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The StarTech.com 3.5" to 5.25" Front Bay Mounting Bracket allows for the installation of 3.5" devices in a 5.25" front bay, making it ideal for technicians and IT professionals. It includes a mounting screw kit and is compatible with various devices, while being TAA compliant and backed by a 2-year warranty with lifetime support.
Z**D
Affordable, durable and easy to install. Worked very well to install a USB 3.0 front panel hub in an HP Pavilion
PROS:* Affordable and well built* Plastic construction seems to be durable, yet flexible* Thick enough that it shouldn't easily break, but my all my screws I had fit ok.* Had all the holes where I needed them which is always a plus* Comes with four mounting screws to mount the adapter to your case. (You provide the screws needed to mount your drive or other device to the adapter. These mounting screws typically come with your drive, front panel hub, card reader or whatever else you're installing)* 2 Year Warranty* The black color matches my Anker USB 3.0 hub and case perfectly.CONS:There really isn't much I'm displeased with, but here are a few things worth mentioning.- There is a slight gap around the Anker USB hub I installed in this. Not major, but if you're expecting a very tight "force it in" fit you might not get it with all devices. I'm worried it might let some dust in but time will tell.- I've read some people have issues with the plastic being too thick for their drive mounting screws. I mention it here but had no issues myself. If there is any issues I suppose you could always get longer screws, remove any washers, or countersink holes slightly if you need to make short screws work.- This is plastic so if you force things I'm sure it will break.- The mounting screws to mount the drive adapter to the case are those sort of "self-tapping" screws or sheet metal screws that chew into the plastic to make their own threads and secure the plastic. In my experience these work fine a few times, but the plastic typically won't hold up if you constantly remove and reinstall them. If you're one of those people that constantly changes things around and builds new computers from existing parts it's something to be aware of. I'm sure you'd have to remove and reinstall this adapter many many times before you chewed the plastic up so much the screws wouldn't hold.Product Dimensions:8Height 1.1 in [28.6 mm]Length 5.7 in [146 mm]Width 5.3 in [133.4 mm]..MY EXPERIENCE:I purchased this to install a USB 3.0 front panel hub to add USB 3.0 ports to the front of a computer. It worked nearly perfectly for this use. The USB 3.0 front panel was being installed in an unused 5.25" optical drive expansion bay on a retail HP computer. I needed a 3.5" to 5.25" drive adapter that looked great but had a low profile face and didn't stick out very far. This was necessary to allow the USB ports to be tucked back behind a drive bay door cover to maintain a stock appearance while still providing access to the ports.This mounting adapter fit fine in the stock OEM case's 5.25" drive bay and mounted without issues. The adapter comes with 4 screws to mount it to your case's drive bay. Since this was a stock OEM HP case you can't easily remove one side and so I could only use two of the mounting screws but that's all that is necessary to keep things from sliding around.The ANKER USB 3.0 front panel hub fit with some room to spare. The USB front panel hub doesn't completely fill the hole for the 3.5 inch drive so there is a slight gap around the hub sides and top between the USB hub and the adapter. It's not a huge gap, it looks somewhere between 1/32" to 1/16", but it's enough to notice light and see through when out of the case. When everything is installed in the case I don't really notice the cap at all. This doesn't bother me. Since this is a "one size fits most/all" adapter you can't expect a light tight perfect fit. I could have evened up the gap between the bottom and top by using some washers as spacers on the bottom mounting points. I also could have used some sort of black trim on the inside to really seal this off but I didn't take the time. I'm a little worried about how much dust the gap would let in but this install hides behind an HP optical drive bay expansion bay door cover. The gap doesn't bother me much but I thought I'd mention it. I'd much rather have a little extra room and NOT need to get out files, grinders or sandpaper to make things fit so I won't complain.I didn't have any issues with mounting things up. Screws were just long enough to safely secure everything. It doesn't take much. We're not bolting down jet engines here ;)I'm uploading plenty of images but there really isn't much more to say. Based on the price, fit and final appearance I can definitely recommend this adapter.
E**H
great value priced brackets
I needed this to refit drives into a retro case. Arrived quickly, worked perfectly, and had easy installation. Great price for value
Z**L
Works, but not metal
Expected metal, but its plastic so handle with care. Will be keeping it because it still gets the job done. Great product for price though.
J**
Great way to use 5.25 drive bays
I'm using one of these to add to a smaller OEM case in which is missing a 3.5 drive cage to add in a card reader salvaged off another PC case. Others have noted the gap around the face of this adapter being noticeable. I found a simple solution was to use black rubber bands wrapped around my 3.5 inch card reader to where the rubber band is nestled against the back of the front face of the adapter like boot preventing internal case RGB light from appearing thru the gaps.The product is super easy to modify for my use and seems durable to last a lifetime. I've ordered 2 of these one is holding a mechanical 3.5 drive and remains hidden by the case flap door for a non existing cd rom but I like the aesthetic of my retro PC that has so much more storage capacity and options available to it than before.
M**Y
Fit perfect
Adapter was a perfect fit works great
O**.
Basic metal bracket, a bit sharp around the edges, alignment off but totally usable and affordable
It's a bracket. It functions. I bought 3 and they all worked fine, the screw hole alignment was a little off but managed to make them work. Install was easy. They feel like cheap sharp cut metal so be careful handling. Overall a serviceable bracket and I don't mind it being low tier quality considering the price was right and you truly get what you pay for. I would use them again myself if needed to unless it was for a client in which I would go with a less "sharp metal" solution
G**C
Good value
Fit nicely in my desktop computer build.
C**K
Bit chintzy but good enough value, works well and looks good
I purchased a new ATX case that apparently doesn't come with 3.5" external bays. I have a black 3.5" USB port/card reader, and I wanted to continue using it with my new case. So, I got this adapter.It is made from fairly cheap plastic (probably ABS or something similar), and the screws that are included are self-tappers for the plastic mounting holes. Since they are self-tappers, you should avoid moving this thing around in the future. Try to choose its permanent home, then install it and leave it alone. You *can* remove the screws, move the adapter, and then screw them back in, but you need to use a trick for re-screwing self-tappers or you will destroy the threads on the adapter, making it impossible to tighten the screws.The trick is is follows: When you wish to screw the screws back in, put them in the screwholes and slowly screw "backwards" (as though you are unscrewing them) while pushing the screw gently into the hole. You will eventually feel the screw sort of "drop" into place. This is because the threads have now lined up, and you can carefully screw it in.Anyway, the adapter is attractive enough, lines up well with the front of the case, etc. Aesthetically it is good. It's just a bit flimsy.
Trustpilot
1 week ago
5 days ago