Adding an optical drive to a case with none??

[tvsurfer9]

Ok, so im build a computer for my uncle. very cheap around 300$ for everything including the OS,
the case im using is the zalman zm t2 plus here (http://www.zalman.com/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=865)

the only problem is i need to add an 3.5in optical bay drive for a micro sd reader he can access from the front. My options are either get a different case which isn't much fun, or mod the zalman( i was already going to put 2 extra top fans on it ) and try to cut through the front panel and create a stable slot in the case attached the already existing 5.25in bay.

if any one has already tried this or seen videos of people trying this i would appreciate the link or opinion. THANKS 😀

System specs
Kingston HyperX FURY 4GB 1866MHz
AMD A4 7300
Seagate 1 tb HDD
MSI Computer Socket FM2+/ AMD A68H/ A&GbE Motherboard Micro ATX/ A68HM-E33
Lepa MX-F1 350W ATX Power Supply
windows 7

 

[Suztera]

You could get a 5.25 to 3.5 inch adapter. Or an external microsd reader.

 

[tvsurfer9]

You could get a 5.25 to 3.5 inch adapter. Or an external microsd adapter.

ahh i forgot to mention in the post, the included 5.25in bay will already have a cd/dvd drive in it so i cant do that.
thanks for the reply though, its amazing how fast this forum is in responses.

do you think they make optical bay cages that i could replace the single bay in the case with a double idk, ive spent the better part of the day looking through youtube and pc websites but cant seem to find what im looking for.

 

[Suztera]

You could get a 5.25 to 3.5 inch adapter. Or an external microsd adapter.

ahh i forgot to mention in the post, the included 5.25in bay will already have a cd/dvd drive in it so i cant do that.
thanks for the reply though, its amazing how fast this forum is in responses.

do you think they make optical bay cages that i could replace the single bay in the case with a double idk, ive spent the better part of the day looking through youtube and pc websites but cant seem to find what im looking for.

Your case probably won't have space for a second unless you mod it somehow. An external memory card reader would be one solution.

 

[tvsurfer9]

You could get a 5.25 to 3.5 inch adapter. Or an external microsd adapter.

ahh i forgot to mention in the post, the included 5.25in bay will already have a cd/dvd drive in it so i cant do that.
thanks for the reply though, its amazing how fast this forum is in responses.

do you think they make optical bay cages that i could replace the single bay in the case with a double idk, ive spent the better part of the day looking through youtube and pc websites but cant seem to find what im looking for.

Your case probably won't have space for a second unless you mod it somehow. An external memory card reader would be one solution.

i thought of that as well, and that's a viable option that would definitely work i just wanted the case to be clean and not have any external stuff attached to it, and that's going to cost another 20$ when i already have a sd reader i parted out from another pc lying around collecting dust one waiting to be modded into the case.

if i think the work it will take to somehow incorporate it in the case isn't worth it then that's the route im going to take.

 

[insertsnideremarks]

StarTech makes a cage/bracket for 5.25 bay that allows for a slim optical drive and a 3.5 bay.

http://www.startech.com/HDD/Brackets/Slim-Optical-and-35in-Hard-Drive-Mounting-Bracket-for-525in-Front-Bay~SLIMCDFDCAGE

 

[tvsurfer9]

StarTech make a cage/bracket for 5.25 bay that allows for a slim optical drive and a 3.5 bay.

http://www.startech.com/HDD/Brackets/Slim-Optical-and-35in-Hard-Drive-Mounting-Bracket-for-525in-Front-Bay~SLIMCDFDCAGE

cant believe i couldn't find this beauty! thank you so much ! Just what i was looking for.