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Fractal Design Array

Darksaber

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The Fractal Design Array manages to swallow a whole six 3.5 inch drives and a single 2.5 inch one without the usual dimensions of a mid or full tower case. This makes the ITX chassis a great DIY NAS or server chassis. We dive into the Array to see how they manage to stuff so much hardware into a chassis of this size.

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Pete1989

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I've been told by Fractal that there is a R2 version coming out. I'm surprised that they didnt send you one of them. The main difference being that it has 2x expansion slots.

Can you get any more info out of your sources than i can just asking them? All that they have said so far is that its due for release in the coming weeks.
 

Darksaber

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I've been told by Fractal that there is a R2 version coming out. I'm surprised that they didnt send you one of them. The main difference being that it has 2x expansion slots.

Can you get any more info out of your sources than i can just asking them? All that they have said so far is that its due for release in the coming weeks.

I heard about that as well from my source. So that will be great to see. Maybe we get a chance to review that as well.
 

newtekie1

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I think I would just cut to the chase and get the Lian-Li PC-Q08B for $130.

  • Two Expansion Slots
  • Front USB and Audio(and is USB3.0 too!)
  • Reset Button
  • Optical Drive
  • Takes a Standard ATX PSU, none of that SFX crap
 
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I prefer the SG07 - it takes a full length 5970 and has a PSU that can cope with it.

 

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Hmm. It looks nice, but without a DVD Drive it kind of makes it pointless. I can see myself using it as a NAS, but I'd get annoyed at it whenever you need to install an OS you need to crack it open and plug in a SATA drive or use an external USB drive (which I hate using). Also the lack of an HDD light is annoying.

I'd rather get a Shuttle case or something like the above post (even though I'd never put a 5970 in a NAS :p)
 

Frick

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How is a lack of the HDD led bad? If you're using it as a NAS, you probably will not stare at it all day. Hide and and use it, that's pretty much the point of it imo.

No optical bay I can survive actually. THe price is pretty bad though.

I do love the design of the thing. :)
 

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How is a lack of the HDD led bad? If you're using it as a NAS, you probably will not stare at it all day. Hide and and use it, that's pretty much the point of it imo.

No optical bay I can survive actually. THe price is pretty bad though.

I do love the design of the thing. :)

It's a diagnosis thing. That's my opinion and one of the key things I hate about a Mac. If it's just sitting there not responding, it's nice to see if it's doing something or just being stupid.

The design is very nice, I agree. It is a nice clean look.
 
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Even though Fractal Design advertises the PSU as "efficient", there is no 80Plus logo to be found anywhere. In times where PSU manufacturers are managing to push out 80Plus Gold units, there are simply no excuses for not having even the most basic 80Plus Bronze certification.

Having your PSU tested by the 80Plus organisation costs money. Also using their logo/qualification costs money. So for a simple PSU there's no need for alll this.
Nexus also has some high efficiency PSU's but aren't labelled as 80Plus Silver/Gold. Only to bring the price of the unit down.

http://www.nexustek.nl/Nexus_RX-1K_Modular_Quiet_Power_Supply_1000W.htm
 
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