Key takeaways
- Mini-ITX boards only
- 8 hot-swap 3.5in bays with the SATA/SAS board installed
- Front USB-C 3.2 Gen2 plus USB-A; room for a double-width PCIe card (250 mm)
- Two pre-installed fans (the research found conflicting sizes, 80 mm or 100 mm); roughly $158 to $170
If you are hunting for the best NAS and server PC cases, the honest starting point is that only a few cases in our research are purpose-built for storage. Three are true NAS or server chassis, one is a well-known cube case that reviewers call a good DIY NAS option, and two are large towers that we label as near-fits because they offer plenty of drive room but are not server products. A transparency note: we have not hands-on tested any of these cases. The picks below are based on published specifications and reviewer feedback, and prices are approximate US ranges that change with sales, so check the current listing before you buy.
How to Choose a NAS or Server PC Case
Before comparing the best NAS PC cases, decide what you are actually building. A mini NAS usually means a Mini-ITX board and a small box; a home server that also transcodes video may want a standard ATX power supply and a PCIe slot or two. Here is what matters most.
Board size: some cases below take only Mini-ITX, while others accept micro ATX or even E-ATX. If you want an ATX PC case for a NAS, the bigger towers and the rackmount chassis are the options. Power supply type: small NAS cases may require an SFX unit. Noise and cooling: a stack of hard drives needs airflow, but fans add noise, and reviewers flag this on a few picks. Where it lives: a rack, a shelf, or a desk changes the answer completely.
Top 6 NAS and Server PC Cases
1. Jonsbo N3 (best mini NAS case)
A compact Mini-ITX case built around a hot-swap drive cage, and the smallest of the three dedicated NAS options here.
- Mini-ITX boards only
- 8 hot-swap 3.5in bays with the SATA/SAS board installed
- Front USB-C 3.2 Gen2 plus USB-A; room for a double-width PCIe card (250 mm)
- Two pre-installed fans (the research found conflicting sizes, 80 mm or 100 mm); roughly $158 to $170
Pros: eight hot-swap bays in a small footprint and modern front I/O.
Cons: SFX power supply only (up to 105 mm), and NAS Compares calls it the noisiest of the N2, N3 and N4 and oddly tall.
Best for: DIY NAS, home server and Plex server builds.
2. SilverStone CS382 (best NAS case with standard ATX power)
A micro ATX NAS chassis that lets you use a standard ATX power supply, which makes it more flexible than the Jonsbo for a home server.
- Micro ATX and Mini-ITX boards
- 8 hot-swap SAS/SATA bays, up to 11 drives total
- 369 mm GPU clearance; front USB-C plus two USB 3.0
- One 120 mm rear fan and two internal 92 mm fans; roughly $214 to $280
Pros: hot-swap bays, a standard ATX power supply, and room for a long expansion card.
Cons: pricey for a NAS case, a plastic front door on a steel body, and a wide US price range. Our data came from launch coverage and retailer listings, not an independent review.
Best for: a micro ATX home server that needs real expansion room.
3. Rosewill RSV-L4500U (best server PC case for rackmount)
A 4U rackmount chassis aimed at storage arrays, and the clear pick if you are building a rack server rather than a desktop NAS.
- Mini-ITX through E-ATX boards (smaller boards inferred to fit)
- 15 internal 3.5in bays plus 3x 5.25in bays
- Six 120 mm front fans and two 80 mm rear fans pre-installed; 7 expansion slots
- Roughly $225 to $300; no power supply included
Pros: by far the most 3.5in capacity in this list, and eight fans in the box.
Cons: it is 25 inches deep, and front I/O is USB 3.0 and 2.0 only (listings disagree on the exact USB count).
Best for: rackmount servers and big storage arrays.
4. Fractal Design Node 804 (best budget DIY NAS cube)
Not a server product, but Windows Central calls it a great DIY NAS case, and its dual-chamber cube layout is built around storage.
- Micro ATX and Mini-ITX boards; about 41 liters
- Either 8x 3.5in plus 4x 2.5in drives, or 10x 3.5in
- Three fans included, room for seven more; built-in fan controller
- Roughly $135 to $150
Pros: lots of drive room for the price and good fan options.
Cons: GPU limit of 290 mm with the HDD cage fitted, no USB-C, and an old 2017 design. One retailer lists it as end of life while others show stock, so confirm availability.
Best for: budget DIY NAS builds on micro ATX boards.
5. Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 (near-fit: best ATX PC case for NAS-style storage)
A near-fit rather than a NAS case. It is a full tower that happens to list a huge drive capacity, which suits anyone who wants an ATX-class build that doubles as a storage box.
- Boards from ITX up to E-ATX and SSI-EEB
- Many drive bays: 12x 3.5/2.5 plus 11x 2.5
- No fans included; 503 mm GPU clearance; front USB-C
- Roughly $150 to $190
Pros: dual-system capable and a lot of drive room.
Cons: no fans, large and heavy (about 13 kg), and one store showed the closed-panel variant out of stock. A separate Server Edition exists, but we did not find drive-bay figures for it, so we make no claims about its storage.
Best for: a workstation or storage-heavy tower build.
6. Corsair 7000D AIRFLOW (near-fit: roomy ATX tower)
Another near-fit. It is a showpiece full tower, but its published drive room makes it usable as a mid-sized storage machine.
- E-ATX, ATX, micro ATX and ITX boards
- Room for 6x 3.5in and 4x 2.5in drives
- Three 140 mm fans included; dust filters and a PSU filter
- Roughly $250 to $290
Pros: good airflow design, filters, and decent drive capacity.
Cons: heavy (41 lb), very large, and pricey for what a NAS needs.
Best for: people who want one big ATX tower for gaming and storage.
Quick Verdict
For a small shelf NAS, the Jonsbo N3 is the easiest fit; for a micro ATX home server with standard power, look at the SilverStone CS382. Choose the Rosewill RSV-L4500U when you have a rack and want maximum bays, and the Node 804 when cost matters most. The two towers are for builders who need ATX-class parts.
FAQ
What is the best case for a mini NAS?
Of the cases we researched, the Jonsbo N3 is the compact option, with 8 hot-swap 3.5in bays on a Mini-ITX board. Mind the SFX power supply requirement.
Can I use an ATX PC case for a NAS?
Yes. The Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 and Corsair 7000D list ample drive room, but neither is sold as a NAS case, and we make no claims about hot-swap support on them.
What is the best server PC case for a rack?
The Rosewill RSV-L4500U is a 4U rackmount chassis with 15 internal 3.5in bays. Remember it is 25 inches deep and ships without a power supply.
Do these picks come from hands-on testing?
No. They are based on published specs, retailer listings and reviewer feedback, and some details conflict between sources, as noted above. Always verify current specs and stock before buying.
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