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How Do You Use Your Spare Drive Bays?

Posted by Cliff on from the getting-the-most-from-that-extra-space dept.

red_flea asks: "I've got a couple of CDROM bays that I'm not using. Besides another CD or DVD ROM drive, what else can you put there? I know some people who use that space to cool their Cheetah or Raptor drives. Anything else? Please reply with gratuitous linking to products, articles or modder blogs."

33 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Sandwich Warmer by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny


    Keeps my grilled cheese nice and tosty warm.

    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    1. Re:Sandwich Warmer by brohan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In the cold cannadian winter I use it to keep my fingertips from freezing.

      But on a more serious note; Using the drive bay for fan control is silly, there is software like SpeedFan that can do it for you. And at least for me hard drive cooling isn't an issue at all. Mine are always under 30C. Also, having a fan near the HDD bay would ruin the airflow that most PC's have.

  2. I always wanted.. by \\ · · Score: 4, Informative

    I always wanted a fu-fme, but sadly they aren't OS X compatible. :(

    On a more serious note, I'm considering one of these to help convert the mounds and mounds of greek cassette tapes my parents have from the 60's. If only something like that existed for 8-tracks..

  3. E-Z Bake by ivan256 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If it can't be empty, you should definatly go with the "oven drive".

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/ezbake.shtml

  4. wires by myukew · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I stuff all the wires which I don't need there. I hope that improves the air circulation...

    --
    See pictures of tits
  5. Place holder by zenray · · Score: 4, Funny

    I activatly use my spare drive spaces as place holders for future expansion points.

    --
    zenray
  6. suspension by alexo · · Score: 5, Interesting


    Well, you could suspend your 3.5" drives in a 5.25" cage to get rid of vibration (reducing noise).

    I was thinking of suspending a smallish 3.5" cage inside the 5.25" one.

    Anyone knows where one can get old, possibly broken, computers for free in the Toronto area for such experiments?

  7. Sound Blaster Platinum by lexarius · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How about one of these?

  8. Ideas by RealityMogul · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mini Fridge (if you have a very nice cooling system), otherwise you could use it to make beef jerky.
    Smoker? - Hummidor
    CD Storage - duh

    How about a drive bay book - about drive bays!

    1. Re:Ideas by gi-tux · · Score: 3, Funny
      How about a drive bay book - about drive bays!
      And when you open it up, it becomes a drive bay?
      --
      I have no sig, does anyone have one to spare?
  9. This is impossible. by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 4, Funny

    This can't be. You cannot be a geek AND have a spare drive bay in your system.

    1. Re:This is impossible. by bluelip · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Agreed.

      AND you can't be calling them "Spare cd-rom drive bays". That kinda' limits them to being filled by cd drives doesn't it. :)

      More seriously, _CRIKIES_ man. You can't ask someone "Hey dude... I wann'a ba a gekk. What can I stick in the empty slot so I can be ubercool". Also, If it involves any prepackaged item from Fries/CompUSA, you lose.

      What do _you_ want in there? What are _you_ inerested in?

      Dang man, be yourself.

      --

      Yep, I never spell check.
      More incorrect spellings can be found he
  10. Is there a laptop harddrive RAID array? by CaptainPinko · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I always thought it'd be awesome if I could get a raid-array for laptop harddrives. I figure if you inserted them vertically they'd only take two bays and you could probably fit 5 of them... not that I've ever seen that.

    But it would be realy nice, and what looks more 1337 than having redundant harddrives? With many nice large tower server cases with 5 or more drive bays open I think this could sell for the homeserver/self-hoste website crowd.

    Anyone know if this actually exists somewhere?

    --
    Your CPU is not doing anything else, at least do something.
    1. Re:Is there a laptop harddrive RAID array? by Mike+Quin · · Score: 4, Informative

      What, like One of these?

    2. Re:Is there a laptop harddrive RAID array? by CaptainPinko · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Exactly, but mounted vertically. Might take three bays actually, but then you could fit a few more than two drives... and perferabbly not so candy coloured. Yeech. Oh, and the linked one only supports RAID 1. Something like this but I can't find more specs on it... http://www.jmr.com/solutions/collateral/serial_ata /SATAStor.pdf .

      --
      Your CPU is not doing anything else, at least do something.
    3. Re:Is there a laptop harddrive RAID array? by soramimicake · · Score: 2, Informative
      When I saw your post I almost thought you worked for Supermicro, because they have something that sounds exactly like what you said. I'm not sure if it requires SAS on the host side, though.

      If that is not enough for you, they even have a version that supports dual hosts.

    4. Re:Is there a laptop harddrive RAID array? by Myself · · Score: 2, Informative

      I seem to remember a vertical one years back, but I can't find reference to it anywhere.

      I did find a five-into-one unit though, check it out.

  11. XT Harddisk. by Vo0k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Storage: 5 megabytes
    Weight: 4 pounds,
    Spin-up sound: Impressive,
    Geekness factor: High,
    Power Usage: Excessive,
    Shutdown method: c:\dos\park.com,
    Interface: ISA card,
    Linux support: Yes,
    Windows support: No,
    Badsectors: Probably,
    Transfer rates: Who cares?

    --
    Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
  12. An opening by dtfinch · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From time to time, I'll assemble a new old pc out of old parts and end up having a couple large openings left on the front of the system because I can't find the plastic covers for them. I'll just pretend it's good for airflow.

  13. Yes, this is sick by RealityMogul · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ya know, its been a long running joke that geeks would marry their computers if they could.

    With that in mind, I propose making a drive bay mounting system for a fleshlight.

    Hey, at least it would be nice and warm all the time.

    1. Re:Yes, this is sick by RealityMogul · · Score: 3, Funny

      What are you implying, that's only a half-height drive!

  14. Four drive bays required. by infernalC · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you have four drive bays available, may I hubly suggest kitticulture? It's a wonderful hobby, and the space is just the right size for your project. The warmth of the CPU and the devices in the 3.5 inch bays will help your subject mature comfortably, and your PC will purr as never before! Mounting railas will help you to remove the project easily at maturity, and your pet can supply fluid to a liquid-cooling system for your CPU. Also, if you have available power leads from your PSU, you can help to stimulate muscle growth in your project while keeping the subject confined indefinitely.

  15. Re:Mac Mini by CaptainPinko · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It was a joke... I meant you could install a mac mini in an empty drive bay.

    --
    Your CPU is not doing anything else, at least do something.
  16. Too basic... by vasqzr · · Score: 2, Informative


    I keep music CD's there.

  17. 5 1/2" floppy by mister_jpeg · · Score: 5, Interesting
    bonus points if it's hooked up.


    I love that these have a mechanical lever and they make mechanical farts when booting. Retro cool and functional.

    --
    -jpeg
    1. Re:5 1/2" floppy by justforaday · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The point is that there was never such a thing as a 5-1/2" disk. There were 5-1/4" disks and drives, though. And you guys call yourselves geeks?!?

      --
      I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    2. Re:5 1/2" floppy by 91degrees · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A disk format with a maximum of 1.2MB storage is hardly all that useful in this day and age... Perhaps it would be possible to attach the cover to a DVD drive though (the type where you slide the disc into a slot), to get that retro look with modern functionality.

  18. Obligatory Reference by ReverendLoki · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen anyone mention the ubiquitous cup holder yet.

    Personally, i've always liked the idea of putting an LCD screen that can pop out the front of your drive bay...

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    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
  19. Slap another computer in there. by gklinger · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Ever heard of the BriQ? (Picture) It's an entire PowerPC computer in a 5.25" drive form factor. Very cool. I'm not entirely sure if it is still available though as the link I have bookmarked isn't coming up. Either way, I figured it warranted mentioning.

  20. if you need a light... by ross_winn · · Score: 2, Informative

    you could do this.

    --
    Ross Winn "not just another ugly face..."
  21. Hiding presents. by Trixter · · Score: 3, Funny

    Seriously. I hide holiday and birthday presents in unused case space. My wife/kids would never even *think* of looking *inside my machines* for *any reason* as they aren't computer-savvy.

    Yes, I make sure nothing I put in there can melt/burn/dissolve/explode ;)

  22. Nothing fancy in mine by Piquan · · Score: 2, Interesting
    While the cupholder+cig lighter, cassette deck, EZ-bake oven, etc are all cool, I go with some more practical stuff. First, I have a set of fans in one of my bays. The other bay holds dials to change the speed of my other fans.

    I'm serious about my cooling, but like to turn down the auxiliary fans when I'm watching a movie.

  23. Re:On a related note... by OnoTadaki · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Coolermaster Stacker has 11 bays http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&L anguage_s=2&url_place=product_list&p_class=614 I want to get one and put eleven http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/ezbake.shtml If my calculations are correct I could output enough baked goods to open a small bakery.