Case Modding

[Kitsune]

I have a Mid Tower case but I have one minor problem with it.
The case only has three 3.5 bays with one taken up by the floppy drive.

One of my thoughts in the future is to get a SATA controller card to expand up to 6 SATA devices.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a way that a case can be modded so that I can mount additional 3.5 drives. There is theoretical space for such a mod.

[General Zod]

Do you really need the floppy drive? For the headaches involved in modding you could get rid of that and buy a cheap external floppy drive as a replacement if you really need to use 3.5" disks for some bizarre reason.

[Kitsune]

I sometimes use the floppy although not often these days.
I also have been looking at a case without a power supply for about $40.00
Just seems a shame to simply not use a perfectly good case though.

My other case actually was built with more thought (even though it is a fairly old ATX case - I think) and has space for several additional 3.5 devices. I think there is space for five additional devices.

Kind of wondering if I can find a junked case with a longer rail, if I could just steal the rails and mount it in my case. Don't know if they are a one size fits all type thing?

[Sea Skimmer]

What are you trying to add? If its only one more drive, I'd say just get an external floppy drive and save yourself the hassle.

You’ll be in for a minor headache doing modifications since even simply drilling holes to mount the brackets for more devices will create metal shards, so it’s advisable to pull everything out of the case before you do this. If you need external access for the new devices, dremels with a carbon cutting blade cut through casings very easily and can smooth off rough edges, but once more, lots of shards. I know someone who cut through his case to add fans without taking everything out, by taping a bag around the inside of the area to be cut, but that was quite annoying in its own right, especially removing the bag without spilling all those shards.

You can certainly cannibalize rails from another case, but if on you to make sure you install them with proper alignment if the rails aren’t a single piece.

[Kitsune]

For extra hard drives

I still have a free 5.25 bay which I could convert to a 3.5 bay.
Might actually be the easiest although might still see about cannibalizing some rails from another case. Just do a careful examination before I actually do anything
One item I do like about that case is that it has cooling duct right above the processor which makes it pull cool air directly from outside the case.

[Uraniun235]

Seriously, put the hard drive in the 5.25 bay. If you find yourself hurting for more space down the line then there is nothing wrong with upgrading to a bigger case; if your current case can't hold everything you want it to, then it's inadequate to your needs/desires.

It's not like you have to throw it away or 'waste' it, just sell it or give it to a friend or family member or something. Hurray, re-use!

[erik_t]

I am wondering if anyone has seen a way that a case can be modded so that I can mount additional 3.5 drives. There is theoretical space for such a mod.

Seeing as you're not exactly throwing around enterprise-level money or expecting quality to match... they're called zip-ties. It's not like you're going to be moving the damned thing while it's running.

[Braedley]

Here's your case mod:
Remove all components from your case
Purchase new full tower case with several HDD bays
Place components in new case

You can easily reuse your current case for a linux server or hell, even an aquarium (once it's lined with polycarbonate or acrylic), and the new case will last you through your next computer.

Other than that, I'd be looking for inexpensive eSATA enclosures. Or if you're really cheap, find some old harddrive racks, mount them to some plywood, then run cables out through the back, although I really don't recommend this route.

[Kitsune]

Here's your case mod:
Remove all components from your case
Purchase new full tower case with several HDD bays
Place components in new case

I already considered that one.
In fact, I have seen a case I am tempted to buy - Actually it is a mid tower but has a lot of drive bays.

What I was curious about was if someone made a rack which could be used internally to add additional bays.

Consider it exploring options if nothing else