[CentOS] OT: Need some riser card advice...

Fellow server-builders out there, this is for you. :)  I was trying to
build a cheap JBOD type storage solution running CentOS.  Ended up
snagging a Supermicro SC826TQ-R800LPB 2U case (12 drives slots) and a
Supermicro X7DBE-O motherboard.  Unfortunately, without thinking I
snagged a 3ware 9650SE-12ML SATA RAID card which is a full height card
and thus does not fit in my case.

I have a few options here:

  - Go with a 3U case instead.  Now I have a 16-drive case with only a
    12-way card. :-)
  - Return the 3Ware and order two of the 8-way cards which are
    half-height.  This means I love some of my space now however as I
    have to have an extra spare drive per card.
  - Get a PCI-E riser.

The riser option I like, except I also have the BBU unit for my RAID
card meaning I need to ensure that I have enough clearance and support
for it when the card is mounted horizontally.  You can mount the
battery elsewhere, but not the logic module...

Most of the PCI-E 8x risers I've seen out there seem to be pretty small
profile and I'm not sure if they'd give the clearance needed (see the
Supermicro provided CSE-RR1U-E8).  It looks like I need around 35mm of
clearance to get the card in sideways with the BBU attached...

Another solid option would looke to be a 2U riser, but I am having a
harder time finding somethign reasonably priced.  The RSC-R2UE-A3E8
from Supermicro looks perfect and would definitely give me the
clearance I need, but is priced 10x higher than the 1U riser!

Any advice?

Apologies for the off-topic post.. this *will* be running CentOS
however and there doesn't seem to be a more appropriate mailing list
for general stuff like this.. :-)

TIA,
Ray