What kind of case are you using for your hardware?
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Currently I have my PFSense setup running out of a Mid Tower ATX Case and I have been trying to find something that is significantly smaller to transfer the hardware into, this is proving to be harder then I thought.
Requirements:
1. Needs to be as small as possible
2. Needs to support adding at least one PCI Express Card, I do NOT want to have to use a riser card*
3. Needs to hold a a Mini ITX MotherboardI am not against a rack-mount case, but it is not something that is 100% needed. I actually purchased a 2U rack-mount case and last night I was transferring the hardware and thinking, wow this is a "lot of case" for such small components. The next best thing that I can find is this case, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129186, thoughts?
*I was going to go with a case that would require a PCI Express Riser Card, but the reviews on must of the reasonably priced ones are not good and I think that it is is crazy to spend $30 for such a simple device. I have a feeling though to get a case that I like I am going to have to pay $30, but I would like to try and avoid that.
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007583%20600006553
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Yeah, there a lot of case's in that category to choose from, I was looking more for specific recommendations that people have used and tested…. I am trying to avoid the buy a case...return a case...buy a case...return a case until I find the "perfect" one. lol
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811163233
This case only have official room for one HD, but I'm using SSDs and just USB booting for install, so I just crammed the SSDs up in the Disc bay. They're not screwed in or anything, but it doesn't matter. They're operating at 35c, which is cooler than my CPU when it's idle and well below max temp. The case has plenty of holes for natural air flow, so I don't even hear the CPU ever.
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Nice, thanks.
I have been digging some more and found this case, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129080, costs a little more then I think it should however it does come with a power supply and can support a low profile PCI Express card.
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I picked the case I did because it uses a standards complaint PSU form. I couldn't see any information about the PSU form factor, but based on the shape of the case, I assume it's custom.
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I have: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal-mini-itx-enclosure
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I picked the case I did because it uses a standards complaint PSU form. I couldn't see any information about the PSU form factor, but based on the shape of the case, I assume it's custom.
You are correct it uses a non standard power supply, however it appears that to get the smaller form factor that I am looking for I will need to either go with a custom power supply or pico. That being said the reviews seems to be fairly good for this case and not a lot of issues with the power supply so I am not to worried about that.
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I have: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal-mini-itx-enclosure
That is the case that I wanted to use, however you can not add a PCI Express card to that box… Which means no Intel Nic...
You could of course go with the Mini Box M300 however that requires a riser card and a Pico power supply..
Mini Box M300 = $59.95
PCI Express Riser Card = $29.00
Pico Power Supply = $35.00
Total = $123.95!!! That is way to pricey for what you are getting (and for what I am using it for) -
Something like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-Depth-Chassis-Appliance-Servers/dp/B00H3EVHL2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1423219830&sr=8-2&keywords=rack+server+case+2u -
I have: http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal-mini-itx-enclosure
That is the case that I wanted to use, however you can not add a PCI Express card to that box… Which means no Intel Nic...
You could of course go with the Mini Box M300 however that requires a riser card and a Pico power supply..
Mini Box M300 = $59.95
PCI Express Riser Card = $29.00
Pico Power Supply = $35.00
Total = $123.95!!! That is way to pricey for what you are getting (and for what I am using it for)Pair that case with a motherboard with dual Intel NICs on board. This is the one I used.
http://www.mini-box.com/Intel-D2500CCE-Mini-ITX-Motherboard
