I chose Swedish company KKSB’s tall case for my Raspberry Pi 5-based homelab for two reasons. First, I wanted something large enough to hold the Pi itself and the Raspberry Pi M.2 Hat+ and SSD. Second, I wanted something the look like a server — albeit a small one. I’m glad I picked this one.

The aluminium case comes assembled, so you’ll need to pull it apart before you put it all back together. More annoying: the screws (all 14 of them) that hold it all together have been machine driven, so they require some effort to loosen for the first time.

Inside the case you’ll find two sets on spacers. Both are designed to not only screw the Pi down to the base of the case but also to support a hat above it. There’s a spare GPIO extender too, so you can with care place a second hat above the first: there’s still room in the case for this.

The case features a slot so you can run a ribbon cable off of the GPIO and out, which is useful as this is not a case you’ll be wanting to keep opening and closing — too many screws for that. It’s a shame it doesn’t come with such a ribbon cable.

A set of four self-adhesive rubber feet complete the package. I usually buy and fit these anyway, but it’s nice to have them packaged ready.

The side panels feature 13 removable strips so those of you using hats with connectors can open gaps for them. The gaps between the strips help with cooling otherwise.

Finally, it has a flap cut that provides the Pi 5’s power switch with an external face. It’s a nice touch and a good piece of design.

Pi and case all fit snuggly together, and it’s nice having something that’s properly metal. It has a nice feel to it and is both solid and robust — just what you need for an often unattended server.

I bought my KKSB case from The Pi-Hut which sells it for £17.