iStarUSA 3U Compact 4 x 3.5" Bay Hotswap microATX Chassis Black

Designed for modern home theater PCs, compact servers, and small-business setups, the iStarUSA 3U Compact chassis delivers a powerful blend of elegance, versatility, and rugged operation. The D-series shell—exemplified by the D-230HB-T, D-340HB-T, and D-350HB-T models—embraces a compact 3U footprint while offering four hot-swappable 3.5" drive bays. This combination makes it ideal for HTPC enthusiasts who crave reliability and expandability, as well as home labs and rack-ready environments where space is precious. Built to accommodate microATX motherboards, this chassis excels as a central storage hub or media powerhouse, all in a sleek black finish that fits beautifully in living rooms, offices, or dedicated data rooms. With up to 3TB of storage per bay, you gain substantial capacity for backups, media libraries, virtualization staging, and RAID configurations, all accessible without the downtime of traditional drive replacement. The result is a chassis that does not force you to compromise between performance, aesthetics, and practicality.

• Four hot-swappable 3.5" drive bays: Change drives quickly without powering down, ideal for data rotation, backups, and RAID readiness. The hot-swap design minimizes downtime and makes maintenance straightforward, even in a small office or media setup.
• 3U compact form factor with rackmount or desktop orientation: A versatile chassis that fits standard 19" racks while also functioning as a desktop or stand-alone unit, giving you flexible deployment options for living rooms, home offices, or data closets.
• MicroATX motherboard compatibility: Supports popular microATX builds, enabling a compact yet capable system profile without sacrificing expansion or I/O access for everyday computing, storage arrays, or media servers.
• Robust cooling and airflow design: Engineered to promote efficient airflow in a dense 3U chassis, helping to keep drives and components cool under load while maintaining quieter operation for living spaces and noise-sensitive environments.
• Solid construction with ergonomic drive trays: Built to endure steady use, with tool-less drive trays and a durable powder-coated finish that stands up to daily wear while preserving aesthetics in any room or rack.

Technical Details of iStarUSA 3U Compact 4 x 3.5" Bay Hotswap microATX Chassis Black

• Form Factor: 3U rackmount chassis designed for both rack and desktop use, compatible with standard 19" racks for versatile installation.
• Drive Bays: 4 x 3.5" hot-swappable drive bays for convenient, tool-less drive changes and rapid storage expansion or replacement.
• Motherboard Support: MicroATX motherboard compatibility, allowing compact yet capable system builds with ample I/O.
• Drive Interface: Supports SATA drives (SATA backplane) and is suitable for SAS/SATA configurations common in home servers and storage arrays.
• Backplane and Tray Design: Hot-swappable drive backplane paired with tool-less trays for easy maintenance and upgrades.
• Materials and Finish: Durable steel construction with a black powder-coated finish for a sleek, professional look and long-lasting wear.
• Cooling and Airflow: Optimized airflow design with provisions for front intake and/or side/top exhaust, accommodating adjustable fans and keeping hot components cool in a dense 3U chassis.
• Power Supply: Power supply is not included; the chassis supports standard ATX power supplies designed for 3U enclosures, enabling flexible choice of wattage and efficiency.
• Front I/O and Accessibility: Front-panel access for essential connectivity such as USB and audio, with clean cable routing to maintain a tidy build and easy access for maintenance.
• Dimensions and Weight: Engineered for compact 3U depth with standard 19" rack compatibility; weight varies with components but the design prioritizes stable, vibration-free operation for drive arrays.
• Expansion and Compatibility: While focused on 4 x 3.5" bays, the chassis remains amenable to additional expansion via microATX builds, including both PCIe and data storage considerations depending on the chosen motherboard and backplane.

How to Install iStarUSA 3U Compact 4 x 3.5" Bay Hotswap microATX Chassis Black

Follow these steps to assemble a reliable and efficient system within this chassis. Each step emphasizes ease of use, durability, and thermal management to ensure you get the most from your four hot-swappable bays and microATX platform.

• Prepare your components: Gather a microATX motherboard, a compatible ATX power supply, four 3.5" SATA drives, and any PCIe add-in cards you plan to use. Ensure you have the necessary screws, standoffs, and data cables ready for installation.
• Install the motherboard: Open the chassis, mount the microATX motherboard onto the standoffs in the tray area, and secure with screws. Route I/O cables carefully to prevent obstruction of drive trays and fans. Leave enough slack for clean cable management.
• Mount the backplane and drive trays: Insert the hot-swappable drive backplane into its designated bay area. Attach each 3.5" drive into its tool-less tray, then slide trays into the four drive bays until they click into place. Confirm each drive is firmly seated and connected to backplane interfaces.
• Install the power supply and connect cables: Slide a standard ATX power supply into the chassis, align with mounting points, and secure it. Connect the motherboard 24-pin and CPU power cables, plus any PCIe power connectors required by expansion cards. Tie off cables neatly to maintain airflow around the drive bays.
• Finalize cooling and enclosure integration: Install any optional front or top fans per your thermal plan. Ensure intake and exhaust paths are unobstructed. Close the chassis, mount it in a rack or place it on a stable surface, and perform a post-assembly check to verify all drives are recognized by the BIOS/OS and that fans operate smoothly at idle and under load.

With the installation complete, you can configure your storage strategy, set up RAID if your motherboard and backplane support it, and install your preferred operating system. The compact 3U footprint makes it feasible to deploy a robust, scalable storage server or media center in spaces where larger enclosures wouldn’t fit. The hot-swappable bays allow you to expand storage or rotate drives without powering down the system, offering remarkable convenience for backups, media libraries, archival storage, and virtualization lab environments. The black finish complements a modern home or office aesthetic, while the durable construction stands up to daily use and frequent access in a busy environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this chassis compatible with microATX motherboards?
  Yes. The chassis is designed to support microATX motherboards, offering a compact yet flexible platform for a wide range of builds, from home servers to media centers and small offices.
• How many 3.5" drives can I install?
  The enclosure provides four hot-swappable 3.5" bays, giving you substantial storage capacity and the ability to configure multiple drives for RAID, backups, or media libraries.
• Are the drive bays hot-swappable?
  Yes. The drive bays are hot-swappable, enabling drive replacement or swapping without powering down the system, which is particularly useful for maintenance and long-term reliability.
• Does it come with a power supply?
  No. The chassis supports standard ATX power supplies, but the PSU is not included in the package. Choose a power supply that matches your system’s needs, taking into account the drives and any expansion cards.
• Can I use this chassis in a rack or as a desktop build?
  Yes. The 3U design is intended for both rackmount and desktop configurations, providing flexibility to fit your space, whether in a dedicated server room, an AV rack, or a home office.
• What kind of cooling does it support?
  The chassis is designed for effective airflow with provisions for front intake and accommodating additional fans as needed. Proper cooling is essential for maintaining drive health, especially with multiple hot-swappable bays under load.
• Is it suitable for HTPC or home server use?
  Absolutely. Its compact 3U form factor with four hot-swappable bays makes it an excellent choice for home media servers, backups, and small home servers that require expansion without sacrificing space or aesthetics.

In summary, the iStarUSA 3U Compact 4 x 3.5" Bay Hotswap microATX Chassis Black is a versatile, durable, and aesthetically pleasing solution for those who need robust storage capability in a compact form factor. It blends the practicality of hot-swappable drive bays with the flexibility of rackmount and desktop deployment, all wrapped in a sleek black chassis designed to fit into a wide range of environments—from living rooms to server closets. If you’re building a reliable home storage solution or a compact media server that can grow with your needs, this chassis provides a compelling balance of performance, accessibility, and style.