#tecware — Public Fediverse posts

I still think #Tecware's Quad Cube mATX case is STILL the best case for a beginner #homelab.

It's dirt cheap, the quality is honestly better than you'd expect (even better than #Jonsbo's cases honestly which costs MANY times more), the PCIE slot covers aren't those "disposable" ones and can always be screwed back in, it's SO SO easy to build in and maintain (honestly, it's also perfect for an open test bench), it's relatively compact, and most importantly - it has really a convenient 4x 3.5" hard disk drive bay that's again, easy to work with (it has other places you could mount 2.5" drives too, no worries).

It has one BIG flaw tho that has made me jump the gun and spent something like 10x more and that is... the side panels. For one, it has glass side panels which I absolutely hate (honestly, if you need a see-through side panel, I miss when glass was considered premium and the cheaper cases offer acrylic, see-through side panels instead). That wasn't why it's bad though, the way it's mounted is (or lackthereof).

There's a metal "bracket" screwed in to the body of the case on both sides. How does the glass stay in place? JUST with 2 adhesive tapes that "sticks" the glass to the metal bracket, that itself is screwed into the case. Warm 24/7 running computers don't play well with what is essentially double-sided tapes ofc, so one of my glass side panel actually fell off and broke to a thousand pieces.

Now... as someone who's totally not done something like this (or even done any form of #3dprinting) in my life, how do I design replacement side panels for the case so that it can have a new life hosting another server in the future?

🔗 https://www.tecware.co/quad

The #Tecware Quad Cube case has been perfect for my #homelab server - besides its cursed, stupid tempered glass side panels. I hate glass side panels as it is, but this one is extra ridiculous since they're secured using only adhesive, and even though I've had to replace the adhesive in the past, today one of the side panels have finally shattered on me literally, giving me cuts and all.

I WISH I could just replace them with Mesh side panels but no such option is available, ugh. I've tried finding a suitable case to replace it though but found absolutely NONE so far. I'm desperate for suggestions, #PC folks.

Like Tecware Quad, it should at least cater:

- mATX motherboard
- ATX PSU
- Several PCIE slots at least for a 1-slot GPU, NIC, and SATA Controller
- ~1-2x 2.5" drives
- 4x 3.5" drives (specifically #Seagate #Ironwolf drives, apparently some cases don't have compatible mounting holes somehow)

^ crazy ain't it how capable the Quad is at a relatively accommodating form factor (super cheap too but price isn't a concern here, I'm desperate). Another thing about the Quad is that besides its dumbass side panels, the quality is amazing and it's SUPER easy to get in and out of which is perfect for a server. Also it caters that amount of PCIE devices and drives perfectly, no hacks or janky workarounds whatsoever required. Please help ;(

🔗 https://www.tecware.co/quad

My #homelab #server's built in a #Tecware Quad Cube case, and it's honestly perfect for it... cept one fatal flaw. Its glass side panels (fuck glass panels honestly) are secured to two thin sheets of metal via adhesive tape, whereby those sheets are then mounted to the metal frame of the case.

This is so bizarre seeing how insecure that is, and one of the glass panels have already long fallen off and no longer stick to the metal sheets. I then bought a replacement case from #Silverstone, the FARA 313. It's simple looking, your typical 90s black #PC case, just not as fat. Look-wise it's perfect for me, but fuck has it been the absolute worst desktop chassis I've ever dealt with. I've totally cancelled my plans of using it halfway rebuilding my server inside it - it's that bad.

Now I have to try and find the time tomorrow to just rebuild, again, inside the Quad Cube. I'll probably end up having to use glue or something to stick the glass panel back together.