So why I use a 1U system? Well, no reason. I just thought a rack form factor is good. After all, guys like racks .
I built my workstation into a 4U rack case so it could sit in the 52U four post rack with the rest of my equipment (networking lab, old HP PA-RISC, DEC Alpha, SGI machines for fun). But that lives downstairs in the utility room.
The monitors are brought up on displayport, USB repeaters bring up keyboard/mouse, and audio comes up on optical S/PDIF, all through a 2" conduit to the 2nd floor office. So the workstation can be as loud as it wants but it is completely quiet up here.