I don't know if this will be any help to you or not, but -
My server (in a Rosewill RSV-L4500U case) uses a 9361-8i connected to an Adaptec AEC-82885T expander which is connected to 14-18tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (13-R6 1-HotSpare) and 2-512gb Samsung 850 Pro SSDs (R0 CacheCade).
The AEC-82885T is also connected through it's external ports to another AEC-82885T in a second storage case (also a Rosewill RSV-L4500U case) that has 11-18tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (10-R6 1-HotSpare) and 4-4tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (R5).
A bonus is that the 9361 and the 82885Ts are 12Gbps, so upgrading drives to something faster is possible.
Since the AEC-82885T needs only power, the second case has just the drives, expander card (in a PCI Express Riser Board Card Adapter for power that allows mounting the card on the back plate as if it were in a PCI-E slot on a motherboard) and a PS for the drives.
The 9361-8i and both 82885ts have Noctua Nf-A4x10 fans mounted on them.
If you use a 9300-61i a Noctua NF-A9 will mount and keep it at very reasonable temps. (I have one, but it's on the shelf right now, not needed)
The Rosewill RSV-L4500U cases are becoming hard to find, but a Rosewill RSV-L4000U is a reasonable substitute but only mount 8 drives in 2-4disk carriers and a carrier for 5.25" devices.
To increase it's drive capacity you can substitute (at any time) 5disk carriers (search Amazon for "Stainless Steel Hard Drive Cage, 5.25" to 5X3.5 Rack")
They are perfect drop-in replacements and use the same mounting hardware as the original carriers. I actually think they are leftovers from Rosewill's production run of the L4500U cases.
I use these cases because my preference is to not use a backplane, everything is directly connected to data and power. While it is more cabling, it is also easier to repair and troubleshoot, if needed.
My server (in a Rosewill RSV-L4500U case) uses a 9361-8i connected to an Adaptec AEC-82885T expander which is connected to 14-18tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (13-R6 1-HotSpare) and 2-512gb Samsung 850 Pro SSDs (R0 CacheCade).
The AEC-82885T is also connected through it's external ports to another AEC-82885T in a second storage case (also a Rosewill RSV-L4500U case) that has 11-18tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (10-R6 1-HotSpare) and 4-4tb Iron Wolf Pro drives (R5).
A bonus is that the 9361 and the 82885Ts are 12Gbps, so upgrading drives to something faster is possible.
Since the AEC-82885T needs only power, the second case has just the drives, expander card (in a PCI Express Riser Board Card Adapter for power that allows mounting the card on the back plate as if it were in a PCI-E slot on a motherboard) and a PS for the drives.
The 9361-8i and both 82885ts have Noctua Nf-A4x10 fans mounted on them.
If you use a 9300-61i a Noctua NF-A9 will mount and keep it at very reasonable temps. (I have one, but it's on the shelf right now, not needed)
The Rosewill RSV-L4500U cases are becoming hard to find, but a Rosewill RSV-L4000U is a reasonable substitute but only mount 8 drives in 2-4disk carriers and a carrier for 5.25" devices.
To increase it's drive capacity you can substitute (at any time) 5disk carriers (search Amazon for "Stainless Steel Hard Drive Cage, 5.25" to 5X3.5 Rack")
They are perfect drop-in replacements and use the same mounting hardware as the original carriers. I actually think they are leftovers from Rosewill's production run of the L4500U cases.
I use these cases because my preference is to not use a backplane, everything is directly connected to data and power. While it is more cabling, it is also easier to repair and troubleshoot, if needed.
