Rack server cases are 19-inch chassis for housing servers, storage systems and network appliances in a rack or cabinet. Our range includes rackmount enclosures in several heights from Supermicro, Chenbro, SilverStone, Lenovo and Sonnet Technologies. They suit system builders, IT departments and home lab users who want to build a server around their own components.
How to choose a rack server case
Height in rack units. One rack unit (1U) is 44.45 mm. A 1U case saves space but usually limits you to small, fast-spinning fans and low-profile expansion cards. A 2U or 4U chassis leaves room for larger fans, which tend to run quieter, and for full-height cards.
Motherboard and expansion slots. Check which board sizes the case accepts, such as mini-ITX, micro-ATX, ATX or E-ATX, and how many expansion slots the rear panel offers. If you plan to fit a GPU, RAID controller or network card, confirm that the slot height and card length will fit the chassis.
Drive bays. Hot-swap bays let you replace a failed drive without taking the server down, which matters for storage servers and anything running around the clock. Fixed internal bays cost less and are enough for a small build. Also check whether the bays take 2.5-inch drives, 3.5-inch drives or both.
Depth and rails. Rack cabinets differ in usable depth, so measure yours before ordering. A deep chassis can leave no space for cabling at the back or may not close the cabinet door. Check whether sliding rails are included or sold separately.
Power supply and cooling. Some chassis come with a power supply, often a redundant pair, while others are sold empty and take a standard or specific form factor of PSU. Look at the number of fan positions and whether the airflow runs front to back, as this suits most rack environments.
Rack server case brands we carry
- Supermicro: a server and motherboard manufacturer whose chassis are designed around its own boards, often with hot-swap bays and redundant power supplies.
- Chenbro: specialises in server and storage chassis, with a focus on drive-dense designs.
- SilverStone: known for rackmount cases that take standard PC parts, which makes them popular for home servers and NAS builds.
- Lenovo: a large server maker with its ThinkSystem line, relevant if you are extending a Lenovo-based setup.
- Sonnet Technologies: known for rackmount expansion enclosures, including Thunderbolt-to-PCIe systems.
- Inter-Tech: a German brand that offers straightforward rackmount cases for builders working to a tighter budget.
Also in our range: Netrack, CyberPower, StoreSys, Techly and Lanberg.
Rack server case FAQ
What does 1U, 2U or 4U mean on a server case?
It is the height of the case in rack units, where 1U equals 44.45 mm. A 2U case is twice as tall as a 1U case, and a 4U case is four times as tall. The taller the chassis, the more room it generally has for drives, cards and larger fans.
Can I put a normal ATX motherboard in a rack case?
Yes, many rack cases accept ATX or smaller boards, but this depends on the model. Cases of 1U and 2U often support only smaller boards or need low-profile coolers. Always check the supported motherboard sizes and the maximum CPU cooler height before buying.
What is the difference between hot-swap and fixed drive bays?
Hot-swap bays let you remove and replace a drive from the front of the case without opening it or powering down. Fixed bays hold drives inside the chassis, so you need to open the case to change them. Hot-swap is more convenient for storage servers and systems that must stay online.
Does a rack server case include a power supply?
Some do and some do not. Server chassis often include one or two power supplies, while many cases for custom builds are sold empty. The product specification will say which applies, along with any PSU form factor you need to buy.
