Codegen Cases

Codegen’s cases here are rackmount server chassis, measured in U — the standard 19in rack unit, where 1U is one slot of height, 2U is two, and so on.

The U height decides more than any other specification.

2U takes low-profile expansion cards and small fans. It is dense, which matters when rack space is limited, and it is noisier because small fans must spin fast to move air.

4U allows full-height expansion cards, taller CPU coolers and larger, slower fans — which makes it considerably quieter and easier to build in. For a small installation where rack space is not the constraint, 4U is usually the better choice.

Before ordering, check two things against your rack: the depth of the chassis, since short racks and deep servers is a common and expensive mistake, and whether the rack has rails or requires shelf mounting.

After that, look at drive bays — how many, what size, and whether they are hot-swap, which lets a failed disk be replaced without powering the machine down.

See also server cases and rack accessories.