[SOLVED] Optiplex 7020 sff with 3 drives

[Trebor84]

Hi, I have purchased an Optiplex 7020 sff that has a 500gb mechanical drive, and I am looking to install 2 additional SSD's. One 128gb SSD to transfer the windows operating installation onto and an additional 500 gb SSD . Would this be possible? I can remove the dvd drive to free up a space and could probably use that space for 1 drive which I could secure into the drive bay but not sure about the second SSD.

I have seen some drive frame's specifically for the Optiplex series that fit into the vacated space from the DVD drive but not sure if there is an option to install 2 SSD's into one of these. If there is no other solution, could one of the SSD's be secured to the underside of the metal case?

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Ditch the 500GB HDD. Go all SSD.

A single 1TB SSD would probably not be a lot more expensive than 128GB + 500GB.
Or, a 250GBSSD + 500GB SSD, in a single bracket that fits where the current HDD is.

A 128GB OS dive is not recommended. That is right on the edge of TooSmall.

How many SATA ports are on the motherboard?

 

[Trebor84]

Thanks for the reply, there are 3 ports

 

[SamirD]

The optiplex 7020 sff is very similar to my 3020 sff, and on the 3020, apparently there is a space below the 3.5" drive for a 2.5" drive as well:
https://www.dell.com/support/articl...rd-drive-memory-and-coin-cell-battery?lang=en

Dell OptiPlex 3020–Small Form Factor Owner's Manual | Dell Deutschland

Even if your 7020 doesn't have the additional 2.5" bay like my 3020, you can probably get a drive cage from a 3020 or even easier, just use a 2x 2.5" to 3.5" mounting bracket like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Dual...ocphy=9012653&hvtargid=pla-365069387933&psc=1

This will allow you to keep your dvd drive too.

It's interesting that you have 3 sata and 4 memory slots as my 3020 only has 2 sata and 2 memory slots even though it supports the same processor family. Odd why they made these two nearly identical systems.