Final Thoughts & Conclusion

While not a common name in the enthusiast and gamer markets, Norco certainly can make a quality case. The RPC-450 is a fantastically designed 4U chassis, well positioned for becoming my next server or workstation.

The front door locks, giving a sense of security that no unwanted hands will go and turn off the machine, or insert a malicious CD-ROM or USB drive in to the machine. Aside from three 5.25" drive bays, the RPC-450 also features ten 3.5" bays, making for a great RAID opportunity. Utilizing ten 1TB drives, a 9TB RAID5 array could easily be installed in this server (minus the cost of the drives and RAID controllers, of course).

The RPC-450 is incredibly spacious, supporting anything from Mini-ITX motherboards, to ATX, to some of the largest server motherboards. It was very easy to work inside the case, and allows for installation to start where the user decides. There's no need to worry about something not fitting because another component is in the way.

As this is a steel rackmount chassis, the RPC-450 has a fair bit of weight to it, weighing in at 34lb. with no components in the unit. Of course, this isn't the type of hardware you'd carry to a LAN party (unless you're me, but hey, it was a webserver!). Also, the intake fans are slightly on the loud side, so the chassis is best fit for a rack that's hidden away in a sound-proof closet.

Overall, the RPC-450 is an excellent rackmount chassis, offering plenty of space and possibilities. The foundation of the case is very sturdy and durable, offering plenty of protection to the internal hardware. It would make an excellent housing for a MythTV server (hint hint). In all honesty, the only improvement I'd like to see to the case is more space between the 80mm exhaust ports.

Pros

• Spacious
• Sturdy
• Supports up to ten 3.5" hard drives
• Runs cool and quiet
• Handles come attached

Cons

• Heavy
• Slightly noisy
• Cramped space between 80mm fans