Fractal Design Node 304 - Black - Mini Cube Compact Computer Case - Small form factor - Mini ITX – mITX - High Airflow - Modular interior - 3x Fractal Design Silent R2 120mm Fans Included - USB 3.0

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Case: Fractal Design Node 804 (yes, I got that 304 brings a pain with cable management and air flows) both N2 and N3 if with Topton mobos … forget about front panel connectivity – you will have to buy adapters (btw why would you need audio on NAS?)

Oh, I lied: I tried to build it on N2 but I decided to do it in N3 – more space for HDD, more space for everything else, more air for cooling – so I sold N2 With the exception of a vented intake area at the front that runs the width of the case, the top panel of the NODE 304 is completely solid. On the other hand, the Node 304 not only includes two 92mm fans and a larger 140mm rear-mounted fan but also accommodates CPU coolers with a height of up to 160mm. Owing to the motherboard’s base-level positioning within the chassis, even after installing larger PCIe cards and hard drives, there remains ample space for the market’s most substantial CPU coolers—ideal for high-performance server configurations. This video compares two popular DIY NAS cases, the John B In2 and the Fractal Node304, released a decade apart, discussing their hardware design and strengths and weaknesses. The long hard drive activity LED is diffused somewhat, making for a pleasant blue glow. The white power LED underneath the bezel shines brightly downward like a spotlight and is blinding when viewed directly. We recommend leaving it disconnected.as a “side” effect of having there inside ESP32 I have all the data from NAS on my Home Assistant as well Cooling 2 x 92mm front fan mounts (fan supplied), 1 x 120/140mm rear fan mount (140mm fan supplied) CPU Cooler: Intel heatsink from combo OR CoolerMaster V4 GTS (Optional) - I've it already from old PC

Fractal Design's Node 304 is in many ways a surprising jump forward in case design. We've seen SilverStone, BitFenix, Lian Li, and Cooler Master all try their hands at mITX cases with varying degrees of success, but there's just no set design language when you get down this small. The conventions we take for granted in ATX case design don't really apply here, but Fractal Design has tried for something fairly different with the Node 304, even by mITX standards.

For many, these limitations might not deter them from selecting the Jonsbo N2, which remains an excellent choice for a DIY NAS enclosure. However, it’s undeniable that the seasoned Fractal Node 304 provides more space and versatility for expansions. Conclusion: Jonsbo N2 vs Fractal Node 304 NAS Case