Re: Need PC rack enclosure recommendations

["Jesse Ray Lucas" <jlucas@neoprimitive.net>]

I've been looking for years and haven't found a rack chassis shallow enough
to fit in an SKB case.  You've got about 15" of depth in an SKB case.  I
think I found a 17" chassis once.  Certainly not an aluminum one.

I've emailed some of the companies I've seen in the Computer Music mag who
make racked PCs for audio, but either they don't reply, the cases are too
big, or they won't sell them without a complete system.  I don't want a
whole system.  I can build my own, thank you.

Some alternatives:

Buy a little FlexATX box.  Look at these:
http://www.directron.com/barebone.html.  Most of them are just a little 
over
7" high, which is four rack units, and if you put it on the bottom of your
rack, it'd fit the bottom four spaces just fine.  Velcro it, or find some
way to affix it so it doesn't come off.  Screws...  Then you've got space
for cables, mouse, half-rack effects, or whatever you want to put in the 4U
of empty space next to the box.

The latest kludge idea is to just buy an aluminum rack drawer (e.g.
http://www.middleatlantic.com/rackac/storage/drawers.htm), cannibalize a
normal PC case to extract the drive mounting rack, etc., and then screw it
all into one of these drawers.  Obviously this involves some sheet metal
hacking as you'll have to cut the back out to make room for the PSU fan.

This does have some advantages, however, as you'll be able to open up your
computer any time you like and re-seat all the cards and RAM, pour water in
it, or light it on fire like Jimi you fucking rock star, without unscrewing
it from the rack and taking it apart.  This is certainly no shock mount
system though.

Then there is the Gator console racks I mentioned in my other post, which
can accomodate the deeper chassis.

Anyone got any ideas for me?  Rack mount PC chassis that will fit in a
normal SKB or Gator rack?  Anybody have a Carillion system?  Although, I'm
sure they don't sell those nice chassis without their expensive guts in
them.

-J


----- Original Message -----
From: "James Weisbin" <jweisbin@mindspring.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 11:14 AM
Subject: Need PC rack enclosure recommendations


> I'm looking for an ATX style PC-enclosure suitable for mounting in a
> standard equipment rack (horizontally, server style). The only ones I
> have found are more than 21" deep, which sticks out the back of a
> standard 20" deep rack. Height doesn't matter, but aluminum would be
> preferable because it is lighter and easier to transport. If anyone has
> any recommendations for a good unit I would appreciate it.
>
> Jim Weisbin
> <jim@savagetranscendental.com>
> http://www.savagetranscendental.com
>