iStarUSA D-214-MATX Chassis
D-214-MATX is a 2U-high industrial computer chassis compatible with mainstream microATX motherboards. It offers a spacious room for various components. The backplane supports 4 low profile add-on cards. The chassis also supports a standard ATX power supply to meet regular server system applications. You can add two intake 80 mm cooling fans at front for better air ventilation.
Ample Space
The iStarUSA D-214-MATX chassis provides spacious room to accommodate a microATX motherboard, 2x 3.5" internal drives, 2x 5.25" external drive, 4x low profile add-on cards and a standard ATX PS2 power supply.
Convenient I/O Panel
Two USB 2.0 ports are located on the front panel to offer handy access to various peripherals.
Details
Pros: - Awesome value. Simple design.
Cons: At this price point in 2RU there are no significant cons to this product. - The blue LED is extremely bright. - The front power and reset buttons are not recessed and are very close to the front USB ports. Care must be exercised when using front USB to not bump the reset button (crash cart keyboard/mouse scenario). I bumped the reset button plugging in a USB keyboard. Can be avoided with mental consideration. - The front dust filter is cheap and difficult to remove. (A dust filter should be cleaned on regular intervals, necessitating regular removal, which is why this is a con.)
Overall Review: Three of these were used part of a new home lab build out for testing both Nutanix (CE) and VMware vSAN hyperconverged infrastructure. There isn't a lot of room in a 2RU, two post case. Prepare to roll up your sleeves, use a screwdriver, and take care in your cable routing and management. A few considerations (not cons at this price point and in 2RU): - Mounting 80mm fans requires removing the 3.5" brackets. I went with 80mm Noctua's and rubber rivet/pin style screws. - The dust filter that sits between the 80mm fans and the front grill requires removing the 3.5" bracks and the 80mm fans to replace/clean. I have a strong suspicion a shop vac to the front grill will work instead of removal based cleaning. - When installing the fans, if using rubber rivet/pin style screws be sure to remove the dust filter and cut out small clearance for the rubber screws on the dust filter. - As answered in the Q/A the two 3.5" brackets each hold two 3.5" drives. However, the lower bay (position) on each bracket is essentially unusable as a 3.5" drive (or even Icy Dock style adapter) will overlap with RAM modules or the ATX power connector on most micro-ATX boards. Only the top 3.5" bay on each bracket is usable. I have Icy Dock 3.5" to dual 2.5" adapters and use them in the top bay of each bracket. - The grill for the set of 5.25" bays is metal mesh and should be filled to provide optimal airflow throughout. I cut out dark foam from my power supply packaging contoured for the grill fitting inside the 5.25" bracket. The 5.25" bracket does does not need to be removed. The foam packaging included with the case could be used - it is white. - Front USB ports are USB2, not USB3 capable (not a con for me). - If using power supplies that have a top/bottom intake (as opposed to front intake rear fan) the case top is slotted to accommodate. - If using power supplies that have a top/bottom intake, the multiple cases cannot be stacked one on top of another. Leave 1RU in between. - I used the stock cooler with the Core i5-6500 (6th Gen Sky Lake) and there was plenty of vertical clearance. I would buy again.