 12 3.5 inch drives (combination of SATA & IDE) on PC & Power Cooling 500 watt supply also powering the Pentium 4 with no issues.

Reply to hiroman_77

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > Case with the most 3.5 bays

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 493 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.328 seconds

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel

Focus On

Case with the most 3.5 bays

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Case with the most 3.5 bays

Please mind