- Oct 27, 2010
- 22
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- 18,510
I've been scouring the internet for weeks trying to find the perfect case for my HTPC/Server build. I'm having serious trouble finding a case that meets my specific (and unusual) specs.
The case will be going inside a cabinet in my entertainment center (which I will vent with fans). The issue is that the cabinet is only 15.5 inches deep. I will cut a hole in the back of the cabinet for the wires and cables to protrude into the 2.5 inch gap between the cabinet and the wall, but I will still need space in the front of the case for ventilation too. This really limits me to a case that is 14-15 inches deep or less.
My build is going to consist of either a mATX or ATX board along with a standard 5.25 inch blu-ray drive (not paying the $$ for a slim drive), one main HDD, and a 5 disk HDD RAID5 array. Essentially this leaves me needing a case that is capable of housing one 5.25 inch drive and six 3.5 inch HDDs.
I've considered buying the Lian Li V354 and just moving my entertainment center out from the wall another inch and a half or so, but it costs $160 including shipping and that's really more than I want to spend anyway:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...300&cm_re=lian_li_v354-_-11-112-300-_-Product
Something like this (GMC R-2 Toast) would be perfect if it was taller and could house another four HDDs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...110001&cm_re=GMC_Toast-_-11-110-001-_-Product
I've considered just buying a shallow case like the R-2 mentioned above and making a rack to stack the RAID array outside the case, but I'd rather not go that route. An all-in-one solution would be the best.
I've also considered just having an open concept and mounting the MB into the cabinet with the HDDs and blu-ray in a custom rack on a shelf in there, but that leaves everything open to dust and isn't very attractive.
Any ideas?
The case will be going inside a cabinet in my entertainment center (which I will vent with fans). The issue is that the cabinet is only 15.5 inches deep. I will cut a hole in the back of the cabinet for the wires and cables to protrude into the 2.5 inch gap between the cabinet and the wall, but I will still need space in the front of the case for ventilation too. This really limits me to a case that is 14-15 inches deep or less.
My build is going to consist of either a mATX or ATX board along with a standard 5.25 inch blu-ray drive (not paying the $$ for a slim drive), one main HDD, and a 5 disk HDD RAID5 array. Essentially this leaves me needing a case that is capable of housing one 5.25 inch drive and six 3.5 inch HDDs.
I've considered buying the Lian Li V354 and just moving my entertainment center out from the wall another inch and a half or so, but it costs $160 including shipping and that's really more than I want to spend anyway:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...300&cm_re=lian_li_v354-_-11-112-300-_-Product
Something like this (GMC R-2 Toast) would be perfect if it was taller and could house another four HDDs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...110001&cm_re=GMC_Toast-_-11-110-001-_-Product
I've considered just buying a shallow case like the R-2 mentioned above and making a rack to stack the RAID array outside the case, but I'd rather not go that route. An all-in-one solution would be the best.
I've also considered just having an open concept and mounting the MB into the cabinet with the HDDs and blu-ray in a custom rack on a shelf in there, but that leaves everything open to dust and isn't very attractive.
Any ideas?
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