Physically securing PCI-E expander in desktop case

[Matt Lund]

I've got a Xeon D MB with single PCI-E slot that I'm planning on putting in a mid-large desktop case (so I can have 8+ HDDs and keep it quiet). From the Xeon D thread I understand I can use a Supermicro PCI-E expander (that may not be the right term) so that I can have two HBAs.

But the expander will result in the two HBA cards sitting at a 90 degree angle to how the desktop case would want them right? In this case the HBA cards wouldn't have any kind of cage or mount to be secured to. How do people deal with this? Perhaps I need to consider a 2U instead? Do any of the 2u supermicros contain hardware that would allow these to be secured?

 

[i386]

Supermicro has chassis for that but your xeon d mainboard won't fit (the chassis requires proprietary io shields and mainboard).

There are cable like this (But I wouldn't use them personally):

Another thought: temperature. Xeon d require a lot of airflow, even more with add on cards.

 

[CJRoss]

Another thought: temperature. Xeon d require a lot of airflow, even more with add on cards.

Not if you get the versions with the fan on the heatsink.