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Server rack vs PC tower

D

DJenkins

n00b
Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Messages
5
Hey guys, I'm looking at cleaning up my desk a bit. Have a Lian Li PC Z70 which is absolutely massive, but necessary to house my EVGA SR-2.

Thinking about moving things into a server rack next to my desk... leaving room for HDD rack expansion etc later down the track.

What I'm wondering is how the cooling/airflow is with server rack cases, for example 4RU high.
Will my Noctua D-14 coolers still be effective in there, or are these cases designed to live in air conditioned environments?

Cheers
 
Generally speaking, rows of racks in data centers have a hot side and a cold side. As such, most rack mount cases will intake air from the front and exhaust it out the rear. This sort of arrangement will work just fine with the D-14. And 4RU should give you enough clearance to mount that heat sink, but I would still check this on a case by case basis.

For desktop use I would probably opt for the more prosumer rack mount cases, however, for two primary reasons:

1. You'll likely want to stick with ATX PSUs as "true" server options will be noisy.

2. Many "true" server cases will have decently restrictive drive arrays and etc. on their front panels, requiring high pressure, high flow fans. Such fans will make it more difficult to control noise.

That said, there are plenty of good options available which will perform admirably.
 
One of the main problems with 4U design is fitting a 120mm exhaust fan above the I/O aperture, it is very,very tight.

I pulled it off, but only by cutting the floor so the tabs of PCIe cards can stick through and modifying a fan

188m.jpg
 
Actually, I'm going to withdraw my statement that the D-14 should fit. Going by dimensions alone, 4RU should allow for tall heat sinks, but most 4RU cases are not set up to allow this.
 
I think that is wise TESLA. I was not going to be contrary, but I do have serious doubts about fitting an NH D-14 without cutting the lid and fitting short standoffs.
 
Ok thanks guys, looks to be trickier than I thought. If I go this direction I will choose my case very carefully.
 
a 4U once stood up on it's side will be almost the same height / width as most full tower cases...
 
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