Building a multi-disk enclosure

drfeeelgood · 29-October-05, 10:57 AM

I have about 4 or 5 additional hard drives, each with its own external case. As you can imagine, the wiring and cabling is a nightmare. I decided that the best thing to do is to buy a small mini-tower case and put all of the hard drives in it, therefore serving as just a hard drive storage enclosure. I want all the hard drives to use the same PSU and some how to all connect to a single USB (or firewire) port on the back of the case that would be used to connect to another computer, preferably in an empty (PCI) expansion slot. Since the case is for hard drives only, I will not need a motherboard. Since I wonÃ‚â€™t need a motherboard, I wonÃ‚â€™t be able to use any of the standard PCI card adapters. I was thinking of just using a regular 4-port USB hub to join all of the drives, but then how would I get all of them to connect to a single port (preferably on the rear of the case). Has anyone ever attempted something like this or seen something similar? Any advice or tips?

musclecars&computers · 29-October-05, 11:53 AM

Why not make a external case thng for ur HD out of plexi or sheet metal. It could hold ur HD's, have a fan or two on the front, and have a handle on top.

as far as all of them on one usb try:
1. this extension http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...RS-3FT&cat=CBL

2.This splitter http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...&cpc=SCH&srm=0

or get this and use zip ties for wire managment. http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...12-4-N&cat=CCD

Hope i helped.

29-October-05, 10:57 AM		#1 (permalink)
drfeeelgood Apex Techie Wannabe	Building a multi-disk enclosure I have about 4 or 5 additional hard drives, each with its own external case. As you can imagine, the wiring and cabling is a nightmare. I decided that the best thing to do is to buy a small mini-tower case and put all of the hard drives in it, therefore serving as just a hard drive storage enclosure. I want all the hard drives to use the same PSU and some how to all connect to a single USB (or firewire) port on the back of the case that would be used to connect to another computer, preferably in an empty (PCI) expansion slot. Since the case is for hard drives only, I will not need a motherboard. Since I wonÃ‚â€™t need a motherboard, I wonÃ‚â€™t be able to use any of the standard PCI card adapters. I was thinking of just using a regular 4-port USB hub to join all of the drives, but then how would I get all of them to connect to a single port (preferably on the rear of the case). Has anyone ever attempted something like this or seen something similar? Any advice or tips?

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29-October-05, 11:53 AM		#2 (permalink)
musclecars&computers Apex Tech Demi-God	Why not make a external case thng for ur HD out of plexi or sheet metal. It could hold ur HD's, have a fan or two on the front, and have a handle on top. as far as all of them on one usb try: 1. this extension http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...RS-3FT&cat=CBL 2.This splitter http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...&cpc=SCH&srm=0 or get this and use zip ties for wire managment. http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...12-4-N&cat=CCD Hope i helped.