homelab

My main homelab server runs a bunch of stuff but was a little limited in the hardware department.

Here's the overview of the upgrade. Old -> New CPU: i7-3370K 4c/8t -> xeon e5 2630L 8c/16t RAM: 16 GB mixed non ECC 1333 DDR3 -> 32 GB Micron DDR4 2133 (running at 1866) CPU COOLER: AIO -> air cooling MB: No idea -> Asrock x99 extreme 4 with 10 SATA ports!!! GPU: None -> RTX 610 passively cooled

Runs: Nextcloud, pihole, unbound, security stuff like fail2ban, hosts a couple small databases, VPN.

This upgrade will allow for expandability in terms of upgrade CPU cache, bus speed, maximum allowed RAM (32 GB to 128), and extra cores to maybe do some light compute with when I'm writing some code without sacrificing performance of other services. All of this while having similar "net" TDP (I didn't measure either idle power draw).

Here's where the fail comes in. I got the whole original machine and drives for free from a recycle pile at my old job. I threw in a drive cage where the DVD drive use to be and it fit like a glove! Felt like a really cool "sleeper" server build with hot swap drive cages. My new mother board is wider by an inch and the drive cage covered the 24 pin connector. So now my drive cage hangs out and is supported by zip ties and I can't close my case in the front lmao... See linked pictures so you can laugh at it with me: https://imgur.com/a/1XqALZ4

So I'm looking for either a new case or a relatively small 4-bay drive cage thats cheap. The total ive invested in this build after this upgrade is ~$200 and I don't want to spend a ton more so I'm wildly disappointed at my oversight. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!