jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Most computers have space to install a CD/DVD drive. You can also install one these beauties. It lets you pop in a hard drive or SDD, and it also has ports for USB 3.0.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00834SJ8K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That's interesting!

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

That's a good idea. Never seen one of these before. Thanks Jerry.

balticvid Loc: Queens now NJ

Is this used as a backup?

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

I have used something very similar in the past, but have learned through experience to stay far away from Syba. I have bought a few different components from them and not one lasted more than a year tops. Just my opinion though, YMMV.


https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994178,
I am currently using one of these hot swap docks, for my 2 SSD RAID0 drives of 4 disks each, only thing I dislike about it is that the only front real estate is used as ventilation. I would prefer a surface I could paste a label on to identify individual drives, instead of removing a drive to identify individual drives.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994155
This is the style I am using for my RAID5 main data drives. It utilizes the 3.5 drive format. The cons of this device is that it is kinda flimsy, to the point that you must carefully slide the drives into place. I also wish I could have found them in SAS instead of just SATAIII, but since I bought these a few years back they may have updated their selections.

As far as accessories that can take up a spare 5.25 drive bay, I have seen a cup holder warmer/cooler with a built in automotive cigarette lighter. To me this seemed a bit gaudy and over the line, I normally try to keep my liquids away from my tower, not to mention the fact that it resides in a closet in a completely different room.

Matthew

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can us it as a backup or for anything else you can do with a HDD. I can leave it in there all the time, and switch it on and off as needed. I have several external drives with specific things backup up on them, so I can put them in and out as I want them.

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

If you plan to use this as a hot swap for your drives, whether SSD or HDD, make sure you turn off file cache so windows will not use it as a cache or pagefile. Otherwise you have to make sure you safely remove drive, if Windows happens to be writing to the drive and you unplug it, it tends to corrupt the directory, which breaks your partitions.

I must say it is nice to be able to swap drives without having to dig into the case and fumble with the wires.
Matthew

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like the looks of that second link.

As for the cup holder/warmer, yes I have seen them. Crazy idea, but, you never know. I've also seen empty drawers you can install. I'de never waste a slot for a drawer. I have two spaces available in the front of my computer, but I think I'll leave them empty.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Just a different wrinkle on the Thermaltake Docking stations that I have been using for years to close drives on both the Macs and PC systems. The external units have the big plus of being transportable.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right. I used them before I got the Sabrent enclosure, by I like having it installed inside the computer.

I had a couple of these with the fans, but they didn't do enough cooling to justify the price.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

whitewolfowner

Jerry:

You can do it with a Newertech Voyager unit as an external add on. The USB 3 model sells for $29.75 at macsales.com. I have had one of these for over five years now and it works great. Macsales also sells storage boxes to put those external drives in to store safely.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. I have some storage cases for drives - better than sticking them in a drawer.