If Slim5 doesn't come with sides, front and back covers (and I don't know if it does) you would be foolish to not use one of those kits [Link: middleatlantic.com]
By the time you buy all four sides, you'll definetelly be more expensive than one of those kits.

I agree.

Look into the Sanus cooling systems. They have a power supply to run multiple fans and thermostats. create an airflow. The Sanus Racks or in this reference the mid-atlantic piece should have a fan cutout at the bottom of the rack. Pull air into rack and continue the flow upwards. Usb laptop fans can be installed on top of avr or other hi temp devices to create good airflow but keep it in the going up direction.

A good sealed front door can really help.

~[Link: ls1gto.com]

Never mind.

oh man that will make you forget about racks....or start thinking about racks

Id leave the back panel off that one and leave the front end open for ventilation as well.

You know, the pictures show a rack that is well ventilated right now. Why do you want to go and mess it up?

You could move the Fantech inlet to the middle of the ceiling, and leave the rack sides open. Vent the room, and not the rack. Cheaper, since it's there. Enclosing that rack is pricey. Can that Fantech vent the whole room, or is it too small?

Its certainly capable of venting the whole room. It's also built into a "dead-vent" type setup so its in-audible in the rest of the basement. Even the grilles were sized such that velocity wouldn't create too much audible noise.

I can't move the vent as all of the other joist spaces were full. What I can do however, is rebuild the platform a few inches shorter.