Building 1U servers, looking for MB suggestions

[Norssak]

I posted this in the MotherBoard forum, but they are clueless; it's mostly the Overclockers forum now.

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I'm planning to put together a few lowcost 1U rackmount servers out of off-the-shelf componets. Because of the extreme space constrains the 1U formfactor imposes, the motherboard choices are rather thin. I am looking for models that have the DIMM slots at a 25deg angle. So far the only manufactures I've found to offer such Models are SuperMicro, Tyan, and Gigabyte. With the Cheapest being the SuperMicro 370SSE Link for around $260.-

Any alternatives you know of?

 

[Xanathar]

You also have a second choice of not Using the 25 degree memory adapters, but rather finding short memory.

I highly recomend the Kingmax TBGA chips for situations like this, and do NOT expect to use over a 900mhz processor in the case if you are going to be using 7200rpm drives. Under load the heat in a 1U gets intense (at least the generic cases, custom intel/dell cases work wonderful).

Are you planning on going SCSI or IDE? and is there a specific reason you want to go 1U and not 2U? I have found 2U cases to be much better and more forgiving, while not as dense on a rack, you will be able to better utilize the machine (raid cards and gigabit cards come to mind with the additional pci slot)

 

[Norssak]

I have seen 1U cases with upright memory modules installed, but of course no memory manufacturer seems to post the Physical dimensions of their product. And until I started this project, it wouldn't have occurred to me either. So yes, memory that works in regular DIMM slots would be a great way to open up the field (MSI 815EM-PRO). I was planning on using 2 7200RPM IDE drives in RIAD 0 configuration, with a 1GHZ PIII. Heat is an issue that needs addressing, but I used to be poor and used to have to overclock the @#$% out of my hardware. So now I have a great wealth of experience with reguard to chopping down heatsinks an attaching fans where they were not designed to be mounted. I think I can handel that part.

1U vs 2U. Technically I could get away with 2U cases, would be a bit cheaper and a lot easier. But it wouldn't be as challenging, nor as cool. The WOW factor is important to me

 

[esung]

like Xanathar said, you can use the low profile RAM, Corsair have them as well. This way you won't be limited to the choice of the MB that much, but you''ll still need the all in one design.

1U case is also a big problem, they are not cheap at all. I was thinking about doing that myself, then I found out the actual cost is much higher. but if rackspace is the constrain, you have no choice..

here's an intereting link about home made 1U box, if you haven't read it from /. yet.

 

[jsm]

I like this Super Microservers. They are pretty cheap.

 

[Iconizer]

Why build one if they have build it already for you ? No hassles, no problems.

Sure it is nice to build it yourself. But the additional problems are not of the air.

You have to look carefully to the airflow this is a delicate job. Well good luck with finding it. (tip: I would go for the 2U case !)

 

[rlism]

I've had 1u's with just a plain 810 chipset ATX board with integrated vid/lan, normal DIMM slots. We used the PCI riser to stick in a scsi card for our CD jukebox. Had plain ol' ide storage devices on these things.