[NTLUG:Discuss] Small form-factor cases

[Kelledin]

On Thursday 29 January 2004 09:44 am, tr_data1 wrote:
> I want to briefly explore building a Linux system (Mandrake
> 9.2) using something like those shoe-box sized cases (ie:
> Shuttle, etc). Have you built one or at least looked into it?
> The biggest concern I have is the power supplies are only
> about 200w. Is it even possible to use a GeForce 5700 or ATI
> AIW 8500 combined with a DVD burner? Doesn't seem like there
> would be sufficient power or cooling. =TR=

I've looked into that a few times, and I'm currently working on 
building a short-depth 1u (well, I say I'm working on it, but I 
neeed more parts :/).  So I can give a few tips...

- A lot of SFF cases use power supplies with the same basic 
  form-factor as generic 1u PSUs.  So sometimes you can get a
  300W or 350W 1u PSU off eBay and use that--such parts are on
  eBay almost all the time.  Beware, though, that the form-factor
  for 1u PSUs is not hard-and-fast, so you may have to mod things
  a bit to make a generic PSU fit.  (I had to modify the back of
  my 1u with a carbide burr and a few other tools.)

- A lot of SFF cases allow expansion via "low-profile" 
  PCI/AGP/AMR cards--cards where the PCB and the slot bracket are
  only an inch or two high.  You can actually get some fairly
  serviceable 3D accelerators in this form-factor--I've seen
  low-profile GeforceFX cards on eBay.

- Contrary to a lot of popular opinion, "room to breathe" in a
  case doesn't guarantee a cooler case.  In fact, having a case
  with a lot of dead space requires rather more fan capacity to
  keep at a reasonable temperature.  For the purpose of cooling,
  it's best to have a case that's as large as you need, but not
  much larger.  Just for reference, a properly cooled case has an 
  ambient temperature just a few degrees celcius higher than
  your room temperature.

- flat cabling, properly arranged, can actually be almost 
  completely non-restrictive to airflow.  Rounded cable does tend 
  to be a little easier though, especially as "proper 
  arrangement" of flat cable occasionally requires you to punch
  your own cable. :o

-- 
Kelledin
"If a server crashes in a server farm and no one pings it, does 
it still cost four figures to fix?"