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Date:      Wed, 10 Jul 2002 17:02:40 -0700
From:      Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com>
To:        Darren Pilgrim <dmp@pantherdragon.org>
Cc:        a clever sheep <freebsd-chat@aard.org>, freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: 2u freebsd box and riser card drivers
Message-ID:  <3D2CCB20.FC148BA1@mindspring.com>
References:  <20020710155003.GC500@malkavian.org> <3D2C9C2F.91398132@mindspring.com> <3D2C9E93.A8EBBD81@pantherdragon.org> <3D2CA2D6.E387A2D@mindspring.com> <3D2CC40B.AAB21291@pantherdragon.org>

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Darren Pilgrim wrote:
> > Now to find a motherboard that can handle 1G SIMMs, where the SIMM
> > connector hardware is at a steeper angle than normal so that you
> > can fit 4G in a 1U case... ;^).
> 
> You know, there's a point at which all this extra hardware will demand
> a 2U case just so you can use larger fans. :) Or have you found a
> company that will make small electric turbofans at a reasonable price?
> I've seen 1-inch turbofans that pull no more juice than the average
> 80mm case fan and can move 170CFM when unobstructed and running at
> nominal speed.  I just wouldn't want to put one in my desktop.

OK, here are some dirty little form-factor secrets that everyone should
know...

There are three overwhelming arguments in favor of 1U:

o	Psychological: smaller == more technically advanced.

o	Economic: Over the amortizable lifetime of a product (3 years
	for computer equipment, according to the IRS), rack space
	rental is a more significant portion of TCO than the price
	of the box itself.

o	Economic: A small box costs less to ship than a big box

There are four overwhelming arguments in favor of 4/5U:

o	Psychological: I flat out disbelieve your ability to make
	something that can do what you say it can do fit in a space
	that small

o	Psychological: Something should weigh proportional to what
	it costs to buy.  Put a cinderblock retaining bracket in the
	thing to bring up weight, if you have to.

o	Practical: The bigger it is, the more connectors, knobs,
	and indicators I can jam onto the front of the thing

o	Ability to read the name/logo through the chain link by the
	people in the colocation case next door to your customer's.

Rarely is 2/3U a good thing, unless you are aiming to be a plug-in
replacement for a product that is already 2/3U.

-- Terry

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