Case Recomendation HDDs

Flakes

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Hey guys i need a case recommendation, currently i use a Cooler Master Praetorian 732 which i love to bits, its a brilliant case, now the problem is that i have 5 HDDs one of which is currently on its side inside my case because my 8800GTX wouldnt fit because the HDD was in the way.

ive ran out of space and want to add another HDD to my Raid array, so i need a case that can hold upto 7HDD(min), and has enough space for my 8800GTX without me having to remove a HDD, a tool less case would be great but im happy with screws so either way.

ive been looking at the stacker and its a good case it just looks rubish(imo), so i need something fairly big with good looks, and im partial to black, under £150 (but i could always save up, i will consider more expensive cases, nothing over 200 though)



EDIT

could a mod move this message to cases please, i have no idea why it ended up in soundcards.
 

Grimmy

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Flakes

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cant do that, i just get an error telling me that i dont have permission to edit the post, its really annoying and i have reported it to the mods.

i hadnt actually thought about thermaltake i was just looking at the new antec , which looks like it could do the job.
 

Flakes

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lol, yeah i knew about the adapters,

i like the Antec looks good, and i could use an adapter with it, does anyone know if the 8800GTX fits in this case comfortably?

Im willing to go for a server case, if it means i can get all my HDDs in lol. still looking around, i always look for reviews of the cases before deciding on them.

lol just read the newegg user review:

Cons: No case speaker? Fans do not include connectors for motherboard case fan monitoring ports. Had to remove the middle drive bay to fit an 8800GTX. Poor documentation and manual and on top of that it was a P180B manual.

so im still looking, i know this is a tall order, 6 would probably be enough tbh, 4 disks in Raid 5, 2 in Raid 0... i wanted another for all my music but nvrmind.
 

Kari

Splendid
I've seen one that could hold 8 HDD, it had 2 of those HDD mounts, one in the front (normal) on one in the upper back with the PSU mounted vertically behind the HDD rack. The one in the back might have been verticall type.
alas, cant find it anywhere anymore...
 

Grimmy

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I basically have this case, though mine comes with a clear side:

AeroCool ExtremEngine 3T

It should come in black as well. This is mine:

8800-installed.jpg


If you look closely, you could fit 8 HD's on my system (if you don't use the 1 of the 2 bottom bays for floppy). Though, it would be a lil cramped with SLI config. My 8800GTS fits good enough for me. :D

Edit:

My system has changed a lil though. It has the Corsair 620W PSU, and I moved the HD to the bottom. :lol:

Edit:

Actually there should be plenty of room.. I did move the front 140mm fan to the inner part of the case, so that is why it may look more cramped.

Edit:

Doh... that case even has the fan on the inside. :lol: . o O (I actually moved into the case, guess they did that on the newer ones)

11-196-022-11.jpg
 

Flakes

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well so far for me the Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan is winning, it may only hold six, but im intreged by the completly tool-less design. and the size of it will probably be enough for my 8800GTX aswell.
 

Yoosty

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Check out the new Thermaltake ArmorPlus(Armor+) VH6000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133056

Expansion
External 5.25" Drive Bays 7
External 3.5" Drive Bays 1
Internal 3.5" Drive Bays 7
Expansion Slots 10

They have added some new features to the Armor series and also make the drive bays easier to install HDD's.
 

Flakes

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thats a bloody big case, right at the top of my price range, would have to save up a bit for that one. dont think it would fit on my desk.
 

Flakes

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theres no info on this one... Thermaltake A2309 iCage 5.25" bay convert to 3 x 3.5" HDD Module, does that convert 2x5.25" bays into 3 or 3x5.25" bays into 3?
 

kbits

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Yah its 3 X 5.25" <<>> 3 X HD for the Thermaltake and 3 X 5.25" <<>> 4 X HD for the Coolermaster
 

Flakes

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it is a brilliant case im sad to see it go, i just dont have the room i need for all my HDDs, the 8800GTX fits in it tightly but it fits, the removable MB tray is a godsend, and i love the blue glow on the front from the 120mm fan :cry: ive had it for 2.5years and never gotten bored of it yet.

and your right i cant find it on sale >< http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=1&id=1677

it will continue to live ill just put one of my other systems in it from spare parts i have lying around make it into a web server for my beta site testing.

thankyou for clearing that up Kbit i was hoping it would be 2 into 3 because the other one was 3 into 4... owell looks like the armor wins, although undecided whether to spend the extra dosh for the expensive one.

 

rockbyter

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at newegg you can find bay adapters for 3 drives in 2x5.25 bays, or 4 drives in 3x5.25 bays by coolermaster which is my personal favorite as it has a 120 mm fan blowing across the drives plus vibration isolated mounting. if sata on all drives you can get a 3 bay 5 drive backplane

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817993002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121405R
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3301337&Sku=I202-1031&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&CMP=OTC-GOOGLEBASE
http://www.atacom.com/program/print_html_new.cgi?&USER_ID=www&cart_id=2371520_75_172_77_57&Item_code=CASP_LILI_ML_H0
 

Flakes

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thankyou guys for all the sugestions, i like the idea of those bays, but i only have 2 5.25" bays free so none of them really fit apart from that last one, ill look into that one if i can get it from an online store i trust i will probably get the expansion bay, if not i will just buy the bigger Armor case.

the armor case would probably inspire me to go into watercooling.