2U Chassis for Dell Poweredge 1600SC Dual Xeon board? Can it be done?

[Conundrum]

Hello,

I?m presented with a bit of a problem currently. I recently purchased from a friend of mine two dual-xeon boards that he was selling from the poweredge 1600SC servers that he was selling. Now, what I planned to do was mount them in the two 2U chassis?s that I had laying around. Unfortunately, quite simply they won?t fit? and the ATX cover plates that came with the 2U aren?t working for what I need. The board itself came on a plate that mounts into the 1600SC server case. What I would be interested in finding out from you is whether or not I could purchase from you? or if you might know of somewhere that I might purchase a 2U chassis that would accommodate the motherboard. There are 8 screws which go through the board holding the HSF to the board. I?m just trying to get a business started and cut costs where I can? but in the process it seems as though I?m stuck with a couple of 2U chassis that I cannot use. I have an aluminum 4U that I could set it in? but once again there wouldn?t be any mounts for the HSF?s for each CPU. Any suggestions that you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. I?m definitely making every effort towards getting these servers up and running sometime next week.

I don't know if there's a site anyone might know of that would sell 2U chassis that would accomodate this board or what. Or if there's a site someone knows of that sells Dell 2Us that would work for this. Hell, I don't even know if Dell uses the same board in their 1600SC that they do in the rackmount servers they sell. Either way, I'm definitely in a bind here, and anything that you could volunteer to help me would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Dell boards are often custom, and not only that, they often use custom-wired power supplies that make normal, industry-standard power supplies go * P O O F *, even though the connectors fit together fine. Not good.

My advice: get an industry-standard motherboard, an industry-standard case and power supply, and forget the Dell board. Make sure you've got a backup plan that includes storing a backup tape off-site, get a good UPS with shutdown software (APC SmartUPS 750XL is nice) and stick with the proven reliability and longevity of SCSI drives (and keep those puppies cooled). Good luck!

 

[Conundrum]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Dell boards are often custom, and not only that, they often use custom-wired power supplies that make normal, industry-standard power supplies go * P O O F *, even though the connectors fit together fine. Not good.

My advice: get an industry-standard motherboard, an industry-standard case and power supply, and forget the Dell board. Make sure you've got a backup plan that includes storing a backup tape off-site, get a good UPS with shutdown software (APC SmartUPS 750XL is nice) and stick with the proven reliability and longevity of SCSI drives (and keep those puppies cooled). Good luck!

Unfortunately, at this stage that really isn't a viable option. I can still get the PSUs from the guy I bought the boards from, so that would fix the problem you're anticipating possibly having with the motherboards. Still leaves me in a bit of a bind on the whole "fitting the motherboard into the chassis and having it mount properly" situation. Any suggestions on a fix for that solution and any advice anyone might have as well on the best way to maximize cooling in the 2U is welcomed. I'm not sure how companies that would host the rackmount servers would welcome modding done on the 2U for improved airflow... but there might already be 2Us I could purchase somewhere that I'm not aware of that already have this worked out. Or possibly could come with custom plates to accomodate people in my position. I'm unsure of whether or not they exist, but GOD would it ever help me out if someone did.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep checking this thread for any updates on it. I can do what you're suggesting with future servers, but for these TWO... I can't return the boards to him and they're pretty expensive so I would REALLY like to use them. I'll keep looking in other forums as well... and if anyone has any suggestions as far as where I might also want to go (different forums etc) where someone might be able to help me with my problem.... please do.

Thanks again to anyone nice enough to try and help me out! =]

p.s. - I'm using SCSI drives in it. U-320 36 gig 10k RPM drives.

 

[Conundrum]

Oh, and if anyone has any suggestions for what the best cooling solution would be in a 2U chassis for dual xeon processors... that would be great too.

=]

 

[mechBgon]

Try Rackmountpro for the CPU coolers. I'm questioning whether a 2U case can hold the Dell tower-style power supplies that these mobos require, however. None of the 2U PSUs is shaped like an ATX PSU, and they're not as tall since the case is only 3.5" tall in its entirety.

 

[Conundrum]

In case anyone runs into a similar predicament as I have found myself in. I got an email from a guy that's claiming any of these links will solve my problem. Of course, I'm still checking to see if this is true. I'll reply again if/when I get in touch with one of these companies and order one of their 2Us and it actually works.

Please review the following information, one of these should work for you:



http://www.icp-australia.com.au/DataSheets/ec1010_1020.html

http://www.icp-australia.com.au/DataSheets/ec1025.html



http://www.svec.com/Products/FD7132EDS.htm



http://www.icp-electronics.com/products/networkserver.htm



http://silverpcs.zoovy.com/category/rack_mount_server_chassis/

 

[Conundrum]

Screw it.. I'm going to my best friend's dad's shop and I'm going to mod it myself to accomodate the motherboard. I'll let you all know how it goes after I'm done if anyone is interested.

 

[Conundrum]

Owned it up...

All it took was a drill with different bits and I was able to successfully mod the 2U so that it accomodates the dual processor board. I'm going with those plastic HS mounts that clip on to the PCB you see with video cards to secure the HSF solution to the board.