We finally Have a Case!
So my 2U chassis arrived today, but I haven’t even opened it, and I decided to scour the internet again over the past week. This time, I'm using every combination of search I can imagine, and going where no man dares go: Page 2 of the Google search results. Quick tip: try dimensions in smart units (millimeters) and freedom units (inches). I also dropped the 5.25" expansion bay requirement, and instead focus on chassis that have a slim drive opening, and if I absolutely need the hotswap, I can manually cut the chassis open.
Without wasting your time, after 7-8 hours of searching across two days, I’ve put the makes, models, and websites for all the qualifying chassis I found, minus the iStarUSA D-1101-ITX, of course. (Side-note, logistics is insane! Apparently you just need a copy-and-paste website and you can start importing various parts from overseas for domestic sales! Also, no matter what the website says, I don't trust their stock. I've learned the hard way to always call and get verbal confirmation of on-hand stock.)
So there you go, the end result of probably a month's worth of research. Fun fact, you can get an idea of just how the logistics of these things work when you compare the EJ-1U118 and the GHI-108. Their stock photos were identical, meaning they probably come from the same factory, and the reseller just put their own model number on it. Not only that, but the “118” is the same as the iStarUSA case, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re getting the base exterior from the same factory.
I decided that trying to get the 1U size is worth it, so I’m moving forward with the GHI-108. I ended up getting a quote for three of them, in addition to some Enhance 400W PSU, coming in at an affordable $954, including shipping. Seriously. Shipping alone was $156. If they hadn’t been Enhance PSU, I probably wouldn’t have gotten them, but hey, they’re going to pre-install them in the chassis for me, so that’s one less thing I have to do! Odds are I’ll even give the 400W a shot, instead of my insanely overpowered 600W unit. I placed the order over the weekend, and got a tracking number today. I got three separate tracking numbers, so I guess they’re shipping each chassis in it’s own box? That means FedEx has three chances to get at least one case to me.
So yeah. If you’re in the market for a 1U chassis, let me know! I’ve got a few extras. Depending on how this computer does during the event, I may build a few special custom-order versions. AMD and Intel are both rumored to have some amazing iGPU options coming out this fall, so I may wait before building 1U v.2.
| Case | Model | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
RackmountMart .com (Synergy Global Technology Inc) | RM1031 | Perfect! 300mm, slim drive, PCI expansion slot, includes fans! |
 |
PlinkUSA | IPC-1304M | 300mm deep, no front bays, so would need custom cuts |
 |
MyPCCase .com | EJ-1U118 | Perfect! 300mm, slim drive, PCI expansion slot, includes fans! |
 |
Techly (Bass Computers) | I-CASE IPC-140 | Italian company, has 2(!!) PCI expansion, plus slim drive |
 |
Akiwa (Miller Technologies) | GHI-108 (NOT the 108A) | Identical to the EJ-1U118 |
 |
iStarUSA | D-118V2 | 300mm deep, no front bays, so would need custom cuts |