Can anyone recommend a case for the framework desktop to put the motherboard and power supply in with access to the pcie slot? Or a mod to the existing one? Fine with printing a mod or case.
What do you want to put in that slot?
Keep in mind that it is an x4 slot, so you won’t be able to use it for anything x8 or x16 at full speed.
I am using it for a PCIe 4.0 SSD, which only needs 4 lanes, and I don’t need any mod. I’m using this successfully. If you want to try the same and can’t find it on Amazon you can get it here in different lengths. I got 30 cm, but 25 would have been better.
Swappable nvme. I’d like a solution that prevents wear on the motherboard and nvme stick connectors. That might work. Does it stick out of the case?
This picture should give you the answer:
You can see the third SSD in between the main fan and front fan, with its heatsink on, sitting on top of the second SSD.
I specifically made this setup for the front fan to cool down the SSD.
Initially, I put it directly into the PCIe slot using this. It worked, but that PCIe slot is located inside the case in the worst possible place for air circulation. I also had to use a much thinner heatsink (like 2 mm) on the SSD because the space between the PCIe slot and the power supply is only about 7 mm. Because of all that, the SSD was getting awfully hot there.
That SSD holds the operating system, so it stays there, it’s not swappable.
For swappable SSDs, I suggest using external enclosures on the USB ports, although they don’t get the same speed as on the PCIe.
usb ports also don’t count as internal for OSes that are picky about that.