A Hard Drive Riddle...

[cyphon21]

I have a PC. It has USB ports. It has SAS/SATA connectors, but ONLY accepts 2.5" drives. All of your drives are 3.5". If I were a solution to this problem, what am I?

 

As you can tell, I have an issue with a PC I am looking to utilize. Ask questions if that helps provide your answer...

 

Thanks!

[Arty]

Getto it up

or buy external usb bays 

or buy external sata bay, per drive 

or some kind of bay you can put inside

 

 

Best Option

 buy a 75-100gb SSD

and put HDDs outside of case and connect to pc via usb 3 or sata - something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182316

Follow Your Post

mark as solved (not necessarily mine but one of the posts, tbh this solution i would hope was actually pretty simple)

[GuruMeditationError]

^ lol

 

Is this actually seriously a riddle?

 

...or can you provide the full spec.?

 

i.e. what case is it and which motherboard?

[Oberon.Smite]

You are an eSATA cable.

 

Hey man, you never said it wasn't external.

[SIGSEGV]

Grab the connector for a Seagate goflex and hook it up with that

[Lolzious]

a 5.25" bay to 3.5" drive adapter.

[GuruMeditationError]

MacGyver

[cyphon21]

Ok Ok, I should say this isn't a conventional PC. It's a server. Specifically an IBM x3650 M2 I was very generously given by a close friend. I've since gotten it all up and running with a 70GB SAS drive, but all the remainder of the bays are 2.5" and I wanted to make it my media storage soloution for a Plex server.

 

Well, my idea has come to a halt as I feel USB 2.0 would be a waste of potential compared to the SATA speed I could get from the board. I did a CrystalDisk test on the external when plugged in via USB and I got ~32mb/s... is this enough or good for my purpose?

[Arty]

Ok Ok, I should say this isn't a conventional PC. It's a server. Specifically an IBM x3650 M2 I was very generously given by a close friend. I've since gotten it all up and running with a 70GB SAS drive, but all the remainder of the bays are 2.5" and I wanted to make it my media storage soloution for a Plex server.

 

Well, my idea has come to a halt as I feel USB 2.0 would be a waste of potential compared to the SATA speed I could get from the board. I did a CrystalDisk test on the external when plugged in via USB and I got ~32mb/s... is this enough or good for my purpose?

use usb 3

get a pcie adapter

[GuruMeditationError]

Ok Ok, I should say this isn't a conventional PC. It's a server. Specifically an IBM x3650 M2 I was very generously given by a close friend. I've since gotten it all up and running with a 70GB SAS drive, but all the remainder of the bays are 2.5" and I wanted to make it my media storage soloution for a Plex server.

 

Well, my idea has come to a halt as I feel USB 2.0 would be a waste of potential compared to the SATA speed I could get from the board. I did a CrystalDisk test on the external when plugged in via USB and I got ~32mb/s... is this enough or good for my purpose?

 

Wow...err...

 

To be honest, to answer that, I'd need to research it all from scratch; that's not information I have at hand. I had a feeling it was a socket/plug problem and not a form factor issue but I couldn't even begin to predict what the question might be (unless the solution had the term "adapter" somewhere in the answer). :0/

[cyphon21]

use usb 3

get a pcie adapter

 

I like this idea.

 

Would this work as well? Trying not to spend $$ not needed to be spent of course too:

 

http://www.amazon.ca/Mediasonic-Enclosure-HF2-SU2S2-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002UUPWP6

 

[Arty]

I like this idea.

 

Would this work as well? Trying not to spend $$ not needed to be spent of course too:

 

http://www.amazon.ca/Mediasonic-Enclosure-HF2-SU2S2-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002UUPWP6

 

yes, but use the esata not the usb 2.0 or find one with usb 3, the one i posted was cheaper

[NumLock21]

WD Velociraptor drives are SATA runs at 10K and are 2.5" drives. The ones that are 3.5" just has a "ice pack" attached to it.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=20#Tab3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1%208000&IsNodeId=1&Description=wd%20velociraptor&page=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=30

[GuruMeditationError]

@cyphon21

 

So it is a form-factor problem? You have to use the drive bays for them to interface properly?

 

Can you spin the drives sideways and just use sata cables?

 

Edit: but then I guess you'd need to run power to them. :0/

[Arty]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182316

[GuruMeditationError]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182316

 

^ That

 

...or find some way of filing down the dividers so that you can slide in a larger drive.

 

Failing that, transfer your stuff onto smaller drives? (I know that's what you didn't want to do but...)

 

Not sure how thick the steel is or what the construction's like but I've bent steel drive bay lips back with the handle end of a screw-driver, but you're talking about serious forces that can do you  really serious damage if your hand slips? It's not something I'd really recommend.

 

You could Dremel it but that would be a huge pain in the butt, especially if it's thick steel.

 

I'd go with Arty's suggestion or just transfer your stuff onto smaller drives.

 

@cyphon21 Maybe something like this? and spin the drives sideways. Lash them to the case with cable-ties...https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sata+extension+cable&rlz=1C1CHWA_enGB627GB627&espv=2&biw=1858&bih=951&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Ahb-VIKcB8mf7gbCzYGgBg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw

[cyphon21]

yes, but use the esata not the usb 2.0 or find one with usb 3, the one i posted was cheaper

 

Sorry, at work, can't see the link at the moment apparently. I will check when I get home, thanks!

 

WD Velociraptor drives are SATA runs at 10K and are 2.5" drives. The ones that are 3.5" just has a "ice pack" attached to it.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=20#Tab3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1%208000&IsNodeId=1&Description=wd%20velociraptor&page=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=30

 

I would like to utilize the 3.5" drives I have now. If I can't find a cheap solution for housing or installing them then this is my next choice, just buying 2.5" drives in 2TB format.

 

@cyphon21

 

So it is a form-factor problem? You have to use the drive bays for them to interface properly?

 

Can you spin the drives sideways and just use sata cables?

 

Edit: but then I guess you'd need to run power to them. :0/

 

So, I can have the SAS/SATA connector connected vertical, or if I get "ghetto" I can turn it sideways to do it that way, BUT I've already shorted the system before doing that as it needs the mount to turn it and it doesn't like being turned any way other then stock.

[GuruMeditationError]

Sorry, at work, can't see the link at the moment apparently. I will check when I get home, thanks!

 

 

I would like to utilize the 3.5" drives I have now. If I can't find a cheap solution for housing or installing them then this is my next choice, just buying 2.5" drives in 2TB format.

 

 

So, I can have the SAS/SATA connector connected vertical, or if I get "ghetto" I can turn it sideways to do it that way, BUT I've already shorted the system before doing that as it needs the mount to turn it and it doesn't like being turned any way other then stock.

 

From the sound of it, the easiest thing to do would be to transfer your files to compatible drives. I know you didn't want to do that but that's the easiest way I can see.

 

I personally don't know of any specific tricks or work-arounds. I don't really have any experience of servers, I've only ever worked with P.C.s.

 

I tend to chop my cases to bits as and when necessary, but If that thing were mine, I'd transfer my files to compatible drives and leave it all intact (especially since it sounds like it has switches as part of the structure of the case?)

[cyphon21]

Ill upload pics tonight of the setup. Show you guys the reality I am seeing here haha.

 

Also, no USB 3.0 on the server. So to USB 3.0 is essentially just doing what I kind of am doing now anyways, testing it in an enclosure to USB 2.0.

 

So my only options I see at this point is:

- Ghetto connect my SATA 3.5" drives horizontally in the tray slots (you will see when I post pics)

- USB enclosure like Im doing now, which is weak sauce of course.

- SATA to eSATA cable connector to god knows what. I actually made some shorty SATA power cables from an old one sitting from my modular PSU.

- USB to SATA enclosure, NAS device. I don't know how much more powerful a NAS would be, and this would actually defeat the purpose of even having the server all together.

[Arty]

Ill upload pics tonight of the setup. Show you guys the reality I am seeing here haha.

 

Also, no USB 3.0 on the server. So to USB 3.0 is essentially just doing what I kind of am doing now anyways, testing it in an enclosure to USB 2.0.

 

So my only options I see at this point is:

- Ghetto connect my SATA 3.5" drives horizontally in the tray slots (you will see when I post pics)

- USB enclosure like Im doing now, which is weak sauce of course.

- SATA to eSATA cable connector to god knows what. I actually made some shorty SATA power cables from an old one sitting from my modular PSU.

- USB to SATA enclosure, NAS device. I don't know how much more powerful a NAS would be, and this would actually defeat the purpose of even having the server all together.

could buy a usb 3 pcie

[cyphon21]

From the sound of it, the easiest thing to do would be to transfer your files to compatible drives. I know you didn't want to do that but that's the easiest way I can see.

 

I personally don't know of any specific tricks or work-arounds. I don't really have any experience of servers, I've only ever worked with P.C.s.

 

I tend to chop my cases to bits as and when necessary, but If that thing were mine, I'd transfer my files to compatible drives and leave it all intact (especially since it sounds like it has switches as part of the structure of the case?)

 

I like this idea as well. Just may end up costing me more in the end. 2.5" drives aren;t exactly cheap, and they aren't large for storage. They come in a pretty much max of 2TB. Which, if I fill all 12 bays then yes, thats 24TB I can use. But to get 12 x 2.5" SATA drives, Im looking at a nice rough total of $80 each, so ~$960.

 

But, to get where I am now (I have 3TB for Movies and 3TB for Shows), I would need 6, so 3 of them or 6 if I need RAID. (Im a NOOB with RAID, so not sure if it's useful or not in a media server application) So 6 x $80 so I'm still at ~$500ish.

[cyphon21]

could buy a usb 3 pcie

 

Oh yes, forgot that one! Sorry Arty... I will have to research where my PCI-E slot is on this thing as well lol.

[GuruMeditationError]

I like this idea as well. Just may end up costing me more in the end. 2.5" drives aren;t exactly cheap, and they aren't large for storage. They come in a pretty much max of 2TB. Which, if I fill all 12 bays then yes, thats 24TB I can use. But to get 12 x 2.5" SATA drives, Im looking at a nice rough total of $80 each, so ~$960.

 

But, to get where I am now (I have 3TB for Movies and 3TB for Shows), I would need 6, so 3 of them or 6 if I need RAID. (Im a NOOB with RAID, so not sure if it's useful or not in a media server application) So 6 x $80 so I'm still at ~$500ish.

 

JBOD RAID would probably be the best bet, but avoid it if you can (also, it might not have that function in the BIOS (I'm assuming servers have BIOS's?)) Edit: Hang on, server, not having RAID, that would make no sense  :blink:

 

I see what you mean re. not wanting to use smaller drives. If you can, use an extension and figure a way around the tray-switch (?) problem.

 

That having been said, if the amount of data you're going to need to transfer at any given time doesn't exceed the slower USB speed then it might not be an issue?

 

Is it going to be dumping complete files or sets of files onto other machines or just streaming one thing at a time to a display? You might not need that much bandwidth/throughput. 

[cyphon21]

JBOD RAID would probably be the best bet, but avoid it if you can (also, it might not have that function in the BIOS (I'm assuming servers have BIOS's?))

 

I see what you mean re. not wanting to use smaller drives. If you can, use an extension and figure a way around the tray-switch (?) problem.

 

That having been said, if the amount of data you're going to need to transfer at any given time doesn't exceed the slower USB speed then it might not be an issue?

 

Is it going to be dumping complete files or sets of files onto other machines or just streaming one thing at a time to a display? You might not need that much bandwidth/throughput. 

 

So essentially the files are downloaded, and sent to storage. No biggie there. Then they are being streamed to a few remote places, so it won't matter the actually transfer speed of the drive at this point. I just don't want ANY latency if I can actually obtain better from USB to SATA. I would rather the latter, so I can make sure I have a solid connection and not an external that can drop on me for any reason.

[GuruMeditationError]

So essentially the files are downloaded, and sent to storage. No biggie there. Then they are being streamed to a few remote places, so it won't matter the actually transfer speed of the drive at this point. I just don't want ANY latency if I can actually obtain better from USB to SATA. I would rather the latter, so I can make sure I have a solid connection and not an external that can drop on me for any reason.

 

I can understand that. I guess it just comes down to which is more troublesome. The problem or the solution.

 

Not too sure what you mean about how the drive bay works, but if you can get the disc to read and the system to stay stable, without actually seating a drive then I'd probably go the sata extension route (if they make one of that size and shape, which is a question in and of itself).

 

If you could modify one of the draws to make the hardware think there's a drive in place but in a way that it doesn't obstruct access to the sata ports that might be the easiest way. Then all you need to do is find somewhere to stow the drive.

 

Failing that, PCI-E USB extension? Not sure exactly how that works but it might do the trick.

 

I have a stand-alone hard drive dock media-player that I wouldn't really want to rely on. I guess it's an easy answer but maybe not the best solution.