- The cost savings between the slightly smaller case can't be all that significant - I bet that any standard configuration, ordered in bulk is <$50.
- A high quality (gold rated) PSU will generate little additional heat inside the case and is obviously easy enough to design for servers with far larger power requirements.
- Customs is either going to want to open the case and look inside or they aren't. I can't imagine the size of the case nor the amount of free space inside will convince them one way or another.
I don't buy those reasons as justification - I still see this as a less efficient way to run 100+ of these units in a large operation. For the small miner (myself included) it's no issue - it's the serious mining operations that won't be as thrilled.
Good, lets hope it impedes large 100+ operations, we don't need that kind of net hash concentration.
The case is already 400mm wide, a 19"rack is 450mm, where are you going to put an ATX PSU and all it's cables?
Putting a PSU inside the case has enormous effect on airflow, hence cooling. The way they have done it is clean, no cables in the air path, no PSU trying to divert the airstream with it's own fan. The case would have to be massive, and expensive, do we need another BFL Minirig?
Customs problems with Avalon units and internal PSU have had numerous reports, even mentioned on their site.