How many 5.25 drive Bays does one really need?

[Trevor Schell]

Hi!,

The average computer case has about three 5.25" drive bays incorporated into the case.
Some have 4.

How many are really necessary?
DVD Rom and CD burners are a given.
What else could be possibly needed to use up more bay spaces?.

Thanks,




Trevor
My HomeTheater S.E.
Sonically Enhanced
C5

[SiliGoose]

Always take the claimed number of drive bays with a grain of salt. My Antec SX830 case (http://www.antec-inc.com/product/cases/wkstion.htm) is supposed to have 8 drive bays. I count 6 actual bays. I guess I could velcro a drive or two to the side but I don't think that's recommended.

In a perfect world I'd like to have room for two optical drives, floppy, and 4 Hard drives (just in case).




-Sili

[Bing Fung]

Well Trev, knowing you have a reputation to uphold, I would say at a minimum 4.

1-CDR-W
2-DVD-ROM
3-DVD-R+W
4-SB Live Drive break out box
5-Temperature control panel
6-Graphical EQ Amplifier
7-ETC.....




Bing

[Andrew Pratt]

trev I think I'm too late since you've already orderd you case but IMO I'd get at least 4. I thought 3 would be plenty for me and in many ways it is. the problem is though that with the design of most modern motherboards the CPU is located up at the top right hand side...right beside the power supply. Now in my case that means that my CPU fan is only a few inches away from the side of the power supply walls plus the AGP card sits just below that so there really isn't a lot of air movement around the CPU which of course isn't good. Going with the extra slot or two moves the power supply up and above the CPU so there's more breathing room in there. My next tower will most definately be at least a 4 bay case.

[Trevor Schell]

Thanks,,
Sounds like I made the right choice as the Altec SX1040b has 4 bays behind the trap door.




Trevor
My HomeTheater S.E.
Sonically Enhanced
C5