OT hardware recommend

Hi all.

I have access to quite a few laptop HD's (10 to 15 of them at least),
and thought that might make a neat test box that might have some good IO
speed.

Needs to be cheap though, so linux with software raid, rack mount
preferred but not required.

Anyone have any experience with anything like that?  $2K might be
possible, painful, but possible.

Suggestions?

Thanks for your time,

-Andy