2U Rackmount Case for Dual Mini-ITX MB 14" Deep

Exactly what I was looking for. Surprised how well it’s working so far. Wanted to include a picture of just 1 system installed to best show what a PCIE riser looks like. I bought a HAOYEXIN PCIE 3.0 riser 15CM. 15cm is way too much (probably 5cm would be perfect) but the only 5cm one I could find was 2x the price of the HAOYEXIN. Make sure you get a reversed riser. Easily (well, bit of force) able to bend the excess riser cable into folds so I could get the PCIE card installed at the right height. Figured $20 was worth the gamble. My Quadro P2200 is a bit long so had to remove the hard drive tray, but I don’t need them. If anyone needs compatible parts here’s what I bought—Power: Apevia ITX Power Series model itx-pfc500wCPU fan: Noctua NH-L9a-AM4Great case so far, no complaints, no instructions (but not like you need them)4 tiny side screws to get the top off (once you figure out which side is the top).

While technically functional, this case seems to have been built to a checklist of specifications without any design or consideration for how it would actually be used.The premise is strong: two independent mini-ITX systems in a single 2U chassis. In theory, this allows the same density as 1U systems with more efficient (and substantially quieter) cooling.However, the drawbacks are legion.First and foremost, the PCIe slot. Another review notes that the PCIe risers needed to use the provided slots are not included, and I will go one step further to postulate that they're not included because they don't exist. It's not like it's a standard height.The PCIe problems don't stop there. If you manage to cram a flexible PCIe riser cable in there, the PCIe slot is horizontal and goes over the top of the mainboard. You know, right where the CPU cooler would be. Or, best case scenario, right where the air intake for a very very skinny CPU cooler would be. If you install a PCIe card, you are essentially limited to 1U passive coolers designed for high static pressure blowers to force air in the front and out the back. Well, guess what ITX boards don't have. A half-height vertical PCIe slot would have avoided both problems.The case includes little plastic sheets designed to sit between the mainboard and the back of the case. They don't fit.The power LED wires are hardwired to a three-jumper connector that is not compatible with the Intel-spec case header present on most modern motherboards.The removable drive sleds are possibly the most well-made components in the chassis, with adequate vibration-damping mounts and machined planing for screws. But, of course, the screws needed to install/remove it are only accessible when it's empty, so forget loading them up outside the case and then mounting them. Also, if you do load them up, say goodbye to your airflow, because they will present the sides of the 3.5" drives directly against the fan profile.Which brings us to the fans. The four included 80mm fans are two-wire non-PWM; they use Molex connectors. That's absolutely wild in 2024. They have almost no static pressure. Which is a problem since the front of the case is almost completely solid, leaving only a narrow slit at the bottom for air intake. The fans can't do it. Lean a piece of paper against them while they're running; they won't blow it over.If you have low-power boards, don't need the PCIe slot or external drives, then you can technically mount two of them in this system, and it will work. If you need the PCIe slot, get 15cm PCIe riser cables with split ribbons, get a passive heatsink that orients front to back, leave the I/O shield off so air has somewhere to go, and swap out the fans for something with more static pressure. (Delta makes some, but even the noise-prioritizing Noctua A8 would be a healthy step up.)Or, better yet, don't use this.

This thing. This... THING...There's not really any other products out there like this thing.The truth is you're getting this because you know what you want to do, no matter how stupid, and you're going do whatever it takes to make it happen.Just like me.But speaking real, this thing is rather crummy.Wait, crummy? So why even 4 stars? Well, like I said, there's not really anything out there like this, so if you're looking to achieve a very specialized build for some inane reason - I'm still trying to figure out why I built PCs into this case - then your hands are tied.But rest assured, in no way shape or form is this a in any reality ever going to be a 5 star case, and if there were any competition in this extraordinarily niche product space, this would easily be 3 stars or less.The biggest concern here is air flow. Either stuff a (very) under powered CPU in this, OR spend the money on ALL the right equipment gleaned through an irrational amount of time window shopping only to achieve case airflow that is "good enough".Getting everything to work in mini-ITX builds is part of the fun, but a few points for consideration-First step is removing the drive cage. Use M.2. Don't think about it. Unscrew the cage. Throw it away. It has no place in this build. You will have enough concerns with airflow even without it.-Second step is unscrewing the front security panel. I'll get back to this one.-Motherboard. mini-ITX alone isn't sufficient. Either you're running a 35w CPU, or you're using a 'server' mini-ITX motherboard where memory modules are aligned with airflow. OR you're getting really creative. Guess which category your's truly falls into?-CPU cooler. What's your platform? Intel? This shouldn't be a big deal. Intel mounts are typically squad, you can mount a cooler 90 degrees. Oh, what's that? You're on AM4/5? Yeah, this is another reason to spend on 'server' mini-ITX, given all two of your options on the market. AM4/5 mounts are rectangular. Most coolers will align with airflow on 'server' mini-ITX boards, but on consumer boards? Heh. Get a Noctua cooler - their mounting hardware supports 90 degree mounts.The fun doesn't stop there if you're on a consumer grade board.-Memory modules. Get the most modest things you can find. No LED. no stacked heatsinks. The dimms are going to baffle airflow to your CPU, you want them as small as rationally possible.-ATX power. Consider picking up a 90 degree ATX power adapter. Oh, and of course you need FLEX-ATX power supply units in here. Don't bother with Modular units. They seem like a good idea, eliminating cables you don't need, but they will hurt more than they help, routing your rat nest directly in front of your front intake fans. This is very likely the time to consider breaking out the soldering iron and literally remove cables you don't need, and truncate those you do. Break out those heat shrink sleeves.-Case fans. I grabbed ARCTIC S8038-10K in a 4 pack. Stop fans aren't going to be useful for anything but the lowest power builds. Even with a proper 'server' mini-ITX board, you need something with some legitimate suck to push air through your case. These models are legitimately more than the front security panel on the case can handle. You remembered to remove it, didn't you?-PCIE. You need a riser ribbon. You need a riser, and you need to make damn sure your CPU cooler isn't going to get in the way. I legitimately can NOT recommend any system built in this case where you NEED a PCIE card be done with a consumer grade motherboard. The only hope your CPU has in this case is with airflow from the front fans. With memory shielding low profile coolers, and a PCIE card boxing everything in from above, I struggle to imagine even low power systems being anything but thermal limited.So you got everything? And you are sure this is a stupid project you MUST embark upon? My man! Have fun!For everyone else, this thing is a waste of money. I promise you, this is not what you are looking for!

Works as intended; nice build on product. Super fast shipping…

Fantastic case for what it is, but it does not come with PCIE risers and I cannot find one that will work in this case. It needs to be right angle reverse and the proper height. There is not enough room for the ribbon style risers.

I picked this up for a future server project where I am going to take my current ITX Rackmount server and move both servers into one box for a lower priced colocation contract. This case has lots of space for an ITX build so it will definitely work, the 14" deep has it matching my old case but just with double systems.... So I won't have to do any convincing with my datacenter to accept it. Overall happy with it and can't wait to do the build!