Supermicro SuperChassis 515-505 — 1U, 5-Bay Rack-Mount Chassis

Elevate your data center infrastructure with the Supermicro SuperChassis 515-505, a compact yet capable 1U rack-mount chassis engineered for demanding IT workloads. Designed to maximize space without compromising on performance, this chassis delivers flexible storage, solid cooling, and reliable power in a form factor that fits neatly into standard 19-inch racks. With five drive bays (one internal 3.5" bay and four external 2.5" bays), a pre-installed 500 W power supply, and robust cooling support, the 515-505 is an ideal foundation for virtualization, databases, file services, and edge deployments. The chassis is purpose-built to balance density and serviceability, ensuring easy maintenance and future scalability as your needs evolve. Whether you are building compact servers for remote offices or consolidating workloads in a data center, this 1U chassis provides the reliability and expandability you need to meet tomorrow’s demands.

• The 1U rack-mount design is engineered for dense data centers and compact server rooms, delivering a space-efficient foundation that keeps cabling organized and maintenance straightforward while maintaining full accessibility for upgrades and service.
• Flexible storage configuration with 5 drive bays in total: 1 internal 3.5" bay plus 4 external 2.5" bays. This layout supports a range of drives from high-capacity HDDs to speedy SSDs, enabling balanced performance and storage density for virtualization, databases, and high IOPS workloads.
• Optimized cooling and power delivery: it ships with 4 x 1.57" fans installed and supports up to 6 fans in total, helping to maintain stable temperatures in hot-dense environments. The 500 W power supply is installed, providing reliable power for standard server configurations and leaving headroom for expansion as you add more hardware.
• Expandable and reliable chassis: two PCIe expansion slots offer room for add-in cards such as network adapters or storage controllers, allowing your system to scale with evolving workloads while retaining a compact footprint and robust airflow around critical components.
• Durable, enterprise-grade build with a focus on serviceability: the sturdy chassis is designed to withstand continuous operation in demanding environments, delivering dependable performance, straightforward maintenance, and long-term value for growing IT infrastructures.

Technical Details of Supermicro SuperChassis 515-505

• Form factor: 1U rack-mount chassis
• Drive bays: 5 total (1 internal 3.5" bay + 4 external 2.5" bays)
• Fans installed: 4 x 1.57" fans
• Fan support: supports up to 6 fans total
• Power supply: 1 x 500 W power supply installed
• Expansion slots: 2 x PCIe slots
• Overall design: sturdy construction designed for reliability and easy maintenance in data center or office environments

How to Install Supermicro SuperChassis 515-505

• Prepare the rack and rails: ensure your rack is rated for 19-inch equipment and that you have an appropriate rail kit. Verify the enclosure space and weight, and gather the necessary tools to mount the chassis securely in the rack.
• Mount the chassis in the rack: align the chassis rails with the rack posts, slide the 515-505 into the rack, and secure it with the provided screws. Ensure the chassis is level and firmly fastened to prevent vibration or shifting during operation.
• Connect the power and verify the supply: attach the 500 W power supply cables to the appropriate power source and verify that the PSU is delivering clean, stable power. Power on the chassis to confirm basic POST behavior and fan operation.
• Configure storage and drives: install or connect the desired 2.5" drives to the external bays and configure any internal 3.5" drives as needed. Ensure drive backplanes and cables are properly seated to prevent data integrity issues and to allow for reliable boot and operation.
• Install expansion cards and finalize airflow: if you plan to add PCIe expansion cards through the two slots, install them following the manufacturer’s guidelines, ensuring no obstruction to airflow around the CPU and drive areas. Confirm that all fans are spinning and that airflow paths are clear to maximize cooling efficiency.
• Power-on check and basic validation: power up the system and enter the BIOS/UEFI or management interface to verify hardware recognition. Confirm drive detection, fan speeds, and temperature readings. Run a brief stress test or validation to ensure stability under load and that temperatures remain within safe limits.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the form factor of the SuperChassis 515-505? A: It is a 1U rack-mount chassis designed to fit standard 19-inch server racks, enabling dense deployments with straightforward cabling and maintenance.
• Q: How many drive bays does it have? A: The chassis supports 5 drive bays in total—1 internal 3.5" bay and 4 external 2.5" bays—allowing a flexible mix of HDDs and SSDs for storage-intensive workloads.
• Q: Does it come with a power supply? A: Yes, the 515-505 ships with a pre-installed 500 W power supply to provide reliable baseline power for typical server configurations.
• Q: How many fans are installed and how many can be supported? A: Four 1.57" fans are installed, with support for up to six fans total to maintain robust cooling in dense environments.
• Q: Can I upgrade or expand the chassis after deployment? A: Yes. The chassis includes PCIe expansion slots for adding network cards or storage controllers, and the drive bay arrangement supports future storage expansion as needs grow.
• Q: Is this chassis compatible with standard rack rails? A: Yes. The SuperChassis 515-505 is designed for standard 19-inch racks and pairs with common rail kits used in data centers and enterprise environments.