1U 2U Rackmount Rack Mount Riser Cards

How to Choose a Riser Card for a Rack Mount Case?

Due to the endless possible combinations of motherboard and add-on card,
there is no one single solution to resolve all of our customers' needs.
We do come close, as seen by the arrays of 1U and 2U Riser cards that we
provide for many mixtures of scenarios (i.e AGP with PCI, PCI Express 
PCI-e x16 with PCI, all PCI, PCI Express PCI-e x2 x4 x8)

But to choose the one that work specifically just for your needs?   There are a
few rule of thumbs we like to follow:

1. Like a regular ATX Tower or Desktop Case, a 3U Height Case is taller and
will allow add-on Cards to be install vertically without the need for the Riser Card.  

2. Keep in mind that an 1U Case can only hold 1 add-on card horizontally by way
of an 1U Riser Card, but a 2U Case will hold 3 add-on cards horizontally by way
of a 2U Riser Card.

3. Know which particular Motherboard you plan to use.  Know which add-on card(s)
you plan to use on that particular Motherboard.  Know which card slots are available
for you to use on that particular Motherboard.

3. Typically, there are 7 Slots on an ATX Motherboard.  Card slots are numbered from
1 to 7.  The first Slot on the Center of the board is Slot# 1 (usually an AGP, PCIe / PCI
Express).  It follows then, counting outward towards the edge of the Motherboard layout,
the Slot next to Slot# 1 will obviously be Slot# 2, followed by #3, #4 and so on.

This motherboard has 6 Slots (made up of AGP, PCI, PCI Express PCI-e & also PCI-X)

Notice Slot 6 is always 7.2"  &  Slot 7 is always 6.4" away from the edge of the motherboard

4. Main differences between the various Riser cards are due to their
Bus Architecture and Slot# Position usage.  

For example:  we have PCI Express x16 / PCI-e x16 Riser Cards that 
also support two 32bit PCI Slots for a 2U Case.  But due to different 
motherboard layouts, there is one that supports PCI Express x16 / 
PCI-e x16 Bus on Slot# 6 and there is another that will support 
PCI Express x16 / PCI-e x16 Bus on Slot# 7

5. Unfortunately, above mentioned difference is not the only scenario that
users could face.  Among others, above mentioned two were simple solutions
dedicated for two different motherboards.  

While we couldn't anticipate what all motherboard manufactures would do 
with their various motherboard layouts, we have seen plenty.  Thus, as you
can see, we have a lot different riser card solutions for different occasions 
listed here (a 1U Section for 1U Case and also a 2U Section for 2U Case).

If in doubt, we urge you to contact us (Tel# 800-678-1688) with your 
motherboard model number and add-on card information.  We will either 
bring you an existing off-the-shelf product solution or, if call upon with 
larger quantity, custom make to your needs.  Thank you!