3 ms·

FWIW, any 4U case can be used as a desktop. You can even use a 3U if you don't have a discrete GPU (most desktop GPU coolers extend above the height of a 3U).

Sebb767 2y ago
I return, you can actually fit most desktop cases in 5U or even 4U, if you have something to stack them onto. Just be careful with possibly covered side vents.
chx 2y ago
I should note a few special products in this space. The Sliger CX4712 fits a 120mm fan in the back, this is extremely rare, the Supermicro 742 did it but that has been out of production for a long, long time. These days you can even find 120mm tower coolers fitting in 4U, Thermalright True Spirit and the Noctua NH-D12L both are less than 145mm tall easily fitting the ~153mm space. And yes, the new CM Hyper 212 also fits at 152mm but I am not a fan (ahem).
- indrora 2y ago
  I'm sad that Sliger is ending their ATX cases for desktops. I hope that they have something interesting to replace them.
  - chx 2y ago
    Cases? There was only one and they AFAIK didn't design it, they manufactured it yes but it wasn't a core product. They also note on the Cerberus X > We also wish to inform you that Sliger will be releasing a new line of Desktop cases in the near future, and to keep an eye out for further information.
- topspin 2y ago
  > Sliger CX4712 One of the few legit attempts at a "homelab" friendly design, with ATX PS and 120mm fans. The 2.5" SSD "cage", USB ports and power switch are all on the wrong (right-hand) side. Headers for all those things are nearly always on the opposite side given ATX motherboards, so you have to cross over the whole case, in the path of cooling air, with long wires. Huge miss. The fan mount plate could have rolled slot(s) on the bottom to pass cables under a foam rubber flap, reducing cable length by not routing all the way around either side of the fans. Positioned properly (i.e. higher) the internal 120mm fans would allow ample room for that. Minimizing cable length is important for signal integrity. Don't think much of the brush solution to gap filling. That is not effective for controlling air pressure: some volume of air will just cycle around in a loop through those two brush "seals" and their cable induced holes. A really great design would have modular drive cages for various storage form factors: 2.5", 3.5", U.2/3, etc.
  - aidenn0 2y ago
    iStarUSA makes affordable cases that take ATX PS as well, but not 120mm fans. Also a lot of them have vent holes on top of the case which makes maintaining airflow with negative pressure challenging. I ended up covering them with foil-tape, which helped.
numpad0 2y ago
3U and below use risers and pack tight. That's where those passively cooled GPUs come from.
slavik81 2y ago
You can fit full-height server and workstation GPUs into 3U.

Sebb767 2y ago

I return, you can actually fit most desktop cases in 5U or even 4U, if you have something to stack them onto. Just be careful with possibly covered side vents.

chx 2y ago

I should note a few special products in this space. The Sliger CX4712 fits a 120mm fan in the back, this is extremely rare, the Supermicro 742 did it but that has been out of production for a long, long time. These days you can even find 120mm tower coolers fitting in 4U, Thermalright True Spirit and the Noctua NH-D12L both are less than 145mm tall easily fitting the ~153mm space. And yes, the new CM Hyper 212 also fits at 152mm but I am not a fan (ahem).

indrora 2y ago
I'm sad that Sliger is ending their ATX cases for desktops. I hope that they have something interesting to replace them.
- chx 2y ago
  Cases? There was only one and they AFAIK didn't design it, they manufactured it yes but it wasn't a core product. They also note on the Cerberus X > We also wish to inform you that Sliger will be releasing a new line of Desktop cases in the near future, and to keep an eye out for further information.
topspin 2y ago
> Sliger CX4712 One of the few legit attempts at a "homelab" friendly design, with ATX PS and 120mm fans. The 2.5" SSD "cage", USB ports and power switch are all on the wrong (right-hand) side. Headers for all those things are nearly always on the opposite side given ATX motherboards, so you have to cross over the whole case, in the path of cooling air, with long wires. Huge miss. The fan mount plate could have rolled slot(s) on the bottom to pass cables under a foam rubber flap, reducing cable length by not routing all the way around either side of the fans. Positioned properly (i.e. higher) the internal 120mm fans would allow ample room for that. Minimizing cable length is important for signal integrity. Don't think much of the brush solution to gap filling. That is not effective for controlling air pressure: some volume of air will just cycle around in a loop through those two brush "seals" and their cable induced holes. A really great design would have modular drive cages for various storage form factors: 2.5", 3.5", U.2/3, etc.
- aidenn0 2y ago
  iStarUSA makes affordable cases that take ATX PS as well, but not 120mm fans. Also a lot of them have vent holes on top of the case which makes maintaining airflow with negative pressure challenging. I ended up covering them with foil-tape, which helped.

numpad0 2y ago

3U and below use risers and pack tight. That's where those passively cooled GPUs come from.

slavik81 2y ago

You can fit full-height server and workstation GPUs into 3U.