• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Poll: Would you buy a case without 5.25" (optical drive) bays?

Would you buy a case without 5.25" bays?

  • Yes.

  • No.

Results are only viewable after voting.
G

Gigantopithecus

Diamond Member
I realize you can use a 5.25" bay for things other than a burner but that's what's usually used. Is a 5.25" bay-less case something you'd consider buying?
 
Gigantopithecus said:
I realize you can use a 5.25" bay for things other than a burner but that's what's usually used. Is a 5.25" bay-less case something you'd consider buying?
Click to expand...

I would put a floppy drive in my machines till I installed Windows Vista. Between DVD's, some CD's, Blur-Ray, Installing Windows, even if I wanted to, seems like waaaay to much work to avoid using an optical drive. I would make it work on slim, ultrabook, or netbook. But if I was building my own PC, it just wouldn't be worth it.
 
If it was a really nice case for a great price, yes, probably. I would buy an external DVD drive for installing software on CDs / DVDs, and use a dedicated Blu-ray player for movies.
 
Stopped putting optical drives in my machines about 3 years ago. Have an external USB DVD reader/writer in case I need it (happens once a year maybe). Any recent OS can be installed from USB flash drives anyways.
 
I still use DVDs, and would presumably eventually go to Blu-Ray as well - and the occasional CD still finds its way in.
(The drive I've got is still using an IDE interface. :$)

Floppy drive: Haven't had one of them in awhile. USB thumbdrives and bootable CDs pretty well killed off my need for one, as well as the ability to do a BIOS flash from within Windows.

And I've got a handy removable drive bay in one of my other 5.25" bays.

So I'd probably want a case with at least 1 5.25" bay, probably more like 2-3 would be preferable though, should I come across any interesting accessories.🙂
 
I'd buy a full size ATX case with more 3.5" drive cages and a single 5.25" bay. I still burn CDs for clients and I can install any OS easily from a CD/DVD.

I find having 2 or 3 empty CD bays is a waste of resources which could be used up for more drive bays. Allowing me to to build a better home server.

Unless you make a lot of CD copies you don't really need more than one CD/DVD/BD drive bay.
 
Would be all about a case without 5.25. Maybe reverse ATX with the 3.5 still on the bottom. Could get a smaller case that still fits everything.
 
ed29a said:
Stopped putting optical drives in my machines about 3 years ago. Have an external USB DVD reader/writer in case I need it (happens once a year maybe). Any recent OS can be installed from USB flash drives anyways.
Click to expand...
i don't have an external optical, but otherwise, i agree with these statements. basically, optical drives are going extinct just like floppies did a while back.
 
For my wife's PC yes. Its has no Optical drive installed. Installed W7 off a USB stick. I make use of DVD's in my box though. I some times it for workout DVD's like P90X etc.
 
No, but I still have a floppy drive in my desktop. Haven't used it in years but who knows, it might come in handy some day.
 
I use my optical drive so seldom (once a week at most), I've been thinking lately i'd be better off with a slim external drive.
I could just pull it out of a drawer when needed.
 
Absolutely not. I got trolled into not buying an optical drive and painfully enduring for ~2 months i finally snapped and bought one. Because you see, I buy my games on DVD and how can I install them without an optical drive? Besides, internal optical drives are much much cheaper here than external ones (1/3 the price for comparable features). And I also burn CDs for the car.
 
No. While, I don't use my drive often, I find that I do need it.

Yea, I can install windows and whatever else using USB keys, but I usually can never find the USB key when I need it.
 
If I had the budget, this kind of cases without optical would be nice. pxeboot install over network does not require USB (and a network and server are harder to misplace). 🙄

I don't start case purchase with the optical bay; there are more important feature considerations. However, optical is not a must since external models do exists. It is hard to fathom a tower without 5.25" bays though.
 
Last edited:
No. It's not like an optical drive in the bay looks crappy, adds loads of heat, or takes up too much space. I use the optical drive to rip cd's, install Windows, install older software that I can't download etc. I also rip dvd's and copy them (legally, of course).
An external drive would be a pain, I don't care for external devices sitting loose on my desktop and I'd hate to have to open a drawer and plug it in every time I wanted it.
 
Interesting responses. I personally need an optical drive in my primary desktop/daily driver. None of my other systems have an ODD. A 5.25" bay, I think, actually does take up too much space (especially height) for mATX and ITX cases. More importantly, I think bay(s) look out of place in many cases (i.e. just plain ugly).

As an example, I love the TJ08B-E that my file server is in. It would be even better if it were 4/5" shorter and an inch wider, which it could be if it had no 5.25" bays.
 
rather than removing 5.25"bay all together, i would rather like to have least one regular one with option of able to put slim ODD.

i agree with most as using USB, i use ODD very much having all those old movies and stuff i actually use them quite often.

though take my advice there is a way you can have least two ODD bay and still fit 120MM triple radiator in midsize case (considering todays way out of shape midsize cases)

i haven't vote on this yet cause honestly it makes no difference to me as all have valid points.
 
Last edited:
I have:
1 dvd burner
1 fan controller
a radiator that blocks the 2 top most bays
and I'm thinking of replacing my internal reservoir with a bay model

my case has 7 - 5 1/4 drive bays
 
I just can't understand why most mid tower cases have 4 external slots????

give me 1 or 2 max then use that other space for a fan or something.
 
i haven't opened my CD drive in about 3 years. does this answer your question?

i crave 1-slot cases, give me room for more HD.
 
I have a standard dvd drive that barely gets used (aside from an OS install and the retail copy of a steam game that I can install from disc faster than downloading from steam assuming price is the same plus retail games that aren't on Steam, usually older games) and a BD drive that I use for movies. I also have a two slot fan controller plus 2 bottom slots that I use for plug and play drives so no I wouldn't want to be without 5.25 bays. I have a HAF X and the bays don't look out of place at all. 5.25 bays are far more useful for me than not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top