Quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure?

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d0g
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Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:49 am

Quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure?

Post by d0g » Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:51 am

I'm trying to find the quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure.

Any suggestions?

jimbob
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:57 am

Re: Quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure?

Post by jimbob » Sun Nov 23, 2014 2:31 pm

Lian Li EX-503 / 5-bay
www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/ex-503

Fractal Design Silent Series R2 120mm
http://www.fractal-design.com/home/prod ... s-r2-120mm

Don't think you could find any quiet 4-5-bay enclosure, most have anoying small fans (40-60mm)
The 503 case have a 120mm fan, but it's very loud. So i just changed it to a Fractal R2 120mm fan.

The case have a 3-Pin fan header connector so you just need a small screwdriver to change it.

MikeC
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Re: Quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure?

Post by MikeC » Sun Nov 23, 2014 3:36 pm

You more or less have to assume they are ALL a bit too noisy, because...
1) the fan runs too fast
2) the fan is badly impeded for airflow

Hence, to get one really quiet, you will have to mod it -- simply -- by at least slowing down the fan, or swapping it out for a quieter, smoother sounding one.

So look for a device that uses a fan 80mm or larger; these are much quieter than smaller fans. Also look for relatively easy access to the fan.

This IcyDock is good if a little pricey, with easy access to its fan. They probably make a USB3 version now.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Silent_Ho ... de/IcyDock

The Lian Li EX-503 linked by jimbob looks pretty good -- nice big fan -- but the backplane inside, like most, looks like a bad impediment to airflow.

xan_user
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Re: Quietest 4-bay USB 3.0 drive enclosure?

Post by xan_user » Sun Nov 23, 2014 8:22 pm

the absolute quietest way to run 4 HDD's is;...


...to put them in another room. I believe they make usb 3.0 in lengths up to 100 feet now.

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