This 3D-printable Raspberry Pi case is the perfect way to host a server

3 days ago 2

Summary

Raspberry Pis are efficient servers due to their compact size and low energy use.
Upgrade your Raspberry Pi server with a stylish 3D-printed case and OLED screen.
Enhance your Raspberry Pi case with an active heatsink, fan, and OLED display for improved performance.

Raspberry Pis find themselves in all sorts of situations and scenarios, but I've always felt they really shine as servers. They don't take up a lot of space, don't rack up a huge energy bill, and they don't need a lot of effort to keep them cool (if any). You can use them to store data, monitor your network, or even host a game.

So, how do you make a Raspberry Pi server even better? Easy: give it a really nice-looking case to live in. So, if you're in the hunt for a 3D-printable shell to place your SBC in, this PC-like case may be just what you're looking for.

This Raspberry Pi 5 case tells you what you need to know via an OLED screen

In a post on the Raspberry Pi subreddit, user DavidSoy showed off what they've been working on. They wanted to host a Minecraft Server on a Raspberry Pi 5, so they got to work designing and printing their own case to fit it in. They also added a cool OLED screen that informed them how the server is faring and how many people were playing on it.

Fortunately, DavidSoy also decided to upload the schematic on Makerworld, so if you want to build one for yourself, head on over and check out the assembly guide for more information. Here's how DavidSoy describes the project (machine translated):

I have created this enclosure/tower for the Raspberry Pi 5, specifically designed for a Minecraft server. It incorporates an NVMe M.2 to PCIe adapter, with an active heatsink that dynamically adjusts based on the microcontroller's temperature, complemented by four continuously running fans to generate airflow over the active heatsink. Furthermore, it includes a 128x64 pixel SH1106 OLED display, where you can showcase information and even GIFs! All this is housed within a 256GB M.2 2230 SSD.

If you like this project but want some more inspiration on how to give your Raspberry Pi a classy case, there are plenty out there to choose from. In fact, there are a ton that don't require a 3D printer or much assembly, so if you're not fond of making your own case, those make for some excellent options. Here are some pieces we've written on the topic:

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