Clusters of commodity computer hardware are capable of delivering impressive and affordable compute power. While most clusters today are racks of units specifically designed for high density and power efficiency, original clusters were more modest. Seeking a private supercomputing facilities, groups assembled clusters using standard desktop computers. Apparently nostalgic of the origins of cluster computing or trying to further minimize costs, some build their own enclosures.

• Anders Sandvik's Linux cluster for computational physics
• Helmer - A cluster in an IKEA cabinet
• Another Helmer!
• Lunchbox and mini-clusters
• LittleFe
• Folding Farm

These systems can't be any less expensive than those using standard cases. They are also a little more restrictive and adding cards such as GPUs may not be possible. The main advantage is simply density. Compare the Helmer design which uses a 2.89 cu ft enclosure to six mini-towers requiring a sum 8.74 cu ft. However, using smaller cases, one may easily get near the volume of the Helmer case.

Regardless of the practicality of the DIY cluster enclosures, they have a certain appeal.