Server cases and drive bays are for anyone building a server or storage system from separate components, or expanding existing equipment. Our range includes cases for 19-inch racks and drive enclosures, with brands such as Supermicro, Inter-Tech, Chenbro and Dell.
How to choose a server case or drive bay
Case format. Rack cases are measured in height units (U). 1U and 2U models save space but take only low CPU coolers and a limited number of expansion cards, while a 4U case makes it easier to fit standard components and more drives. If you have no rack, choose a tower model or check that the case can stand on a shelf.
Drive bays. Count how many 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives you need now and in a few years. Bays with front-accessible hot-swap drives let you replace a failed disk without switching the server off, which matters when your data sits on a RAID array.
Motherboard and power supply compatibility. Check which board sizes the case supports (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX or the larger E-ATX), because server boards are often bigger than desktop ones. Also see whether the case takes a standard ATX power supply, a special module, or a redundant pair.
Cooling and noise. Server cases usually rely on fast fans, which are loud. That is fine in a dedicated server room but tiring in an office or at home. If the server will sit near a workspace, pick a larger case that takes slower, quieter fans.
Rack depth. Measure the usable depth of your rack, including space for cables at the back. Long 4U cases with many drive bays sometimes do not fit in shallow network cabinets.
Brands in our range
- Supermicro: a US manufacturer known for server motherboards and cases designed around its own boards, including hot-swap drive bays.
- Inter-Tech: a German company known for its IPC series of 19-inch cases, a common choice for budget server and storage builds.
- Chenbro: a Taiwanese manufacturer that specialises in server and storage cases and drive enclosures.
- Dell: best known for PowerEdge servers, so its trays and accessories are normally meant for Dell hardware and compatibility should be checked before buying.
Also in our range: Ubiquiti, Synology and StarTech.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 1U, 2U and 4U server cases?
The number is the height of the case in a rack, and 1U is about 4.4 cm. The lower the case, the less room for components and the louder the fans tend to be. A 4U case has space for more drives, larger coolers and expansion cards.
Can I put a regular PC motherboard in a server case?
Often yes, as long as the case supports the board size, for example ATX or Micro-ATX. Low 1U and 2U cases may not fit a tall cooler or a graphics card, so check the maximum component height first.
What is a hot-swap drive bay?
It is a bay that lets you remove and insert drives from the front of the case without powering the server down. It is useful for RAID arrays because a failed drive can be replaced while the system keeps running. The bay needs a matching drive interface, such as SATA or SAS.
Can I use ordinary desktop hard drives in a server?
SATA drives physically fit most bays, but a server or NAS that runs around the clock is better served by drives made for that workload. They cope with heavier use and handle the vibration of many drives in one rack better.
