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1u Server Rackmount project

J_I_M_B_O

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 31, 2006
Messages
400
I was thinking moding a 1u server case with a stand to make it stand verticley and since I'm not buying any server-specidfic parts, I'd like to know if the'll be any restrictions as to what I can put in there

And also, will the new intel cpu's mobos go everywhere a mobo today can go? Will the mounting holes be in the same place?
 
Most of the time you need to buy a Mobo/Case pair when you get a 1U or 2U rack mount, since they are so cramped the motherboards have to tweak a few things (like memory going in diagonal), and also tend to come with heatsinks specially fit for the case.
 
You need to buy a mobo and a 1u heatsink, you have to keep in mind ram height, board size, and the components. You may want a board with video and nic onboard. You also have to make sure that you have a correct I/O Shield since most of the 1u cases now uses a 1U I/O shield. Also avoid boards with tower audio headers as they might need to be removed to fit in the case.
 
I don't know much about 1U but I know that in 2U you can find cases that allow you to use standard ATX everything... I used one for my HAL 9000 Project (still incomplete) but it is mounted vertically like you are suggesting doing with your's....

If you are worried about price I would go with a 2U instead of a 1U.
servercase.com is a good place to start looking...

IIRC the case I got is a 2025AL from Skyhawk... though if weight is not a factor I would get a bigger name brand and a case made from steel... the thin aluminum is easy to tear out the threads on screws...
 
A couple years ago, there was a mod published where someone put a normal motherboard inside a 1U case. I'm trying to find it now. They had to fab their own duct from the cpu blower, and had to cut a couple holes for other blowers, but it ended up looking really nice.

I can't seem to find it, so I'll see what I can remember of it.
--They had to basically junk much of the back panel, since server motherboards typically have a single row of connectors on the back (not the ATX I/O plate)
--They put their own mounting standoffs in. I think they used the plastic standoffs, cut off the part that goes through the motherboard tray (so it would sit flat on the bottom of the 1U case), and glued them to the bottom of the 1U case
--No normal fans. For the CPU, it was a low-profile heatsink, with a blower that sucked air off the CPU and blew it out the back (similar to this one ). They had to make their own duct from the cpu blower to a vent on the rear of the case. They also had two squirrel-cage blowers, one in each front corner (like this), each right under a hole they cut in the top of the case. All this is assuming the case is laying flat.
--you'll only be able to use one expansion card, so choose your motherboard wisely. You'll need a 1U riser card, and make sure that the expansion card doesn't have a 2-slot cooling solution if it's a video card.
--If the case doesn't come with its own power supply, you'll have to provide your own.

That's all I can think of at the moment. If I recall any more later, I'll post again.

 
You can use a normal atx board in a 1u case, but you have to be so tight on specifics that you rather just buy a 1u case with board or a board specifically designed for it.
 
is there some kind of adapter that I can put on to make me be able to put the RAM on sideways? The RAM is my main concern

And also, can I still use this case with the conroe mobo when it comes out?
 
J_I_M_B_O said:
is there some kind of adapter that I can put on to make me be able to put the RAM on sideways? The RAM is my main concern

And also, can I still use this case with the conroe mobo when it comes out?
You might measure how high your ram sticks up when it's installed in the motherboard and when the motherboard is mounted on standoffs. Measure from the top of the RAM to the bottom of the standoff, and pray that it's less than 1.75". You might get lucky

I imagine you'll be able to use the same case--the mounting holes for the motherboard probably won't change at all, and since Conroe appears to be much cooler, you won't have to worry about ventilation.

 
Ok, now I only have to find a case for around $100 (the cheaper the better, but no cheap crap)
I might not place it verticaly, I may put it below my Monitor
 
I forgot to say earlier that you might have trouble standing it on edge unless you make some sort of base for it. 1.75" thick and 19" wide (or tall, if standing up) doesn't make for a very steady case.

 
Yeah, that's what I was going to do, I was going for somthing like how the PS2 is placed verticaly, like with that stand
 
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