Multiple hard drives (for htpc)

[Gamehendge Jazz]

So I'm looking into a case that has five slots for hd's. Want to use one smaller, separate drive for my OS/Applications and four large drives for dvr and accessing music/video.

I've been told having four sata ii drives would create too much heat. Can anyone suggest a solution to maximize space and speed?

(I would have 2TB installed, if I could)

[pentachris]

There are cases with hard drive fans (I think these are mostly server cases). There are also cases with LOTS (12 and even more) of drive bays, which would allow you to space them out and let air flow around them (remember that you can get adaptors to put 3.5" drives in 5.25" bays with inexpensive adaptor kits). There are also cases with lots of case fans to move plenty of air through your system.

Don't let your case selection limit the number of drives you want. (Although, have you considered external drives?) Instead, make your drive selection and let that narrow your case options.

[Gamehendge Jazz]

Thanks for the info...

The only limit on my case selection is that I would prefer not to have a tower. It will be placed with my other A/V components, so something of a rack mountable type (but not necessarily "rack mountable"). I have considered external drives, but I have this phobia about stability and constantly playing music/videos over a firewire connection.

Maybe someone can make some specific (case) model recommendations?...
(the type of case isn't as important as HD space)

What I want from this system: lots of HD space (multiple TB's), Windows MCE, HDTV as monitor, Audio through stereo, possibly networked, serves as DVR and music/video storage & playback

[saphalline]

Well, you might be able to find a desktop variety with more space, but at this point I would suggest just getting a tower and putting it on its side. Towers are cheaper and having HDD's oriented perpendicular to the direction of the case is the best use of space for mounting them. Or, depending on the dimensions of your other A/V devices, an actual rack-mount server case might be the best option. Or, if you know someone into metal fabrication, you can custom design a case to meet your needs.

The main thing you have to worry about is not jamming a bunch of hard drives close together, but making sure you get airflow over them. The best way to do that is to have a fan blowing over them, and with all the hard drives you want, you'll have to find a case that can house fans blowing over all the drives. That's your safest bet, and you seem to be focused on stability, so...

[Gamehendge Jazz]

Great tips. Thanks...

I'm beginning to think...

Internal: One OS/App drive & One 500GB SATA II drive
External: Multiple FireWire 800 drives

I've always worried about running files off of externals, but I may just go ahead and get a LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme (or two).

Any reason to think I could do better?

[saphalline]

If you don't have a case with a fan blowing over the HDD's, it's a good idea to stagger the drives. Install them in every other drive bay. If you do that, you should be able to fit 3 HDD's in a standard case. Or you could break out the drill and make a place for a fan! :D Or do as pentachris suggested and get 5.25" bay converters with built-in fans and mount some hard drives that way. There should be some way you can get more internal HDD's in there.

As for the firewire drives, I don't see it as much of a problem. If you aren't always plugging them in and unplugging them, the actual firewire cable connection won't wear out. And if the connections consist of the same metal (they usually do these days) that will minimize oxidation. Just blow the connection with some canned air every couple months and the external drives will be just fine. I mean really, if you can leave your computer plugged into the internet cable all the time (be it 56K or broadband) and that connection never needs babysitting, do you really think keeping external firewire drives plugged in will be a problem? I say don't sweat it. Just get whatever storage type you need and be smart about back-ups.

[Mr Red]

use two cases

[deddard]

The 5 1/4 inch bays look promising to me if you want optimal cooling - it's possible to buy fan units made to cool drive bays which should fit a 5 1/4 inch bay. As pointed out, staggering them should be a good way to keep it cool.
I've not used firewire for hdds, but have just installed a usb2 hdd on a Linksys Network Storage device (NSLU2) - this allows me to have access to my most used files from any of my PCs without needing to keep any particular one booted.