this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2023
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I have a very short equipment rack installed in my server closet. It is only 16 inches deep, fine for most networking uses, but not great for most rack-mount server cases.

I am looking for case suggestions that would fit my rack, 16 inch depth maximum. Height isn't a problem, the rack has a ton of vertical space, over 15U, it's the depth that's an issue.

Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I've looked all over the Internet for <16" short-depth cases multiple times over the years, and I've learned the most important question is this: what do you want to put in it?

I'll tell you right now that some of the things I've wanted, like...

  • A 2U with hot-swap caddies all the way across the front (like this or this, but <16" deep at the cost of fitting only an ITX motherboard), or

  • A 4- or 5U chassis that can fit an EATX / SSI EEB (12"x13") motherboard and an ATX PSU at the same time, or

  • A chassis of any size that has both the motherboard/PCI I/O and the drive bays on the front (front drive bays are normal and you can get front access I/O, but not both at the same time)

...simply do not exist, as far as I can tell. I'm pretty sure all of these things are geometrically possible (I did the math), but apparently I'm the only one who wants such weird stuff.

You can get a basic-bitch whatever-U case that supports a mATX motherboard and hard-mounting a couple of internal drives, with sharp metal edges, a shitty plastic door, and a price double (or more) what similarly low quality would cost in a desktop form-factor all day long, though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah, seems like there isn't a big group of folks that are looking for this kind of solution.

I've thought about designing a case to my specs that could be 3D printed or maybe be built with some very basic steel sheet, but that's more DIY than I have time for right now.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I’ve not used them yet but was looking at https://www.plinkusa.net/

They have a variety of heights and depths, some of them being 15”

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Great resource, I'll check them out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sliger has a few rackmount chassis which are only 15 inches deep.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Oh nice, these might be exactly what I need, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I recently hunted for a rack mounted case for an ATX MB and PSU. The best I could find is 17.9" deep. Is your rack's rear end closed? Any way to remove the rear panel? There is a site that'll make you a custom rack mount case I came across. But it was mighty pricey.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Back end is open but wall-mounted. If there is a way to mount the case forward a few inches so it leaves a gap in the back, that would be fine with me.

I haven't found any brackets that seem to do that though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

How about mounting the rack a few inches off the wall?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Make your own brackets with construction lumber or plywood?

The 45Drives homelab case is 17.125" deep

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Also an option I am considering. I prefer something a little more professional if possible, but not a bad option if I can't get something else to work.

I'll take a look at the 45 Drives case, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

https://g2digital.co.uk/

These guys do short depth PCs. I wish I knew where they got their cases from, because they are really nice!
But I haven't found anything decent in the wild (I eventually gave up and got a deeper rack so I can use old r730 servers)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the link! Yeah, I'm starting to think I might just need to give up and get a deeper floor rack.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

There are some good short chassis like the Silverstone RM-23-502-MINI, but the minimum length for the recommended rails is still 22 inches :(

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09227RQV2?psc=1&amp;ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

This is my favorite rack mount chassis I've worked with ... and it coincidentally is in that ballpark.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Interesting design, I'll look at it, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Chenbro makes quite a few ATX shallow rack mount cases. I have one and have no complaints.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I'll check them, Ty!