Need your opinions on this case...

[bobmendon]

I wanted a case to stuff at least 4 2TB drives in to set up as a raid 10 plus a couple of other drives for virtual machines. That pretty much means using the full allotment of drive space at some point. That's not a major concern at the moment. I am putting in a miniATX AM3+ board running a Phenom II. I am using a Corsair H55 water cooler. The PSU may need to be thought about. It's a 500watt semi-modular. Since this will be a rig primarily for storage, I'm thinking it should work. Has anyone used this case and what would you suggest for a cooling setup?

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Chassis/Mid_Tower_/Suppressor/C_00002676/F51_No_Window/Design.htm

 

[SlyNinja]

Yeah thats a good case and should work just fine with want you want. It has 6 hard drive bays and a medium tower should be fine for a miniATX. Hope this helped!

 

[atljsf]

miniatx and 4 hard disks? heat is a problem there

4 hard disk close will make them run at 40 to 50 °c

if you go for mini atx or microatx you need a case tha can have 2 fans in the front, where the hard disks are and moving as much air as possible over them

 

[Samaratin]

Having owned several Thermaltake cases as well as some from Corsair and Fractal Design, i would say that Thermaltakes quality is a little lower than Corsair and Fractal. Current cases i'm using are Corsairs 450D and Fractal Design Arc Midi 2.

 

[atljsf]

i was reading low in the page of the case, you can change the 200mm fan and put two 140mm there

for the 4 hard disks, this would be better i think, but depends on where you plan to put the hard disks

 

[bobmendon]

miniatx and 4 hard disks? heat is a problem there

4 hard disk close will make them run at 40 to 50 °c

if you go for mini atx or microatx you need a case tha can have 2 fans in the front, where the hard disks are and moving as much air as possible over them

It already has a 200mm in the front so the plan is two 120s in the bottom and two 200s as exhaust fans on top with the fan from the h55 blowing out the back. That should provide a good amount of airflow and cooling don't you think or would you still go with 2 120's in the front?

 

[bobmendon]

Having owned several Thermaltake cases as well as some from Corsair and Fractal Design, i would say that Thermaltakes quality is a little lower than Corsair and Fractal. Current cases i'm using are Corsairs 450D and Fractal Design Arc Midi 2.

I looked at all the quiet cases but this one in particular seems well thought out and with all the right touches to include easy to access filters and little detail like resting the PSU on rubber cushions. I also like the extensive use of membranes and grommets. I figured from a cost to functionality measure, I am getting the most bang for my case dollars. Are there specific issues I should be aware of? I have already heard about some people breaking the on/off button but who knows what kind of abuse they gave it.

 

[Samaratin]

i did like the easy access to filters, that was one thing i did notice about the thermaltake you like

 

[atljsf]

the hard disk bays

if you put the 4 together, in front of the 200mm fan, it should give them decent airflow

but if you put one and then leave one bay empty and repeat, two 120mm fans will give better airflo to the hard disks and will remain offering airflow into the case

you could start by using only the 200mm fan and monitor temperatures of the hard disks

if you see they reach 45 to 50°c on load, then rearrange them and consider the fan change i mention

other than that, sounds like a interesting project!