Desperately Seeking Elegant Storage Solution

slacy wrote on 11/17/2003, 6:28 PM

Here's my dream: to have an external hard drive solution (either USB or 1394) that is either 1) stackable, or 2) fits neatly into a multi-slot external housing.

Is there such a thing on the market? I realize there are high-dollar external drives from Medea and such, but that's not what I'm looking for. I'm really just looking for an elegant way to stack/house several of the cheap external drives that can be found at Best Buy.

Any ideas?

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BillyBoy wrote on 11/19/2003, 12:41 AM

Me too! I hate those whimpy half size mini-towers.

slacy wrote on 11/19/2003, 9:18 AM

Thanks, Kentwolf. Sounds like a nice setup.

wcoxe1 wrote on 11/19/2003, 9:23 AM

Unfortunately, GOOD full size towers are getting harder and harder to find. Everytime I ask for one they tell me, "No one wants those things anymore."

I tell them, "No, they don't. I don't." Doesn't seem to make any impression on them. Sort of like trying to find shoes for my daughter. The comment from one manufacturer was, "Our shoes are wide, already, and fit over 95% of all children." But, not my child.

BillyBoy wrote on 11/19/2003, 9:35 AM

Depends where you look. For example my local ComUSA store has a whole row of empty cases, many full tower, as does MicroCenter and the web is full of places to order ready made or custom ones from. A popular brand is Antec. The model I have has four slots in the front of the case plus a mini one for a floppy drive.

So, I can have 4 devices CD/DVD, removable drawers, plus a floppy plus there are two additional slide-in out (internal only) drive cages each that can hold two more devices all in a case that's just 19 inches deep, twenty tall and eight inches wide, so not a "monster" by any means.

Frenchy wrote on 11/19/2003, 11:28 AM

I've been looking for something similar, as well, and am considering a dual or quad external enclosure with removable drive bays. The quad setup is pricey, but includes the trays:

http://www.cooldrives.com/qubayredk1st.html
The dual setup is reasonably priced, but one needs to purchase the mobile racks separately:

http://www.cooldrives.com/dual525inand.html

Something to consider. Anybody have any experience with this type of setup?

Frenchy

BillyBoy wrote on 11/19/2003, 1:34 PM

See this link for a peek inside of the type of case I was referring to

http://www.antec-inc.com/images/400/P160_inside.jpg

Your permenant drives would go in the drive cages at the lower right. Removable drives side in and out of the 4 slots that open in the front of the case shown top right in the photo where you see the round holes. You don't need an external case, that gets you just more firewire headaces.

A larger case (depending on how large) can hold anywhere from ten to 18 devices. Do the math. If you have a typical motherboard it has a primary and secondary IDE controller. A master and slave fits on each.

Since you'll need a CD/DVD drive that gives you room for 3 drives at the top. Add another very inexpensive IDE controller ($20-35) and you can double that. You now have another set of of two masters and slaves on that IDE controller. So that accounts for 8 devices. A CD/DVD drive and 7 hard drives.

Assuming you want to max out, the biggest standard consumer grade IDE drive you can get is the Maxtor 300 GB. Say you put 7 of them in. That would give you over two terabytes (2,000,000,000,000,000 of storage all in a case that's under $100. If you shop around these huge 300 GB drives have a street price of about $285.

I haven't gone that far yet.

I have two drives that are traditional drives in the drive cages. I also put two removable drawers in.two of the slots at top. I have a bunch of drives that I switch in and out of these drawers as needed. A very simple, very inexpensive means of having HUGE storage all on line at once if needed all without firewire or USB or any external anything.