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Ok all. So I’m a gamer and haven’t built my own system since the 90s. I’ve always had a backup USB HDD in case I run into issues and have to format. I’m looking to have a bay for a HDD that I can remove and put in a different one, kind of like unplugging a external HDD and plugging in a new one.

Currently two of my bays are for optical drives (although one isn’t showing in my list below). I don't know if what I’m looking for even exists or if it has to do with some server tech but I am looking for something that’s compatible with my system.

Run5k
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Wizardhood2003
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2 Answers2

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Sounds like what you are after is a hot-swap bay.

They make different flavors depending on if you want to use 3.5 inch drives or 2.5 inch drives. Here is one for two 2.5 inch drives that will fit in the 5.25 inch standard optical drive bay. https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-2-5-Inch-Trayless-Backplane-HSB220SAT25B

If you want one for 3.5 inch drives, they are available too.

Eddie Dunn
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As noted by in another answer to this question, what you are (likely) looking for is called a "hot swap(pable) hard drive bay".

Hot swapping is intended to allow replacement of failed hard drivers without powering off a device. As a consequence, hot swapping a hard drives often mean being able to remove it from the front of the machine. There are inserts that allow for this via standard-sized drive bays (i.e. the hard drive sits in a tray/cage inside this bay).

Anaksunaman
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