LF Server Chassis

[saucybreakfast]

Hey guys, I'm a bit new to planning out a streaming server build and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a Server Chassis. Bonus points for those that have hot-swappable bays built in and I would like to keep it under $200 (Not including shipping). Requirements include the ability to house an E-ATX Motherboard as well as at least two 3.5" HDD bays/slots. So far, the best deal I was able to find was this case which has a $50 dollar shipping charge...

 

http://www.rackmountmart.com/rm2u/rm2044.htm

[brwainer]

The brands I buy server chassis from are Norco, Logic Case (the house brand of servercase.co.uk, they are made in the same factory to the same standards as Norco cases) and Supermicro.

 

You didn’t mention if you were in the US or not but I’m going to assume you are. Also, E-ATX isn’t a standard so we don’t know the exact size of your motherboard, the standards larger than ATX are CEB (12”x10.5”) and EEB (12”x13”). Which one is a better match? (Round up)

 

For CEB there is the Norco RPC-150: https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA3913UN2972

For EEB there is the RPC-170: https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16811219026

 

You can look at all of Norco’s cases here: http://www.norcotek.com/product-category/rackmount-server-chassis/

 

Supermicro makes better quality but also more expensive chassis. However, Supermicro chassis almost always include a server grade power supply. You can look at their chassis here:

https://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/

The variants of each chassis marked “Global SKU” (green globe icon) are the ones they make the most of and can be found for the most reasonable prices. For both Norco and Supermicro, you should shop around for the best price - sometimes that’s at Newegg, sometimes its at Amazon, and sometimes it is at other places. My best luck for Norco has been Newegg and Amazon for Supermicro.

 

If using a supermicro case with a non-supermicro board, you need a breakout cable for the front panel connectors, model CBL-0084L. You can find them anywhere for $5-$10, I just buy it from whomever I’m getting the chassis from unless I need to buy them in bulk for some reason.

 

sorry for mobile links

[saucybreakfast]

5 hours ago, brwainer said:

The brands I buy server chassis from are Norco, Logic Case (the house brand of servercase.co.uk, they are made in the same factory to the same standards as Norco cases) and Supermicro.

 

You didn’t mention if you were in the US or not but I’m going to assume you are. Also, E-ATX isn’t a standard so we don’t know the exact size of your motherboard, the standards larger than ATX are CEB (12”x10.5”) and EEB (12”x13”). Which one is a better match? (Round up)

 

For CEB there is the Norco RPC-150: https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA3913UN2972

For EEB there is the RPC-170: https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16811219026

 

You can look at all of Norco’s cases here: http://www.norcotek.com/product-category/rackmount-server-chassis/

 

Supermicro makes better quality but also more expensive chassis. However, Supermicro chassis almost always include a server grade power supply. You can look at their chassis here:

https://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/

The variants of each chassis marked “Global SKU” (green globe icon) are the ones they make the most of and can be found for the most reasonable prices. For both Norco and Supermicro, you should shop around for the best price - sometimes that’s at Newegg, sometimes its at Amazon, and sometimes it is at other places. My best luck for Norco has been Newegg and Amazon for Supermicro.

 

If using a supermicro case with a non-supermicro board, you need a breakout cable for the front panel connectors, model CBL-0084L. You can find them anywhere for $5-$10, I just buy it from whomever I’m getting the chassis from unless I need to buy them in bulk for some reason.

 

sorry for mobile links

Thanks for replying to my post. 

 

As I should've mentioned, I live in the US and the motherboard I was looking at was a Supermicro board that is EEB.

 

Specifically, the motherboard I was looking at was the Supermicro X8DT3-LN4F...

 

https://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/QPI/5500/X8DT3-LN4F.cfm

[brwainer]

14 minutes ago, saucybreakfast said:

Thanks for replying to my post. 

 

As I should've mentioned, I live in the US and the motherboard I was looking at was a Supermicro board that is EEB.

 

Specifically, the motherboard I was looking at was the Supermicro X8DT3-LN4F...

 

https://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/QPI/5500/X8DT3-LN4F.cfm

So that's an EEB motherboard, that's weird that Supermicro is saying it's E-ATX, I know for more recent boards and chassis they list it as CEB or EEB.

 

My former advice still applies, but in general Supermicro chassis for EEB and/or with hostswap bays come in above $200 (but there is significant value in the fact that they include the PSU already, most 1U PSUs are $60+ on their own). I recommend looking at the Norco offerings and shopping around.

[saucybreakfast]

2 hours ago, brwainer said:

So that's an EEB motherboard, that's weird that Supermicro is saying it's E-ATX, I know for more recent boards and chassis they list it as CEB or EEB.

 

My former advice still applies, but in general Supermicro chassis for EEB and/or with hostswap bays come in above $200 (but there is significant value in the fact that they include the PSU already, most 1U PSUs are $60+ on their own). I recommend looking at the Norco offerings and shopping around.

Yeah, looking at dual socket boards from Supermicro, I found that most of them were listed on places like Ebay as E-ATX so that is what I figured they called those boards. Time to update my technical terms. 

 

Again, thanks for the feedback, I hope to be posting more onto this forum as to the finished product or for input.