Fitting a server with desktop hardware in a 1U rack mount chassis

25 days ago by QuantumEraser to c/selfhosted

I have a server with desktop hardware (microATX motherboard and Core Ultra 7 265K CPU) which I use to run a Minecraft server. Its current physical location isn't ideal, so I'd like to put it in a rack mount chassis and move it to a server room I have access to through my university. However rack space in the room is limited, so it would be best if I can fit it into a 1U space.

From what I've heard the biggest issue with 1U is cooling, especially as the 265K can draw up to 250W. It seems like 1U microATX chassis do exist, like this one, but they don't look like they have good airflow, and I'm not sure where I would get a short enough heatsink. Could I realistically make 1U work, and if so what should I look for in terms of hardware? Or am I going to have to go with 2U?

Edit: I ended up giving up on 1U. Instead I bought a miniITX motherboard and am going with this 2U dual miniITX chassis. Way more vertical space to work with and it gives me the option to add a second server (something I want to do once memory/storage prices calm down) within the same rack space.

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pandakhan 8 points 25 days ago

Is it doable? Probably. A quick search shows that your professor processor appears to be an LGA1851 socket type. https://www.newegg.com/p/0SS-0236-01835

This should work, but please verify your own details first!

Otherwise, if you have a chassis in mind already, go for it. If you feel comfortable moving it to actual server-grade hardware, www.labgopher.com (turns out that site is gone, a place called rack rat had taken its place, but I have not used it) can help you find something hopefully very cheap that you could scrap or repurpose.

The biggest advantage with server-grade components is the fans and power supplies are designed with that environment in mind. The 40mm fans in 1u racks are very nearly airplane levels of loud. 20k rpm kind of fans. That's how they solve the airflow problem, they don't have noise rules.

Hope that helps!

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QuantumEraser 3 points 24 days ago

That heatsink says it's rated for up to 125W, which I'm not sure will be enough for the 265K (Intel says 250W at max boost). I don't have a specific chassis in mind; the one I linked was just one I found with a quick search. I haven't purchased server hardware before so I'm not really sure what to look for. Do you think buying a generic microATX compatible chassis and a similar heatsink (higher rated power if I can find one), then adding a ton of high RPM fans and possibly some custom airflow guides to get very high airflow through the heatsink would work?

I can't go with a server grade mobo/CPU as Minecraft servers need very high single threaded performance which you can only really get with desktop CPUs (at least at non-insane prices).

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lemmyvore 3 points 24 days ago

The main limitation in a 1U chassis is the size of the heatsink + fan. They're typically 80x80mm width/length, and the height is very small. You get 45mm for the whole case so you have to work with a slim (15mm) 80x80 fan and a tiny heatsink that's 10mm or so. So they have to work at 5000rpm and put out 60dB of noise but even so they're typically only rated for 80-100W.

I other words I really don't think it's worth bothering for a 250W draw. If you can get a 2U space yeah, that gives you much better cooling options.

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QuantumEraser 1 point 24 days ago

Do you think a passive heatsink like this would work? As I understand it 1U servers usually use a passive heatsink with fans pushing air through the case horizontally, rather than an active heatsink with a fan. Noise isn't a problem since it's in a server room so I can cram in as many fans as is necessary.

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frongt 1 point 24 days ago

Yeah that should work. Servers usually live in a cooled server room and run their fans full speed. If you can do that, you'll be fine.

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