AeroCool Unveils Cipher Mid-Tower Case with 15 Drive Bays

[btarunr]

AeroCool unveiled the Cipher mid-tower case targeted at those with copious amounts of local storage. It features a mostly conventional horizontally-partitioned layout, but with a key difference. Toward the forward-right region of the case, is a fan vent that holds either two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans; and can mount 280 mm or 240 mm radiators. The radiator ends up in the crawl-space behind the motherboard tray, while its fans are on the other side. It exhausts through vents along the right side-panel. The left side-panel has these vents, too, but serves as intake. This is where things get interesting. There are four detachable 3.5-inch drive-cages mounted along the motherboard tray (with clearance for the radiator fans). These cages can either serve as a fresh air-guide for the side-mounted radiator, or hold up to eight 3.5-inch HDDs ventilated by those fans. You can pluck out the drive-cages you don't need.

The storage features don't end there. The bottom compartment has an additional three 3.5-inch bays, two 2.5-inch drives can be mounted behind the motherboard tray, and two on top of the partition, for a total of 15 drives, not counting the M.2 SSDs on your motherboard. Other ventilation options include three 120 mm front fan-mounts behind a mesh intake; three 120 mm top exhausts, and a 120 mm rear exhaust. The expansion slots include two vertical slots. Front-panel connectivity is pretty standard, with a USB 3.x type-A, two USB 2.0, and HDA jacks. All this, in mid-tower dimensions of 205 mm x 485 mm x 485 mm (WxDxH). The company didn't reveal pricing.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TechLurker]

I wonder if there are any anti-vibration mounts or at least some space provision for adding in your own. Judging by the images, there doesn't seem to be any kind of vibration dampening, nor quick-latch/unlatch mechanisms for easy hot-swapping.

 

[Chaitanya]

I wonder if there are any anti-vibration mounts or at least some space provision for adding in your own. Judging by the images, there doesn't seem to be any kind of vibration dampening, nor quick-latch/unlatch mechanisms for easy hot-swapping.

Indeed there seems to be lack any kind of vibration dampers and drives need to be installed using screws so no quick removal of drives. Granted it's refreshing to see a case with decent 3.5" drive support and with decent airflow as well(Be Quiet 802, Cooler Master CM 694 and Fractal Meshify 2 are the only other options for 3.5" drive users. Though 2 of these dont have quick removal of drives with CM694 only one featuring toolless drive sleds).

Cipher - AeroCool

MID TOWER CASE Specially designed for mining storage-based cryptocurrency, this mid tower case supports up to a max. of 12 x 3.5” HDDs and 4 x 2.5” SSDs (11 x 3.5” HDDs and 4 x 2.5” SSDs or 12 x 3.5” HDDs and 3 x 2.5” SSDs simultaneously). Featuring a mesh front panel design, this case allows...

aerocool.io

 

[AusWolf]

I see it has support for a vertically mounted dual-slot GPU, though its airflow is blocked off by the solid side panel. A typical oversight I see so many times.

I also don't get the side-mounted radiator. Where is it attached to exactly? I don't see any room or cut-outs for the pipes, and the vents seem to be quite airflow-restricted, too.

Other than that, I like the design. Shame I don't need space for 15 drives, as I've recently moved all my internal storage to nvme.

 

[PSYCHOPATHiO]

as soon as I saw 8 HDD I said take my money.... Cant find a decent ATX case to use as a home server with decent ventilation & HDD space.

 

[Chomiq]

Specially designed for mining storage-based cryptocurrency

I wonder why they didn't mention this in their press release.

 

[Blue4130]

I see it has support for a vertically mounted dual-slot GPU, though its airflow is blocked off by the solid side panel. A typical oversight I see so many times.

I also don't get the side-mounted radiator. Where is it attached to exactly? I don't see any room or cut-outs for the pipes, and the vents seem to be quite airflow-restricted, too.

Other than that, I like the design. Shame I don't need space for 15 drives, as I've recently moved all my internal storage to nvme.

The vertical mount is left over from the fact that they base many cases on a common design and reuse stamp dies on multiple clases.

The side ventilation holes are airflow for the hard drives, not radiators.

 

[AusWolf]

The side ventilation holes are airflow for the hard drives, not radiators.

The article says otherwise: "Toward the forward-right region of the case, is a fan vent that holds either two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans; and can mount 280 mm or 240 mm radiators. The radiator ends up in the crawl-space behind the motherboard tray, while its fans are on the other side. It exhausts through vents along the right side-panel."

 

[trsttte]

I wonder why they didn't mention this in their press release.

Didn't that die already?


Doesn't look very interesting, when things like the Define series from fractal is a thing

 

[Chomiq]

Didn't that die already?

No one's ever really gone.

 

[Cutechri]

Me who only uses SSDs: very interesting

 

[micropage7]

looks good but storage on plastic rails? no thanks i prefer old school

 

[claes]

I feel like Silverstone is the only company left making data server chassis? Cases like these, with the lack of so many consumer features, just beg the question — why not go rack mount?

I can’t imagine how much noise this’d make with 11 3.5” drives (odd numbers = why?), let alone the poor airflow for servers with any real load.

 

[thestryker6]

Indeed there seems to be lack any kind of vibration dampers and drives need to be installed using screws so no quick removal of drives. Granted it's refreshing to see a case with decent 3.5" drive support and with decent airflow as well(Be Quiet 802, Cooler Master CM 694 and Fractal Meshify 2 are the only other options for 3.5" drive users. Though 2 of these dont have quick removal of drives with CM694 only one featuring toolless drive sleds).

Cipher - AeroCool

MID TOWER CASE Specially designed for mining storage-based cryptocurrency, this mid tower case supports up to a max. of 12 x 3.5” HDDs and 4 x 2.5” SSDs (11 x 3.5” HDDs and 4 x 2.5” SSDs or 12 x 3.5” HDDs and 3 x 2.5” SSDs simultaneously). Featuring a mesh front panel design, this case allows...

aerocool.io

Cooler Master MasterCase MC500 High Storage Edition Mid Tower Case

Cooler Master is breaking new ground in the way cases are designed, made, bought and used. We want you to have absolute control over how your case looks and functions, and that means giving you the option to adjust the exterior structure and aesthetic via a range of replacement panels and doors...

www.coolermaster.com

I just saw that the other day when looking to see if there was anything new from CM. I don't recall seeing any press releases etc, but the Australian pricing I saw amounted to about $150 USD.

 

[Blue4130]

looks good but storage on plastic rails? no thanks i prefer old school

Plastic rails have been used for over 20 years.

 

[TechLurker]

On the subject of other large-HDD oriented cases, Fractal Design is releasing or has released a new case, the Define 7 XL, that can hold up to 18 HDDs + 5 SSDs. It also features some vibration dampening on the sleds.

 

[Athlonite]

Funny I can only count 14 drive bays/sleds in those photos where's number 15

 

[micropage7]

Plastic rails have been used for over 20 years.

yeah, but i have bad experience with plastic tray, plastic rails
after some period the plastic will lose the grip and risking the hdd sliding off