Hey everyone! I'm looking to get creative with some old hardware. I recently picked up a PowerEdge 2900 server, which I know sounds like e-waste, but hear me out! I really love the design, especially the hot-swappable drives, and I've got an open-air case that doesn't use any disk drives, so I need to find a way to make this work.
Here's the twist: I stripped down the server but accidentally tossed away the motherboard, power supplies, fans, and heat sinks. I still have the front cover and side panels, but I'm kind of stuck on what to do next.
I'm considering two main options:
1. **Cutting the skeleton**: I could chop off the unnecessary parts of the server case and keep just the essential front cage, redesigning the panels to fit nicely since they are mainly screwed in.
2. **Remodeling the whole thing**: I could keep all parts intact but cut off the back interface panel to mount a standard motherboard from another old computer I have.
I'd love to hear any advice or tips on how to wire this up and what direction I should take!
2 Answers
It sounds like you have a fun project on your hands! I’d suggest going with the second option, remodeling the case. It’ll give you a more versatile setup, and you'll be able to use standard components more easily. For wiring, just make sure to check out some guides on connecting power supplies and motherboards to non-standard cases. Experimenting with the layout can be part of the fun!
While I love the idea of repurposing, I’d recommend looking into r/homelab for this type of project. They might have users who’ve done similar builds. Just a heads up, some folks there might suggest scrapping it, but don’t let that discourage you!
I tried that subreddit, but they mostly recommended I just scrap the case! It’s frustrating when people don’t see the potential. But I’ll definitely keep looking around for more community advice.
Yeah, definitely remodel. I did something similar with an old case, and it turned out great! Just be cautious with your cuts, and maybe look up some DIY videos for inspiration.