OP
- Joined
- May 15, 2006
- Thread Starter
- #841
Just got the Norco 270 cases in. I took a few pictures so that if anyone else is interested in the case, you can see if it fits your needs and gives you something to look out for. I only have one case done as I type this, but I've stripped it apart and put is some spare pieces I have laying around to see how it holds it. This is my 3rd and 4th server case from Norco, and I've been satisfied with every last one of them. The rail mounting can be very frustrating, but it works.
It's a box!
OMG IT'S ANOTHER BOX, THIS IS ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE!!
Until I took out the Norco 260 server chassis.
The front is simple design. There are power and reset switches, a USB port and lights for power/HDD/network. In addition to those, you have the normal 5.25" and 3.5" sized holes. There are also sturdy handles on each side of the case.
On the back, there is a dummy plate for the power supply (which seems to take "normal" 2u power supplies), I/O plate and multiple PCI plates. Simple, simple simple. I like this.
The top is covered in a plastic from the factory, to fend off scratches during shipment and assembly. It is quite sticky and tends to leave behind residue. Have the Goof Off ready.
Insides are laid out logically. The biggest difference is where the power supply is located. There wasn't enough space in the back of the case for the power supply, so they relocated it to the front of the case. This increases the compatibility of the chassis, but also adds an additional downside that I will explain later on. Stock, the case has room for 6 hard drives (3 per cage). All of the cages and the power supply bracket are easily removed. I had the case stripped in a few minutes. The screw for the 5.25" bay is difficult to get at since it is just behind and below the front panel headers.
Not much to say about this one except that the fan board for this is quite clever. It keeps cable clutter down. On the downside, removing a fan will take a bit longer.
Case stripped.
Here is a closer look at the fan divider. The splitter bolts to a metal bracket that goes around the fans. The fans are between these two pieces of metal, but they shouldn't rattle; the fit is quite tight.
As always, I want to see what fans they have installed in these cases and I was very happy to find that they used Delta fans! AFB0812H, to be exact. 80mm, 3000 RPM and 1.92 W that pushes out a decent 35.3 CFM at 31 dB. I believe these are the same fans that come with my file server, so these should move quite a bit of air.
Here is the test that I've been waiting to do and I'm very glad I did. This is, unfortunately, the worst part of the case. Pictured is a standard sized ATX power supply; a Corsair HX520w (which is not mine). It bolts into the bracket, no problem. The issue is once it is installed, the grill would be completely flush with the cover and the bottom is as well. You can not flip the power supply around. "So, Thideras", you say, "this is an easy solution! Simply get a power supply with 80mm fans that are on the ends!" You would be right, but there is still an issue. The fan are pulling towards the back of the case a stock power supply would be pushing heat out the front. This creates two problems, actually. First, the power supply is going to be fighting the natural flow of air in the case, which may reduce cooling capacity substantially. The last issue is that if it does push out air from the front of the case, it is going to be pulled in by the fans in the same server or by one that is directly next to it. I'm going to be getting some cheaper (good quality) power supplies and flip the fans around. This is the only solution that I see working.
Grill is completely flush with the top of the case.
No space on the bottom of the power supply.
I was unsure whether to classify this as a failure of the case or a design flaw of the power supply. The stock extension cable was completely backwards for this power supply. I got it in, but it was very tight.
After taking out the fan divider, I found the bottom was covered in this plastic as well! Impressive.
Dual socket Yonah server installed! No cables are hooked up as I don't have an OS drive nor power supply.
All-in-all, it is a very good case with a few minor design issues that could be easily resolved. While I was disappointed with the power supply mounts, I don't see how they could have done any better and the issue is fixable. If you are looking for a small case, check these out.
It's a box!
OMG IT'S ANOTHER BOX, THIS IS ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE!!
Until I took out the Norco 260 server chassis.
The front is simple design. There are power and reset switches, a USB port and lights for power/HDD/network. In addition to those, you have the normal 5.25" and 3.5" sized holes. There are also sturdy handles on each side of the case.
On the back, there is a dummy plate for the power supply (which seems to take "normal" 2u power supplies), I/O plate and multiple PCI plates. Simple, simple simple. I like this.
The top is covered in a plastic from the factory, to fend off scratches during shipment and assembly. It is quite sticky and tends to leave behind residue. Have the Goof Off ready.
Insides are laid out logically. The biggest difference is where the power supply is located. There wasn't enough space in the back of the case for the power supply, so they relocated it to the front of the case. This increases the compatibility of the chassis, but also adds an additional downside that I will explain later on. Stock, the case has room for 6 hard drives (3 per cage). All of the cages and the power supply bracket are easily removed. I had the case stripped in a few minutes. The screw for the 5.25" bay is difficult to get at since it is just behind and below the front panel headers.
Not much to say about this one except that the fan board for this is quite clever. It keeps cable clutter down. On the downside, removing a fan will take a bit longer.
Case stripped.
Here is a closer look at the fan divider. The splitter bolts to a metal bracket that goes around the fans. The fans are between these two pieces of metal, but they shouldn't rattle; the fit is quite tight.
As always, I want to see what fans they have installed in these cases and I was very happy to find that they used Delta fans! AFB0812H, to be exact. 80mm, 3000 RPM and 1.92 W that pushes out a decent 35.3 CFM at 31 dB. I believe these are the same fans that come with my file server, so these should move quite a bit of air.
Here is the test that I've been waiting to do and I'm very glad I did. This is, unfortunately, the worst part of the case. Pictured is a standard sized ATX power supply; a Corsair HX520w (which is not mine). It bolts into the bracket, no problem. The issue is once it is installed, the grill would be completely flush with the cover and the bottom is as well. You can not flip the power supply around. "So, Thideras", you say, "this is an easy solution! Simply get a power supply with 80mm fans that are on the ends!" You would be right, but there is still an issue. The fan are pulling towards the back of the case a stock power supply would be pushing heat out the front. This creates two problems, actually. First, the power supply is going to be fighting the natural flow of air in the case, which may reduce cooling capacity substantially. The last issue is that if it does push out air from the front of the case, it is going to be pulled in by the fans in the same server or by one that is directly next to it. I'm going to be getting some cheaper (good quality) power supplies and flip the fans around. This is the only solution that I see working.
Grill is completely flush with the top of the case.
No space on the bottom of the power supply.
I was unsure whether to classify this as a failure of the case or a design flaw of the power supply. The stock extension cable was completely backwards for this power supply. I got it in, but it was very tight.
After taking out the fan divider, I found the bottom was covered in this plastic as well! Impressive.
Dual socket Yonah server installed! No cables are hooked up as I don't have an OS drive nor power supply.
All-in-all, it is a very good case with a few minor design issues that could be easily resolved. While I was disappointed with the power supply mounts, I don't see how they could have done any better and the issue is fixable. If you are looking for a small case, check these out.
