Where to buy an Internal Drive Cage?

[News Group]

Hi,

I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX (Mid)Tower.

I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external drive
bays are otherwise occupied.

Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
plenty of room for a larger drive cage.

I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
having trouble finding any for sale.

I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
drive cages?

If not UK based, a US supplier who ships internationally would be fine.

Thanks

Colin

 

[Bob]

I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX (Mid)Tower.

I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external drive
bays are otherwise occupied.

Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
plenty of room for a larger drive cage.

I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
having trouble finding any for sale.

I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
drive cages?

If not UK based, a US supplier who ships internationally would be fine.

Dell Computer used to strap the boot drive to the inside front of the
case. You might be able to drill some holes to accomodate mounting.

Make sure the metal filings are caught.

--

Greatest Movie Line Ever
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/MovieLine.wmv

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within
limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add
'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's
will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
-- Thomas Jefferson

 

[VWWall]

Hi,

I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX (Mid)Tower.

I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external drive
bays are otherwise occupied.

Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
plenty of room for a larger drive cage.

I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
having trouble finding any for sale.

I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
drive cages?

You can easily "hang" a drive beneath the existing two drives. Use the
"L" shaped pieces that come from PCI card covers. Drill one hole in
each of four pieces near the bent end to hold the third drive, and two
holes above that to mate with the existing two drive mounting screws.
Place the four with the bent ends turned under the new drive and attach
them with four screws to the drive. Remove the screws from the drives
above and attach the bracket pieces under the screws. This will make a
sturdy "extension" to hold another drive.

 

[John]

You can easily "hang" a drive beneath the existing two drives. Use the
"L" shaped pieces that come from PCI card covers. Drill one hole in
each of four pieces near the bent end to hold the third drive, and two
holes above that to mate with the existing two drive mounting screws.
Place the four with the bent ends turned under the new drive and attach
them with four screws to the drive. Remove the screws from the drives
above and attach the bracket pieces under the screws. This will make a
sturdy "extension" to hold another drive.

Ive seen things like that sold at some PC stores.

Since different cases have different internal drive cage systems the
only way to make to universal is to have some small metal sheets
usually with holes in them.

The cage above usually has holes in them already so you can use some
screws in it to hang these small rectangular sheets of metal which
also has holes in them - screw them into the above drive cage so they
hang below on each side.

Then you just screw the drive into the hanging brackets.
You could probably use any metal sheets if they were the right size
and strength or even flat metal bars with holes in them.

 

[kony]

Hi,

I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX (Mid)Tower.

I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external drive
bays are otherwise occupied.

Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
plenty of room for a larger drive cage.

I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
having trouble finding any for sale.

I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
drive cages?

If not UK based, a US supplier who ships internationally would be fine.

With some Al sheeting, a brake and some elbow grease, DIY is
one option. Following is a refurb'd (~'97?) Gateway 2000
case that had a similar problem though they used an odd
hanging vertical rack at the time with relatively little
front intake area, so chassis airflow in general needed
addressed as well as the drives.
http://69.36.189.159/usr_1034/gw_case/prepped for use.jpg

Note the pictured case has a pair of 92mm pusher fans in
front of the rack- a good idea to keep drives cool as the
case likely is not set up to accomodate cooling drives in an
add-on rack, is yet another aspect you might have to DIY in
your case regardless of whether you made a rack or found one
ready-to-use. A single ~80mm fan can cool 3 modern SCSI
drives, but not very quietly and noise from fans up front
is generally more noticable to a nearby user.

If the case has a large (or pair) of rear exahaust fans you
may be able to get away with a passive air intake fight in
front of this add-on rack, but it may need be rather large,
a scattering of small holes is likely too much restriction
to be very effective.

 

[Bob]

Since different cases have different internal drive cage systems the
only way to make to universal is to have some small metal sheets
usually with holes in them.

Take the cage out of an old case - they are usually a separate piece
that is either screwed or riveted onto the main case body.


--

Greatest Movie Line Ever
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/MovieLine.wmv

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within
limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add
'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's
will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
-- Thomas Jefferson

 

[News Group]

Thanks for all the replies,

Colin

| Hi,
|
| I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX
(Mid)Tower.
|
| I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external
drive
| bays are otherwise occupied.
|
| Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
| plenty of room for a larger drive cage.
|
| I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
| having trouble finding any for sale.
|
| I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
| drive cages?
|
| If not UK based, a US supplier who ships internationally would be fine.
|
| Thanks
|
| Colin
|
|

 

[MrGrumpy]

http://www.pc-look.com/boutik/Prod_...inium-EX-23A-Silver__2425_en.html?language=en

http://tinyurl.co.uk/gftq

Be aware there are a number of 3*hd bays on the market, but the manu.mostly
say only two hd's should be used, to prevent heat problems.
I looked into this recently

 

[Mike Hollywood]

although not too slick, I've had luck with just securing them with duct
tape. I've also used nylon zip ties, alone and/or with packing tape or duct
tape, and have used small guage wire to re-inforce the tapeing in case the
tape lets go.
Most of the time a computer just sits there so you don't have to be too
worried about rigid attachement.

mike

 

[spodosaurus]

Hi,

I am refurbishing a PC for a friend - the case is a standard ATX (Mid)Tower.

I want to install three SCSI HD drives internally - the three external drive
bays are otherwise occupied.

Unfortunately the internal drive cage only holds two HD drives - there is
plenty of room for a larger drive cage.

I've never bought an internal drive cage before, and quite honestly am
having trouble finding any for sale.

I am in the UK - Does anyone know where I can buy generic 3/4 internal HD
drive cages?

If not UK based, a US supplier who ships internationally would be fine.

Thanks

Colin

How much is your time worth per hour tracking this thing down? I ask
because if you've spent several hours on it you could have gotten a nice
Antec case and transfered everything over to it for what you may have
already spent in time.

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Noozer]

I've had good luck drilling holes in each end of four popsicle sticks and
securing one end to the mounting holes of an existing drive and the other
end to the new drive. You might also consider plumbing strap as it's already
predrilled and you can make it the length needed for the number of drives.