Why do so many cases have a ton of 5.25" bays, but not many 3.25" bays?

[The Batman]

If these are the "server" cases, what are you using all those 5.25" bays for? I would only need 3 optical drives at the most, one or two for DVD writing/playback, and a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray writer when they reach a reasonable price. Hard drives on the other hand I feel more comfortable if the case has at least 5 internal 3.25" and 2 external 3.25". Some cases only have 3 or 4 internal and that's fine, but not if there are 6 or 7 5.25" bays.

[p0tter]

The 5.25 bays are not only for drives. You can get fan controllers and other junk, would you rather have a blank space ?

[NoPeace]

You can easily fill 5 5.25" bays. Just get two opticals, 1 fan controller and a double bay water tank. You can get tons of extra stuff for them. Much more then the smaller ones. LCD displays, ash trays, cup holders, card readers, etc...

NoPeace - out

[EsaT]

Chieftec maxi towers of Bravo (BA) and Mesh (CA) serie would have quite a lot of both: six 5.25" + two 3.5" external and eight 3.5" internally.
http://www.pcgamma.com/showthread.php?t=7471

Cases are very high, something like 67cm, so drives in uppermost 5.25" places require long cables. Also you can't attach any half length 5.25" devices (IMO very bad mistake) because of how they are fixed. Other big minus from my point of view was also that now any panel with protruding knob wouldn't even fit behind door. (unlike in older Dragon/DA-serie)


Because of those things and fact that space above PSU would have been useless for me I ended up with CM Stacker (STC-T01) which has motherboard in vertical center meaning shorter cables for opticals and more space for bundling extra length of cables to bottom of case instead of mess in front of motherboard. Also with two HDD racks taking 6 5.25" bays and giving space for eight HDs (4 with good airflow space without fans) there's just enough space left for two opticals, card reader/fan control panel, connector panel of sound card and even for floppy drive if I end up installing it. (hurray for M$'s advanced OS accepting drivers only from floppy)

Also arranging 5.25" devices such way that optical drives aren't directly on top of each others, like putting one short device or empty "slot" between them, really helps keeping optical drives cool. With opticals densely packed they heat discs considerably. (also extra space between them allows having trays of both open with easy access)


Lian Li PC-G70 would be little like mix of Chieftec's and CM Stacker's features with much lighter aluminium construction:
http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/Server_Full_Tower/Classical/S_C_PC-G70.htm
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cases/Lian_Li_PC-G70/index.htm
http://www.nokytech.net/lian-li_g70-883-d.html

Hmm, maybe there would be little idea in making sticky thread with short list of best big cases?

[The Batman]

wow, that G70 case is really damn cool, thank you. I would like something that, unfortunately I'd have to look into a new desk if I wanted something that big. A fan controller(s) would be useful so I guess 5 optical bays wouldn't be so bad. The G70 seems to have a perfect number of bays and very few flaws.

[Ominous Gamer]

You can easily put a 3.5" item in a 5.25" bay, you can't go the other way around...so why not have more 5.25" bays?:slap:

[Slayer2k3]

Real server cases, do not have this problem. ;) :D

http://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/4U/745/SC745TQ-R800.cfm
http://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/pedestal/800/SC850P4.cfm

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/vx50b4881.html


;)

[twiggy]

You can easily put a 3.5" item in a 5.25" bay, you can't go the other way around...so why not have more 5.25" bays?:slap:


Yep. 3 out of my 4 5.25" bays have hard drives in them.:fact:

[p0tter]

sycthe 5.25 fan bay (http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/008/sckb1000_detail.html)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185021

[phelan1777]

I love my 11 5.25 slots on my Stacker!

[begundal]

I love my 11 5.25 slots on my Stacker!
i second dat :toast: