Is 5.25" dead in 2017 ?

PLAfiller · Jun 13, 2017

Sup all ,

I am planning to buy a HDD hot-swap rack for my 5.25" bay and I was wondering what people do with theirs in 2017 ? What do you do with yours? I see a lot of empty space on the pictures in "show your PC" thread.

Aenra · Jun 13, 2017

You could use it for temp/airflow/pressure/misc info displays

Or, for external/swappable drives, assuming your hobbies/occupation call for some.

If you're on the cheap side, there are also res+pumps that are made to fit in there, save you the space; though i wouldn't recommend them, they come with significant disadvantages.

Edit: forgot to vote, lol.. i have a B. Ray, never used it, probably never will; but just in case, you know? ^^

erocker · Jun 13, 2017

I have a dual reservoir bay and a fan controller in mine. It's not mandatory for me though. Losing the bays leaves more room for other internals

Caelestis · Jun 13, 2017

Just recently swapped from the Define R5 to the Define S since I really don't need a drive bay anymore. Hadn't used it for more than a year. And just in case, my HTPC still has one.

Jetster · Jun 13, 2017

Just a Bluray drive I use for back ups.

P4-630 · Jun 13, 2017

I needed a cheap DVD drive because I bought windows 8.1 on DVD, only used it for the OS installation and later one time to install a bluetooth driver....
Haven't used it after that.. :ohwell:

It was cheap anyways!

Liviu Cojocaru · Jun 13, 2017

I have a Thermaltake Commander FT fan controller in mine, but I was looking (still am) into replacing my case as is heavy as f*** and also huge (full tower) and I've seen that the selection of mid-tower cases with a 5.25 bay is limited

P4-630 · Jun 13, 2017

I have 3 5.25 bays in my Be quiet! Silent Base mid tower.

If I wouldn't be able to control my fan speeds by BIOS or software I would have bought a fan controller like I had in my old 775 system but it's not needed anymore.

Bayonet · Jun 13, 2017

My main machine has no 5.25" bays (NZXT S340), but my dual Xeon server (CoolerMaster HAF X) has them populated with Lian-Li 3.5" adapters with 120mm fans, totaling 13 hard drives in the front.

CAPSLOCKSTUCK · Jun 13, 2017

i keep dust in mine.

PLAfiller · Jun 13, 2017

CAPSLOCKSTUCK said:
i keep dust in mine.

That comment made me LOL. I have two 5.25 bays and are currently empty. I don't have enough fans to justify buying a fan controller, so perhaps it will be either empty or I am eyeing TT's Quad 5 rack, as I have a few drives for back up and this could potentially make it easier or a card reader of some sort.

NdMk2o1o · Jun 13, 2017

I chose I have empty 5.25 bay...I've refused to use odd's for several years now, no need to so no point buying one. I used to always include a dvd-rw with all my builds but it got to the point where all I would use it for was to install Windows, now of course it's just as easy to do it from usb, I don't have anything else in the 5.25 drive bay.

Ebo · Jun 13, 2017

I have a DVD burner and a blue ray player.

AlienIsGOD · Jun 13, 2017

I have a blue ray drive in my bay, this was before I had an Xbox one though. Now I use my Xbox one for movies. My next build prolly won't gave anything I the 5.25 bays

rtwjunkie · Jun 13, 2017

I have 3 bays in use. 2 externally with a very occasionally used DVD drive, and a nice card reader. Internally, I use the 3rd for an SSD with a 5.25 to 3.5 converter.

Vayra86 · Jun 13, 2017

The only reason I still have a built in blu ray player is because I can and because I believe a PC should be multi purpose. So if I get that crazy idea of actually using a disc its possible. And it actually happens regularly, strangely enough

FreedomEclipse · Jun 13, 2017

Not had an optical drive in my system for many many years now.

My 5.25' bay is used for a fan controller or in previous cases i had a 120mm fan there

silapakorn · Jun 13, 2017

Optical discs are still a thing in my country. I'm not ready to let go of the good old 5.25" optical drive.

therealmeep · Jun 13, 2017

I got 2 dvd drives up front, haven't found anything else I want to replace them with. My Haf XB Evo already has hot swap bays and i think i might have some problems routing cables to a controller/routing line to a resivoir.

CounterZeus · Jun 13, 2017

I have one dvd writer hooked up, but since upgrade to my new pc in 2016 (win 10 and new case), it won't read any discs.. It does open/close though. I used it before to write music discs for my car, but the reader in there failed and my CD is stuck :/

Nuckles56 · Jun 13, 2017

I have a blu ray burner in mine, in the single 5.25' bay for my case (CM elite 130) which I use for movies and the occasional older game

commission3r · Jun 13, 2017

jboydgolfer · Jun 13, 2017

I refuse to stop installing cd/DVD drives in my PCs......O.G. MoFo :pimp:

The floppy drive bay is getting hard to rationalize though

Beastie · Jun 13, 2017

Still have a DVD burner.
My OS is installed from DVD.

Also occaisionally use it for ripping CDs.
And burning discs for friends. Though increasingly they have nothing to read them on so this use is becoming redundant.

EarthDog · Jun 13, 2017

No option for fan controller???????

The bay itself isnt dead, however optic drives are pretty dead. I havent used one in years...been usb based for a while.

System Name	Sandfiller
Processor	I5-10400
Motherboard	MSI MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
Cooling	Noctua NH-L9i (92x25mm fan)
Memory	32GB Corsair LPX 2400 Mhz DDR4 CL14
Video Card(s)	MSI RX 5700 XT GAMING X
Storage	Intel 670P 512GB
Display(s)	2560x1080 LG 29" + 22" LG
Case	SS RV02
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster Z
Power Supply	Fractal Design IntegraM 650W
Mouse	Logitech Triathlon
Keyboard	REDRAGON MITRA
Software	Windows 11 Home x 64

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Processor	Coal-dual 9000
Motherboard	Oak Plank
Cooling	4 Snow Yetis huffing and puffing in parallel
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Audio Device(s)	On demand tribe singing
Power Supply	Spin-o-Wheel-matic
Mouse	Hamster original
Keyboard	Chisel 1.9a (upgraded for Stone Tablet 2.0 compatibility)
Software	It's all hard down here

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASUS TUF x670e
Cooling	EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
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Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard	Tester84
Software	Windows 11

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Cooling	Cryorig H7 via Noctua NF-F12
Memory	Crucial Ballistix Sport LT white 2x8GB, DDR4-2400
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Storage	Samsung 840 250GB (OS), Crucial MX300 750GB
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Case	Fractal Design Define S - Front: 3x Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500, Back: Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	Corsair Vengeance 650M
Software	Windows 10 Home

System Name	Juliette // HTPC
Processor	Intel i7 9700K // AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z390X-A // ASRock B550 ITX-AC
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12 Black // Stock
Memory	Corsair DDR4 3600 32gb //G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX4070 OC// GTX 1650
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO NVMe 1Tb, Intel 665p Series M.2 2280 1TB // Samsung 1Tb SSD
Display(s)	ASUS VP348QGL 34" Quad HD 3440 x 1440 // 55" LG 4K SK8000 Series
Case	Seasonic SYNCRO Q7// Silverstone Granada GD05
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 // HDMI to Samsung HW-R650 sound bar
Power Supply	Seasonic SYNCRO 750 W // CORSAIR Vengeance 650M
Mouse	Cooler Master MM710 53G
Keyboard	Logitech 920-009300 G512 SE
Software	Windows 10 Pro // Windows 10 Pro

System Name	AlderLake / Laptop
Processor	Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory	32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s)	23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case	Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
Audio Device(s)	Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W / Powerbrick
Mouse	Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless / Logitech M330 wireless
Keyboard	RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software	Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores	Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock

System Name	El Calpulator
Processor	AMD Ryzen R7 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASRock X670E Pro RS
Cooling	ArcticCooling Freezer 3 360ARGB AIO
Memory	32GB Corsair Vengance 6000Mhz C30
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 4080 Gaming Trio X @ 2925 / 23500 mhz
Storage	5TB nvme SSD + Synology DS115j NAS with 4TB HDD
Display(s)	Samsung G8 34" QD-OLED + Samsung 28" 4K 60hz UR550
Case	Montech King 95 PRO Blue
Audio Device(s)	SB X4+Logitech Z623 2.1+Astro A50 Wireless
Power Supply	be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 1000W ATX 3.0 80+ Gold
Mouse	Logitech G502X Plus LightSpeed Hero Wireless plus Logitech G POWERPLAY Wireless Charging Mouse Pad
Keyboard	Logitech G915 LightSpeed Wireless
Software	Win 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores	Just enough

System Name	Workstation
Processor	2x Intel Xeon E5-2697 V3
Motherboard	Supermicro X10DRi-T
Cooling	2x Noctua NH-U12DX i4
Memory	4x 32GB Samsung ECC 2400MHz
Video Card(s)	Nvidia Geforce Titan X (Maxwell)
Storage	Samsung 6.4TB PM1725a + Intel 800GB 750 series + 2x Micron 4TB 5100 ECO
Display(s)	3x BenQ 3200PT + Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q
Case	NZXT S340 White
Audio Device(s)	Grace Design m9XX
Power Supply	Corsair HX850
Mouse	Logitech MX Master 3
Keyboard	CM NovaTouch TKL (MX compatible stem Topre!)
Software	Windows 10

System Name	Party On
Processor	Xeon w 3520
Motherboard	DFI Lanparty
Cooling	Big tower thing
Memory	6 gb Ballistix Tracer
Video Card(s)	HD 7970
Case	a plank of wood
Audio Device(s)	seperate amp and 6 big speakers
Power Supply	Corsair
Mouse	cheap
Keyboard	under going restoration

System Name	Ryzen Reynolds
Processor	Ryzen 1600 - 4.0Ghz 1.415v - SMT disabled
Motherboard	mATX Asrock AB350m AM4
Cooling	Raijintek Leto Pro
Memory	Vulcan T-Force 16GB DDR4 3000 16.18.18 @3200Mhz 14.17.17
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Nitro+ 4GB RX 580 - 1450/2000 BIOS mod 8-)
Storage	Seagate B'cuda 1TB/Sandisk 128GB SSD
Display(s)	Acer ED242QR 75hz Freesync
Case	Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair VS 550w
Mouse	Zalman ZM-M401R
Keyboard	Razor Lycosa
Software	Windows 10 x64
Benchmark Scores	https://www.3dmark.com/spy/6220813

System Name	the little fart
Processor	AMD Ryzen 2600X
Motherboard	MSI x470 gaming plus
Cooling	Noctua NH-C14S
Memory	16 GB G.Skill Ripjaw 2400Mhz DDR 4
Video Card(s)	Sapphire RX Vega 56 Pulse
Storage	1 Crucial MX100 512GB SSD,1 Crucial MX500 2TB SSD, 1 1,5TB WD Black Caviar, 1 4TB WD RED HD
Display(s)	IIyama XUB2792QSU IPS 2560x1440
Case	White Lian-Li PC-011 Dynamic
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar SE pci-e card
Power Supply	Thermaltake DPS G 1050 watt Digital PSU
Mouse	Steelseries Sensei
Keyboard	Corsair K70
Software	windows 10 64 pro bit

System Name	Aliens Ryzen Rig \| 2nd Hand Omen
Processor	Ryzen R5 5600 \| Ryzen R5 3600
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite (F61 BIOS) \| B450 matx
Cooling	DeepCool Castle EX V2 240mm AIO\| stock for now
Memory	8GB X 2 DDR4 3000mhz Team Group Vulcan \| 16GB DDR4
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 8GB \| GTX 1650 4GB
Storage	Adata XPG 8200 PRO 512GB SSD OS / 240 SSD + 2TB M.2 SSD Games / 1000 GB Data \| SSD + HDD
Display(s)	Acer ED273 27" VA 144hz Freesync \|TCL 32" 1080P w/ HDR
Case	NZXT H500 Black \| HP Omen Obelisk
Audio Device(s)	Onboard Realtek \| Onboard Realtek
Power Supply	EVGA SuperNOVA G3 650w 80+ Gold \| 500w
Mouse	Steelseries Rival 500 15 button mouse w/ Razor Goliathus Chroma XL mousemat \| Logitech G502
Keyboard	Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB w/ Romer G tactile keys \| Logitech G513 Carbon w/ Romer G tactile keys
Software	Windows 10 Pro \| Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Bayou Phantom
Processor	Core i7-8700k 4.4Ghz @ 1.18v
Motherboard	ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 6
Cooling	All air: 2x140mm Fractal exhaust; 3x 140mm Cougar Intake; Enermax T40F Black CPU cooler
Memory	2x 16GB Mushkin Redline DDR-4 3200
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Xc
Storage	1x 500 MX500 SSD; 2x 6TB WD Black; 1x 4TB WD Black; 1x400GB VelRptr; 1x 4TB WD Blue storage (eSATA)
Display(s)	HP 27q 27" IPS @ 2560 x 1440
Case	Fractal Design Define R4 Black w/Titanium front -windowed
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Z
Power Supply	Seasonic X-850
Mouse	Coolermaster Sentinel III (large palm grip!)
Keyboard	Logitech G610 Orion mechanical (Cherry Brown switches)
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Start10 & Fences 3.0 installed)

Processor	i7 8700k 4.6Ghz @ 1.24V
Motherboard	AsRock Fatal1ty K6 Z370
Cooling	beQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
Memory	16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200/C16
Video Card(s)	ASRock RX7900XT Phantom Gaming
Storage	Samsung 850 EVO 1TB + Samsung 830 256GB + Crucial BX100 250GB + Toshiba 1TB HDD
Display(s)	Gigabyte G34QWC (3440x1440)
Case	Fractal Design Define R5
Audio Device(s)	Harman Kardon AVR137 + 2.1
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova G2 750W
Mouse	XTRFY M42
Keyboard	Lenovo Thinkpad Trackpoint II
Software	W10 x64

System Name	Codename: Icarus Mk.VI
Processor	Intel 8600k@Stock -- pending tuning
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strixx Z370-F
Cooling	CPU: BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 {1xCorsair ML120 Pro\|5xML140 Pro}
Memory	32GB XPG Gammix D10 {2x16GB}
Video Card(s)	ASUS Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 512GB SSD (Boot)\|WD SN770 (Gaming)\|2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300\|2x 2TB Crucial BX500
Display(s)	LG GP850-B
Case	Corsair 760T (White)
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha RX-V573\|Speakers: JBL Control One\|Auna 300-CN\|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply	Corsair AX760
Mouse	Logitech G900
Keyboard	Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

System Name	Burning a hole through my wallet
Processor	3700X
Motherboard	Maximus 8 Hero
Cooling	Custom loop (EK Extreme 360 Rad, Supremacy evo w/AM4 bracket)
Memory	2x16 Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB @3200MHz
Video Card(s)	EVGA 2080s hybrid
Storage	960 Evo, 660p, P1, BX500, 2XWD Black, Ironwolf Proo
Display(s)	Predator 27" 4k 144hz HDR
Case	NZXT h700i
Power Supply	EVGA G3 850
Mouse	Logitech G502 hero
Keyboard	Drop ALT W/holypanda switches
Software	Win 10 Pro 64, Ubuntu 20.04, Manjaro (latest)

System Name	Storm Wrought \| Blackwood (HTPC)
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5900x @stock \| i7 2600k
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro WIFI m-ITX \| Some POS gigabyte board
Cooling	Deepcool AK620, BQ shadow wings 3 High Spd, stock 180mm \|BQ Shadow rock LP + 4x120mm Noctua redux
Memory	G.Skill Ripjaws V 2x32GB 4000MHz \| 2x4GB 2000MHz @1866
Video Card(s)	Powercolor RX 6800XT Red Dragon \| PNY a2000 6GB
Storage	SX8200 Pro 1TB, 1TB KC3000, 850EVO 500GB, 2+8TB Seagate, LG Blu-ray \| 120GB Sandisk SSD, 4TB WD red
Display(s)	Samsung UJ590UDE 32" UHD monitor \| LG CS 55" OLED
Case	Silverstone TJ08B-E \| Custom built wooden case (Aus native timbers)
Audio Device(s)	Onboard, Sennheiser HD 599 cans / Logitech z163's \| Edifier S2000 MKIII via toslink
Power Supply	Corsair HX 750 \| Corsair SF 450
Mouse	Microsoft Pro Intellimouse\| Some logitech one
Keyboard	GMMK w/ Zelio V2 62g (78g for spacebar) tactile switches & Glorious black keycaps\| Some logitech one
VR HMD	HTC Vive
Software	Win 10 Edu \| Ubuntu 22.04
Benchmark Scores	Look in the various benchmark threads

Processor	Intel i7 10700K
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Pro AX
Cooling	Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4
Memory	DDR4 Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHZ (2X16GB)
Video Card(s)	Palit GTX1080ti Super JetStream 11GB
Storage	Trandscend 370s 256GB / WD Caviar Black 2+1TB
Display(s)	Acer XB270HU 144hz Gsync
Case	Phanteks Eclipse P600S White
Audio Device(s)	Sound Blaster ZXR
Power Supply	Corsair RM1000X 1000W 80 Plus Gold

System Name	Illidan
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Motherboard	Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro V2
Cooling	Scythe Mugen 4
Memory	G.Skill Trident Z 32GB DDR4 3000MHz 14CL
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
Storage	Crucial P1 1TB + Sandisk Ultra II 960GB + Samsung EVO Plus 970 2TB + F3 1TB + Toshiba X300 4TB
Display(s)	Iiyama G-MASTER G4380UHSU-B1
Case	Corsair 750D Airflow
Audio Device(s)	Sony WH1000-XM4
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus PX-850
Mouse	Logitech G604
Keyboard	Corsair Vengeance K70 (Cherry MX Red)
Software	Windows 11 Pro

System Name	littlet
Processor	Ryzen 5900X
Motherboard	TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WI-FI) ZAKU II EDITION
Cooling	EK AIO Basic 240
Memory	G.Skill Trident Z RGB 4X16GB 3200MHz
Video Card(s)	RTX™ A2000 12GB
Storage	C: WD_BLACK SN850 1TB
Display(s)	ViewSonic VX3276-2K-mhd
Case	ASUS Prime AP201
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar Essence STX II
Power Supply	Corsair SF 600
Software	Windows

System Name	Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor	i7-11700K
Motherboard	Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12A
Memory	32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s)	RTX 3090 Reference
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s)	Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case	Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s)	on board
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse	Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard	AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software	Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores	the MLGeesiest

System Name	it needs a name?
Processor	Xeon E3-1241 v3 @3.5GHz- standard clock
Motherboard	Asus Z97A 3.1
Cooling	Bequiet! Dark Rock 3 CPU cooler, 2 x 140mm intake and 1 x 120mm exhaust PWM fans in the case
Memory	16 GB Crucial DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Ballistix Sport 2 x 8 GB
Video Card(s)	Palit 980ti Super Jetscream
Storage	Sandisk X110 256GB SSD, Sandisk Ultra II 960GB SSD, 640GB WD Blue, 12TB Ultrastar
Display(s)	Acer XB270HU
Case	Lian Li PC 7H
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 USB interface
Power Supply	Seasonic P660
Mouse	cheapo logitech wireless
Keyboard	some keyboard from the 90's
Software	Win10pro 64bit

Is 5.25" dead in 2017 ?

What do I have in my 5.25 " drive space ?

Card Reader/ Usb ports

HDD hot-swap rack

Reservoir

ODD - DVD, Blue-ray, etc...

Drawer for storing stuff

Fan Controller / Watercooling pannel

GPU info display / VR pannel

Others - some other device or thing ?

My case doesn't have 5.25" bays

I have empty 5.25"

*

Spaced Out Lunar Tick

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PC Gaming Enthusiast

~Technological Technocrat~