6in1 cage?

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
I've been evaluating these:

Icy Dock MB994SP-4SB-1
Icy Dock MB607SP-B
Silverstone FS204B

But lately though about jumping to the 6 drive cages:

Icy Dock MB608SP-B
Icy Dock MB996SP-6SB

Any feedback on the noise & heat levels?.

I'm planning to match one on a case with 15x3.5" drives (3xCSE-M35TQB). The 6in1 would go straight to the 6 onboard ports of an X9SCM-F motherboard and managed by unRAID.

Another one will be mounted on an Intel chassis but connected to a PERC H710 (need RAID for ESXi)
 

Tom5051

Active Member
Jan 18, 2017
359
79
28
46
I've had no luck with ICY Box. Their stuff seems to crap itself and by the time it does, you can't get that model anymore. I have 4x 5 drive cages. The LEDs started to go on the IB-545SSK and now one of the drives will not connect. All of the fans have needed to be replaced within 1 - 2years.
The IB-555SSK was not as good but still does the job. The IB-565SSK looks like a plastic pile of junk.
They aren't loud but not in the same room as you kind of loud.
Also have a IB-2280SSK for 2.5" drives, been no issues with it and they still sell that model.
 
Last edited:

Spartacus

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2019
788
328
63
Austin, TX
Depending on the model the icy enclosure fans are a touch noisy but not exceptionally so. What kind of 2.5 drives are you planning on using? Most reg ssd dont really need cooling so you might just disable the fan.

If you want something that will last and 4 bay, I recommend the supermicro cse-m14tqc, its a little loud but i added a $2 noctua fan reducer and its reasonably quiet now (though the unit costs about $100 its enterprise grade and expect to last). I use it for some hgst sas 15mm thick boi ssd (they run hot af without airflow). If the fan fails on this unit it emits a audible constant beep (the alarm is disable-able with a dip switch)

I replaced allof the 92mm delta fans in my cse-m35t-1b with noctua redux fans as well, they still keep the 5400rpm sata drives below 40c and the 7200rpm sas drives below 45c

I basically have your same/similar setup, if you got any other questions or qualms leeme know.

 

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
I was actually looking at the Supermicro offering after posting.

I think the unRAID machine can be actually "downgraded" to 4 drives with that box. Although the only units I find on ebay are around us$ 160

For the other machine, I was thinking about going 2x5.25" (it seems there's room) and CSE-M28SACB (I can go with 2xSAS cables and fully utilize the H710) but again, on ebay I found it for us$ 260.

The "accessories" are more expensive than the main components (HBA/CPU/MB/RAM) :/

Mine still looks like a rusty and forgotten Optimus Prime :)


 
Last edited:

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
About the SSD drives:
- 2TB WD Reds and Crucial MX500 (notable hotter) for the big machine (going to the H710)
- 500GB WD Red or smaller used Enterprise Micron for the unRAID/NAS machine going to the MB ports
 

Spartacus

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2019
788
328
63
Austin, TX
I think the unRAID machine can be actually "downgraded" to 4 drives with that box. Although the only units I find on ebay are around us$ 160
For $113 plus shipping new
CSEM14TQC | Supermicro&reg Mobile Rack Cse-m14tqc

I've ordered a couple of cse-m35t-1b from these guys new before as well for $110 (when I ebay failed to have any below about $90 shipped used). CSEM35T1B | Supermicro&reg Cse-m35t1 Mobile Rack

Its a direct dropship from Supermicro so it takes 2-4 weeks, but its brand new they seemed shady, but haven't had any issue and they take paypal for peace of mind.

They also have that CSE-M28SACB for $187 ~picture doesnt match but the model does and since they seem to get them from SM directly I'd assume its the correct version with the fan.
CSE-M28SACB | Supermicro&reg Mobile Rack M28sacb Csem28sacb
 

Tom5051

Active Member
Jan 18, 2017
359
79
28
46
What's the trigger for the fan replacement?, they stop spinning?
The Icy Box20200429_231842.jpg models have a red LED that comes on if the fan is spinning below a minimum. Also they start to make that horrible dying fan noise for quite a while.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cyruspy

Tom5051

Active Member
Jan 18, 2017
359
79
28
46
I had to modify the case to fit the 4th drive bay in the bottom.
 

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
The Icy BoxView attachment 17396 models have a red LED that comes on if the fan is spinning below a minimum. Also they start to make that horrible dying fan noise for quite a while.
All red means all broken? :eek:

I'm psychologically preparing myself to go with the us$ 311 for the Supermicro cages, plus us$80 of shipping to my country....
 
Last edited:

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
For $113 plus shipping new
CSEM14TQC | Supermicro&reg Mobile Rack Cse-m14tqc

I've ordered a couple of cse-m35t-1b from these guys new before as well for $110 (when I ebay failed to have any below about $90 shipped used). CSEM35T1B | Supermicro&reg Cse-m35t1 Mobile Rack

Its a direct dropship from Supermicro so it takes 2-4 weeks, but its brand new they seemed shady, but haven't had any issue and they take paypal for peace of mind.

They also have that CSE-M28SACB for $187 ~picture doesnt match but the model does and since they seem to get them from SM directly I'd assume its the correct version with the fan.
CSE-M28SACB | Supermicro&reg Mobile Rack M28sacb Csem28sacb
Well, I'm trying to create an account with them, form reloads without error. Weird...
 

Spartacus

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2019
788
328
63
Austin, TX
I never even created an account, I just did paypal checkout.
If you're gonna pay with cc direct you could call them up probably too.
 

Tom5051

Active Member
Jan 18, 2017
359
79
28
46
All red means all broken? :eek:

I'm psychologically preparing myself to go with the us$ 311 for the Supermicro cages, plus us$80 of shipping to my country....
nah those are the activity lights. The fan LED is the green one on the right side of each cage. It turns red if the fan is stuffed
 

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
Reporting back, tried with PayPal and payment didn't go through.

Trying to close the process with ShopBLT, might even save a few dollars more..
 

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
I've received an CSE-M14TQC for my unRAID box, I love the build quality. My CSE-M28SACB order moved to May due to manufacturing delays apparently.

1617215194704.png

1617215222536.png
1617215237735.png
 

Spartacus

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2019
788
328
63
Austin, TX
Its awesome I have some HGST thick boi 15mm SAS SSD in mine keeps them nice and cool, (i did put a noctua fan reducer on it though)
 

cyruspy

Member
Mar 26, 2016
95
3
8
41
The weird thing it's that at the front, it seems to have certain orientation, but looking at the backplane, it seems to be upside down. Any magic that can be done with SGPIO & x9scm?, now it seems I'm missing another cable..