Question Using internal 5.25” Blu Ray writer externally

[paddybliss]

I’m about to order parts for my first PC build. I’m mostly using new components, but have a 5.25” Bluray writer that I still occasionally use. Most new cases come without 5.25” external slots these days, and the only ones that I’ve found with them that I like are quite expensive. So I thought it would be easier to put the drive in a USB caddy and use it externally, which would also free up another internal SATA slot (my mobo ony has four). I was surprised to find out that, unlike 3.5 “ HDD’s, there aren’t many external full size (not slimline) 5.25” enclosures available.

This is the cheapest one I could find:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-25-inch-Optical-Drive-Enclosure-USB3-0-to-SATA-US-Adapter-Hard-Disk-Case/254652585350

Which still seems expensive compared to HDD caddies.

Are there any other solutions to this problem available? I was wondering whether I could just run a SATA cable and power line out of the case and use it like that, or adapt a 3.5” caddy (I already have one) for this usage?

 

[Lutfij]

If your point of occasional is enough to warrant a case that has the option of a front 5.25" bay(or two) then we could perhaps find a case for you. CoolerMaster make a NR600 and NR400 that both come in ODD and non ODD variants, so em, perhaps that is something you can look at...to keep the clutter on the desk to a minimum?

Please include/list your specs like so:
CPU:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
GPU:
PSU:
OS:

 

[paddybliss]

Thanks. They don't look too bad for ODD cases, but still think ones without look better. I'd need the NR600 to ensure compatibility with any future builds, and to be honest, it's a little more than I wanted to pay and would also like to add an LED fan.

My build is:
Asrock B450M Pro
Ryzen 5 3600
16gb 3200Mhz RGB Ram (still choosing)
250GB M.2 SSD
Graphics card tbc, Radeon RX570/ GTX 1050

 

[DSzymborski]

Honestly, I'd just eat the money for the enclosure and not have my case options be constrained.

 

[hang-the-9]

Phanteks has lots of cases with 5.25 bays, I bought an Entoo Pro because I wanted to have a bay.

If your looking at a cost thing vs picking any case you want, just factor in the enclosure cost as well, if that is another 30, you have 30 more to add to the case. Although the biggest issue there is that you are limiting yourself to cases vs using an external enclosure that will work on any case.

 

[paddybliss]

Thanks for your feedback.

If I can’t find any other solution to blu ray dive, I could get something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BJ4SG48/?coliid=I1S4EFMWROLUOI&colid=LTTDI2NER5I0&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Though the reviews are rather mixed. And then spend another £35 for the external case.

Or save some money and go for something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UNJRG78/?coliid=I37G05J6QYDUPY&colid=LTTDI2NER5I0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

This is the ODD case I’ve seen so far that I like the look of! It’s mATX, which would work well with my planned build, but might hamper things if I want to use it for a future upgrade.

I’m becoming attracted to RGB fans now I’ve started looking at cases. Are these controlled by the case or the motherboard?

One other question about cases: Most of the ones I’ve looked at only have USB 3.0 connectors at the front, which seems strange at this point in time. Will USB 3.1 work at full speed in them or can they be changed to 3.1?

 

[grimfox]

Something to note. If you use the BRD externally, the drivers can be screwed up by the USB interface inbetween. Particularly if you are using it to rip movies. Watching movies can be problematic too because you are breaking the "secure" path of SATA.

Unless you are willing to completely swear off ODDs I'd get a case wtih 5.25 support.

 

[paddybliss]

Thanks, I hadn't considered that! I'll probably go for the Thermaltake case, the only other way I can see it working as an external drive is to run a SATA and power cable out of the back of the case to it. Is there any reason that wouldn't work?

I'd also value some feedback on case mounted USB slots. Why are they usually USB 3.0 and not 3.1? I don't want to plug 3.1 devices in around the back!

 

[paddybliss]

I’ve looked again at ODD cases and just really don’t like the look of a BD drive in a modern case, so I’m looking at the idea I discussed earlier of running a SATA & Power cable out of the back of the case and connecting it that way. I the BD drive will sit on top of the back of the case under my desk, so won’t be very visible.

SATA Cables longer than 30cm are quite difficult to find, but I can get these shipped from Denmark:
https://www.av-connection.com/?PGr=10038
https://www.av-connection.com/?PGr=9016

Is there any reason why this wouldn’t work?

 

[Deleted member 14196]

Why not just use a USB Blu-ray writer? That’s what I do. It’s fast too and very slim

 

[paddybliss]

Thanks, but I already have a full size blu ray writer, and am looking for a solution that can make use of it. New ones are really expensive.

I can't see any reason why running long SATA & power cables out of the back of the case wouldn't work, but I'm new to this, so might be missing something?