Chassis options that can rival the front-end of this? link/pics

[ZeroOne]

Currently using a Corsair 600T-white with iStarUSA 4x3.5's and 4x2.5's up front. The case is nice but after using the newer Dell servers at the office, it's hard to be impressed by the quality of consumer-grade parts.

Is there any chassis (or REALLY solid 5.25-to-HDD bays) that can match the Dell parts in the links below? The security bezel up front is solid metal, and drive sleds are VERY solidly built with full-thick metal levers and proper LEDs for failed drives, activity, and power. None of it is just some stamped lightweight crap.

http://www.zdnet.com/dell-poweredge-...ew-7000003879/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-3-5-SAS...-/130701693993


Any opinions? Thanks!!

[NKrader]

supermicro are pretty good, still plastac

[lutjens]

The Dell is a nice server, but very disappointing that it can only hold a maximum of 12x 3.5" drives, especially considering that the HP ML350P Gen8 can hold up to 18 and still have a full sized 5.25" bay available.

[ZeroOne]

Yeah, its a tough call... the supermicro stuff seems nice on paper, but not be stuck on aesthetics... looks fresh out of the 80s.

Dell needs to step up the T320 and T420 a bit... there's more room for drives up front and not everyone needs a dual socket system.

On the fence... the other thing is dust filtration... at least with the 600T (and many other consumer cases), the front fan filter takes care of 90% of the dust. I cut in a bitfenix spector pro fan up front in the 600T and use an aquaero on the fans to keep the drives at exactly 38C no matter the temp of the room. Not sure if I'd have that kind of control and cleanliness with the Dell chassis. Decisions decisions...