Page 1 of 1

Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 HDDs

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:06 pm
by mkygod
I'm looking for a small foot print Mini-ITX case that has a small footprint (12" depth or smaller), yet has the ability to hold 6 3.5" HDD or more. I want it to be able to fit on my slim bookshelf.

The thing is that a Mini-ITX motherboard is a mere 6.7 x 6.7 in, yet I don't understand why almost all Mini-ITX cases are over 1ft in depth (300mm). I always see cases where the hard drives are in front of the motherboard or a psu in front or behind the motherboard, when so much footprint can be saved having these components on top or below the motherboard. I imagine the optimal configuration for me be a case that is built tall instead of deep, like a multi-story building topologically with the mobo/psu/drives having their own story.

The closest ive found are the Fractal Node 304 cases and the Lian Li PC-q08 which holds 6 HDDs, but are over 300mm in depth

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:08 am
by Pappnaas
mkygod wrote:The closest ive found are the Fractal Node 304 cases and the Lian Li PC-q08 which holds 6 HDDs, but are over 300mm in depth
That's about all what current market holds for you. You'd have to build one yourself, i'm afraid.

You might get away with a combination of small itx case with external SATA/SAS HDDs in an enclosure, but i doubt your size requirements can be met.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:26 am
by mkygod
It's just frustrating because i want to build NAS that is of comparable size to prebuilt NAS; at least in the depth department.

The LIAN LI PC-Q07 is actually the perfect footprint, but only holds a couple of HDDs. If they just made it a few inches taller, it wouldn't have a problem holding 6 HDD's.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:00 pm
by Pappnaas
i stumbled upon this case, but didn't check any availability:

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=452&area

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:03 pm
by MattHelm
If you can find one with 4 5.25" bays, you could use 2 (5.25") to 3 (3.5") adapters to get your needed bays.

Or one with 3 3.5 and 2 5.25s (with 1 adapter).

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:52 pm
by quest_for_silence
Pappnaas wrote:i stumbled upon this case, but didn't check any availability:

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=452&area

It won't fit any "Billy" & the likes (it's huge for a mITX).

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:12 pm
by xan_user
a q07 would easily work for your plan. custom mount two drives on the front face, and one under the opti cage.

quest_for_silence wrote:
"Billy"
ill bite. whats a billy?

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:30 pm
by quest_for_silence
xan_user wrote:
quest_for_silence wrote:
"Billy"
ill bite. whats a billy?


Sorry, this is a "Billy". :P

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:47 pm
by xan_user
@qfs :o thats a new one on me. thanks!

@ OP what about putting a case in sideways? that would really open up your options for a ready made case.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:52 pm
by mkygod
I'm very short on shelf space, so having the computer horizontally will not be feasible. However, i do have an unlimited amount of headspace, so a tall case would be good.

This is would be a perfect size, but it only fits THREE 3.5" HDDs - http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.p ... 91&area=en

Shame that a case that tall only fits 3 hard drives.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:03 pm
by xan_user
plenty of room for 3 more drives in there, you just have to get a bit crafty.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:52 am
by mkygod
xan_user wrote:plenty of room for 3 more drives in there, you just have to get a bit crafty.
Crafty or ghetto? In my mind, im thiinking of zipties.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:42 am
by flemeister
mkygod wrote:
xan_user wrote:plenty of room for 3 more drives in there, you just have to get a bit crafty.
Crafty or ghetto? In my mind, im thiinking of zipties.
For the Silverstone FT03, perhaps a custom aluminium HDD cage (or even a ready-made one if you can find something suitable) situated where the PCI-e slots are? Should be able to fit 3x 3.5" drives in that space. Prop it up from the bottom of the case, or bolt it to the side panel. Whatever works. :)

For the cases that you said are ideal, but simply too deep for your shelf, have you considered simply turning the case around so it's sideways on the shelf? Shouldn't be too hard to manage cabling? The PSU power cord is black, and you can get black USB and display cables. Shouldn't be hard to make it look neat and tidy. :)

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:32 pm
by fortezza
This Logic Supply case looks promising.

Couple that with a an ASRock C2750D4I and you could do 12 drives, although cabling and power would be a nightmare.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:03 pm
by quest_for_silence
fortezza wrote:This Logic Supply case looks promising.

Couple that with a an ASRock C2750D4I and you could do 12 drives, although cabling and power would be a nightmare.


Taking apart the Avoton usual outrageous pricing, I don't understand how it can handle six 3,5" HDDs.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:10 pm
by mkygod
fortezza wrote:This Logic Supply case looks promising.

Couple that with a an ASRock C2750D4I and you could do 12 drives, although cabling and power would be a nightmare.
That's the right depth, but its much to wide. I'm looking for more of a tower form factor with minimal footprint, instead of the wide htpc/vcr shape or bread box shape. Something in the realm of 12 x 12 in footprint with height not being a factor.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 4:15 am
by boost
xan_user wrote:@ OP what about putting a case in sideways? that would really open up your options for a ready made case.
You could screw long subwoofer spikes to the back of the Fractal Node. The footprint would only be 210mm x 250mm. The spike are tall enough for airflow, they are designed to reduce vibration and you might not even need cables with angles plugs depending on the lenght of the spikes.

Re: Looking for small footprint Mini-ITX case that holds 6 H

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:52 pm
by amishware
If you are lookin for small footprint MiniITX case, this is smallest you can find:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=67099

But you must say goodbye to discrete graphics.
It fits 3 HDD drives and 1 mSATA SSD.
If you haven't bought drives yet, 2.5" version are around 5% more expensive in my country, but much more quiet, space and power saver.
If you already have six 3.5" drives than it is better to separate storage from other components, because miniITX case with six 3.5" drives is hard to find.