I was recently looking for a 2.5″ mobile drive bay for a desktop computer. I decided to try the Vantec NexStar SE 2.5″ SATA mobile drive bay. Before I bought it I was a bit concerned with how the hard drive would fit into the drive bay that slid into the unit. I was hoping it would be relatively easy and it turned out it was.
vantec_nexstar_se_2.5″
To insert a drive you simply spread four plastic tabs that have posts on them that fit into the side screw holes of the hard drive. It only takes a few seconds to insert the drive into the tray and it is ready to go into the mobile rack in the computer. It is a tool less design and works well. The drive bay snaps into place once it is slid into the mobile rack.
The mobile rack is meant to fit into a 3.5″ drive bay meant for a floppy drive. The fit is good and the unit has brass screw hole inserts to provide good lock down with the provided screws. The mobile rack also comes with a SATA cable and a Molex to SATA power adapter in case you don’t have any SATA power available.
One complaint about the unit is the blue light on the front. Vantec must have searched the entire world to find the worlds brightest blue LED and the incorporated it into this unit. I think some nail polish or a piece of tape is in order because of the brightness of the light.
I’ve had no problems with the unit and it works fine. You may consider a dual bay 2.5″ mobile rack that fits into a 5.25″ drive bay. Vantec also sells those and may come in handy if you need to mirror a drive or move data from one to the other.
Specs of the single bay unit:
| General | |
| Depth: | 4 in |
| Height: | 1 in |
| Width: | 5.6 in |
| Device Type: | Storage mobile rack |
| Software / System Requirements | |
| OS Required: | Apple MacOS X 10.4 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows 7 (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP (32/64 bits) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Cables Included: | 1 x Serial ATA cable |
| Mounting Kit: | Included |
| Expansion / Connectivity | |
| Interfaces: | 1 x storage – Serial ATA-300 – 7 pin Serial ATA |
| Compatible Bays: | 1 x front accessible – 3.5″ |
| Connections: | 1 x storage – Serial ATA-300 – 7 pin Serial ATA |
| More Information | |
| Model No.: | MRK-515ST |
| Shipping Weight (in pounds): | 1.5 |
| Product in Inches (L x W x H): | 7.0 x 6.0 x 2.0 |