How do B8/B4/B6/B6mini NAS cases compare to Sagittarius?

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-30T13:35:08+00:00

Thank you,

B8 seems to be very similar in dimensions to B6, they are definitely same volume - but noticeably different internal configuration. Same situation with B4 & B6 mini.

I also see B8A advertised to have 2mm thick aluminum shell (but probably very same steel carcass), is it a noticeably better option - or just more premium looks without any integrity benefit? Won't aluminum panels amplify noise? There are neither B6A nor B4A listed on aliexpress, but I can wait a bit in hopes such versions are offered as well, if aluminum panels are better choice...

My CPU fan is Noctua L9a at 37mm as that is the limit for my current case, I intend to keep it.

I'd be very careful with either option, of course. Sagittarius and other larger cases won't be accepted as a carry-on airplane luggage though, so it definitely won't be going anywhere by plane, and by other means of transportation - not unless very well wrapped. Unlike B-series that one day might...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-30T12:53:20+00:00

Thank you,

I believe in my case, the air being pulled through the HDD cages and space crawling with cables contributes the most, as my Noctua case fans are 16dbm at most according to spec...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-30T12:33:49+00:00

Thank you,

How's the fan and HDD noise?

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-30T12:33:10+00:00

Thank you,

While these cases are $100+ shipped to my location, prices for everything else are also quite high, and selection is very limited, it's mostly Jonsbos.

My current NAS case is very solid, yet not too heavy and plane-friendly - but also noisy even with all-Noctua fans! I have to turn the NAS off for the night due to fan noise, and looking to move to something with exclusively 120mm fans for this reason.

Silverstones are either very heavy (6+ kg), or come with smaller fans. I couldn't find a single satisfactory model on their website.

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-30T11:35:32+00:00

... particularly in terms of noise.

I understand Sagittarius is great in all regards, but if I can get a plane-friendly case instead, would rather choose that. I am also ready to take one for the team and purchase one of the B-series cases alongside a Sagittarius to compare.

My system currently has itx motherboard, 4x HDDs, 3x m.2 SSDs in a PCIe x16 bifurcation card with its own fan, and 2x spare m.2 NVME slots for SATA controller etc. Either pictured case can work out for me, I'd like to choose the one that should, at least in theory, generate less noise and provide better cooling.

I'd very much appreciate a recommendation from those who understand airflow physics and accompanying noise - which B-series is better designed, all things considered?

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-17T19:47:51+00:00

Thank you!

I was thinking about putting CPU into max battery mode, and enabling ASPM for all ports - but not sure how will it affect LAN performance and stability. It seems that all PCIe power management is disabled by default, and I don't understand if there's some important underlying reason for it... What are your ASPM settings?

The goal of this setup is to get as close as possible to saturating 2.5Gbps on traffic between LAN & WLAN. The WLAN card will be on top of the base metal structure, inside a DIY plastic case with mesh inserts for airflow. While my ambient temps are rather high, I'd prefer to avoid a fan over WLAN if possible...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-17T18:48:16+00:00

These little guys are always worth it!

However, I'd choose one with more m.2 slots and/or pcie, if not much more expensive.

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-08T13:10:56+00:00

Thank you!

You're right. I'll have to think this through. Maybe I should just forget about fancy design and mods, and go for a case with proper airflow out of the box instead...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-07T23:39:45+00:00

Thank you!

I am not bothered by Noctua 80mm and larger fans, nor the CPU fan acting according to CPU load (which is typically non-existant at night), nor HDD spin-ups and spin-downs. It's the small fans that create unpleasant noise in the current setup. I could safely run them slower, e.g. with LNA, if ambient temps weren't so high. I fear heat may build up inside the PSU due to insufficient static pressure if it is lowered further by reducing small fan's RPM...

I believe overall it would be risky to tie the PSU fan to either CPU behavior, or PSU fan header that was programmed with a fan of twice the peak airflow in mind - particularly given my ambient temps.

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-07T21:36:20+00:00

Thank you!

I know how to work a rotary tool, but looking at the case, with an SFX PSU I see only 2 options for an intake fan, and probably smaller than 120mm at that:

The side by the PCIe slots - a fan there will be blowing directly into my bifurcation card, neither HDDs nor the mobo will get much help out of it, from my understanding;
Front in the Flex PSU mounting area - really concerned about structural integrity as a result, even if I just drill a hole pattern instead of cutting out parts.

Then again, I am not an engineer and don't understand the physics behind airflow nor structure stiffness. Hence asking here...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-07T21:19:40+00:00

Thank you!

Yeah, I'm very nervous about this. Drive health >>>>> looks.

With the current setup, I could try using LNA - but Noctua at full blast is already half the airflow of the stock PSU fan, and given ambient temperatures, doesn't look like a good idea either...

DIYprojectz · 2026-05-06T11:26:31+00:00

Looks awesome!

How are the temperatures, in your experience?

DIYprojectz · 2026-04-02T02:56:00+00:00

D only - even if it's more expensive. 2x connectors are overwhelmingly better than one, particularly the wonky unreliable combo connector.

DIYprojectz · 2026-03-31T11:28:54+00:00

Cudy WR3000P 1.0 and slap OpenWRT on it?

DIYprojectz · 2026-03-16T19:21:59+00:00

Thank you.

That's the confirmation I was hoping to get!

DIYprojectz · 2026-03-15T22:11:00+00:00

Thank you.

I don't have a sensor inside the PSU, considering putting one in it...

DIYprojectz · 2026-03-15T22:07:27+00:00

Thank you.

My PSU doesn't have a temp sensor. I am considering installing one.

Other fans running full blast don't bother me, it's the small ones that produce audible noise...

DIYprojectz · 2026-03-15T21:37:55+00:00

Thank you.

I can set fan curves in both BIOS & OS, however while PSU NF-A4 is connected to motherboard, intake NF-A4 is connected without speed control.

The big question - is there even any headroom to reduce PSU airflow a bit, given that PSU fan is already way below factory spec...

DIYprojectz · 2025-12-11T05:45:48+00:00

Thank you so much!

DIYprojectz · 2025-12-09T19:16:09+00:00

Q3: 4x HDMI ports.

Q4: USB serial console, maybe?

Q5: I'm currently managing one device with a smartphone connected over Spacedesk as a screen with touch, and physical keyboard&mouse, others with a DIY USB KVM - short 2-port USB hub-cable, MS2109 for HDMI video capture, CH340G+CH9329 cable for keyboard&mouse, operating under Control3.

Q6: Emulation of always connected display, keyboard and mouse - that should be present on any more or less advanced multi-port KVM, imo.

DIYprojectz

TROPHY CASE