92 replies to this topic

[jcollison]

I am looking for a small form factor PC or case to pair with a Drobo S. The Drobo dimensions are 10.3" x 7.3" x 5.9" and of course you can find pictures over at drobo.com. I want the PC to either be a stand for the Drobo or sit on top of it and look like they should be paired together. It needs to have USB 3.0 or eSATA, powerful enough to run WHS 2011, have room for an internal drive of at least 120GB and be fairly power efficient. It also cannot be a million dollars.

Leave pictures or links.

Taking your thoughts, ideas or additional questions. We will talk about this on the show over the next couple of weeks.

Jim

[jmwills]

This one should fit nicely. Silverstone always gets reviews here.

[jcollison]

This one should fit nicely. Silverstone always gets reviews here.

It's a little big. Looking for something smaller than that. Like 3 or 4 inches high.

[jmwills]

Are you familar with the Dell Zino or Acer Revo?

[fredp1]

The lowcarbonpc looks nice... But a bit on the pricey side.
http://www.lowcarbonpc.com/main.sc

[jcollison]

Are you familar with the Dell Zino or Acer Revo?

jmwills...I think the Revo is getting closer to what I am looking for from a form factor size. Not sure it has USB 3.0 however?

[jmwills]

I have the predecesor and it has E-Sata. I realize the 3.0 is a little faster (I think), just throwing it out there. No longer available, but it cold be for sale. It would be smaller than the Drobo.

[jcollison]

The lowcarbonpc looks nice... But a bit on the pricey side.
http://www.lowcarbonpc.com/main.sc

EARTH- Stylish Silver Eco Friendly Mini PC Computer Price Each: $399.00 Memory: 4 GB DDR2 800 +$49.00 Hard Drive: 320 GB Eco Star Optical Drive: DVD Combo Drive Operating System: Ubuntu Linux -$100.00 Microsoft Office: No Microsoft Office Keyboard & Mouse: None Remote Control: None Monitor: None $348.00 Subtotal: $348.00

Not a bad little box but it does lack USB 3.0 support. I am seeing a trend here. I will have to keep this one in mind.

It would be great if it came in black.

[Joe_Miner]

jmwills...I think the Revo is getting closer to what I am looking for from a form factor size. Not sure it has USB 3.0 however?

Check this out http://www.newegg.co...N82E16883103374 maybe you could get a 3.0 card to go in it?

[ikon]

It would be great if it came in black.

solution

[ikon]

Check this out http://www.newegg.co...N82E16883103374 maybe you could get a 3.0 card to go in it?

Looks like a pretty nice box. Maybe it could stand beside the Drobo?

[Joe_Miner]

Really Jim, I think what you’re really looking for is the HP Microserver – either the lower cost one with AMD Athlon II NEO N36L 1.3 GHz though for a “few dollars more” my preference would be the HP Microserver with AMD Turion II Neo N40L 1.5GHz 2C 2GB – either one I think you could add a USB 3.0 card and sit your Drobo proudly on top of the Microserver

[jcollison]

Check this out http://www.newegg.co...N82E16883103374 maybe you could get a 3.0 card to go in it?

Something even smaller than that John...but I do like this case.

[ikon]

Jim how about this one? Asrock ION 3D

[tojoski]

I found this last night while I was digging around, its a bit wider that the drobo, but I think the drobo would look right at home on top of it:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129068


ITX Motherboard with USB3:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128526

CPU:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115094

[jcollison]

Jim how about this one? Asrock ION 3D

Dementions are good on this one...front USB 3.0 only? Would be better in the back but not a show stopper. This one will make the list...I sense a couple blog posts comeing out of this...

I found this last night while I was digging around, its a bit wider that the drobo, but I think the drobo would look right at home on top of it:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129068


ITX Motherboard with USB3:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128526

CPU:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115094

I do like the set up here. Case looks good. Board and chip are great. This setup is in the running.

[ikon]

Dementions are good on this one...front USB 3.0 only? Would be better in the back but not a show stopper. This one will make the list...I sense a couple blog posts comeing out of this...



I do like the set up here. Case looks good. Board and chip are great. This setup is in the running.

The lowest priced one with rear USB3

Edited by ikon, 13 October 2011 - 10:02 AM.

[tojoski]

I didnt notice that that same case with the bigger PSU is almost the same $

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129080

although it looks like the PSU on that one is internal, vs a brick for the other one

Edited by tojoski, 13 October 2011 - 10:15 AM.

[pcdoc]

Jim,
Just a thought. If you get a very small case to pair with the drobo, there is no turning back. If you get a case that has room for at least a few internal drives, at least you can still have a server if the Drobo gives out or you get in the mood to put that raid card to use, you will not be stuck with a case or system you cannot do much with. Just a thought.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811112227


http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811112265

[jobe]

Hey Jim,

to go with the Drobo, consider this case: http://www.apextechu...cts.asp?pID=179