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#1
Case Switching
I'm just throwing this out there because I'm not sure where else to post something like this.
Currently I have my custom built PC (which I call my "Main" PC) & I'm looking to change cases. My current case is discontinued & no longer being made. Here is my current case/build:
Case - Newegg.com - APEVIA X-Alien ATXA7AW-BL/420 Blue Aluminum Server Computer Case 420W Power Supply
Motherboard - Newegg.com - ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU - Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X3 425 Rana 2.7GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor ADX425WFGIBOX
RAM - Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
Graphics Card - Newegg.com - PNY VCG941024GXPB GeForce 9400 GT 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
I also have a semi unused "backup" PC that is a Dell Dimension 4600C that I sometimes use in another room of the house.
specs here: Documentation
In an effort to consolidate my PC's because I tend to rearrange my office quite a bit what I'm thinking of doing and wanting to know if it's possible is taking my Main PC and putting it in a server case, specifically this server case:
Newegg.com - ARK 4U-500-CA Black 4U Rackmount Case 3 External 5.25" Drive Bays
I'm a little bit concerned with cooling as the Main PC currently has 6 fans, and the server case only has 3. Would everything fit & be sufficiently cooled as this is my regular workstation where I do daily computing task, Gaming, T.V. Show recording/transcoding etc. etc.?
Now as for the Dell Dimension 4600C that I have I would also like to swap out the case and stuff it into a server case as well & use it as a combination of file server/distributed computing (i.e. Seti@home, Test4Theory@home) & whatever else I could use it for. I'm not sure as to what form factor server case I might be able to stuff the 4600C in to (1U, 2U etc. etc.) or if it's even possible because it's a Dell manufactured PC.
As stated earlier I'm looking to consolidate my PC's into a more manageable setup to where I can easily upgrade at least the Main PC and move them around or at least stuff them into a more out of the way area from time to time as needed. So I am thinking of purchasing some sort of rack but being I've never worked with server cases or server racks I'm unsure as to what's available (for fairly cheap) in the way of server racks that will only really have 2 "servers" possibly 3 later on.
Tips, comments suggestions welcome please
Thanks