SSD Bracket for RM Ecoquiet 965 PCs?

[DrBeaker]

Hi All,

 

Has anyone had any joy in finding a suitable bracket for the old RM Ecoquiet 965 PCs?

 

I.e. in order to install a 2.5" SSD into either the 3.5" bay or the 5.25" bay? I've not had much finding any compatible brackets in the past due to the limitations of the case i.e. mounting points, small internal space etc and had to bodge it in the past.

 

I've had a look online and had a look in the forums here before posting but to no avail.

 

I know they're old PCs by our standards but just looking for other options currently so just wondered if anyone had any leads or ones they've used.

 

Thanks

[3s-gtech]

Honestly, double sided foam tape does a perfectly decent job in a desktop. I think I used brackets in about 10% of our PCs, got bored after that!

[DrBeaker]

Tried that double-sided foam tape in some others PCs (All-In-Ones) and they fell down inside the case! Although they were hanging vertically, not sitting horizontally.

 

I've bodged it with some cable-ties on a test RM PC but wasn't particularly proud of that, so was looking for something a bit better.

[Arthur]

I've not had much finding any compatible brackets in the past due to the limitations of the case

The following 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor should do the trick...

 

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F3QFKNS

 

I have used several of these in the past to fit SSDs into iMacs that only had holes for 3.5" HDDs.

[chazzy2501]

I normally just use a single screw, jam it in a tight space or use the double sided foam tape (3m branded or Sellotape)

 

I one case I screwed through the side vent to the SSD.

[HTCPCP]

Depending on mounting points and what you have to spare - an SSD is light enough to work with just 1 screw if you can get to put the screw in. If not, I have used - a glue gun, Velcro, double sided tape, duct tape and cable ties, all have worked, and as long as you don't have to look at it, then all is good. My current home rig has an SSD velcroed to the roof next to the rad.

[synaesthesia]

The all in one models? Single screw in the existing HDD bracket will more than suffice.

[DrBeaker]

No it's the old RM Ecoquiet 965 SFF baseunit that seem to live on forever in schools.

[synaesthesia]

Oh those Probably got about 500 of them here; the cases just work, we even ordered a pallet load a couple of years ago for new builds

But yeah same applies, single screw into the existing caddy is more than sufficient; with no moving parts there's little need to worry about movement of the drive itself. If you don't have anything in the 3.5" bay you may find it more comforting installing the SSD flat in there with a single screw from underneath, leaves enough room for the connectors to plug in but not overhanging the end which is rather secure.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Do they have a static mounting for the sata connection?

 

If so, I've found something like this HP workstation caddy works a treat!

 

 

I've got about 120 of these in stock

[DrBeaker]

Do they have a static mounting for the sata connection?

 

If so, I've found something like this HP workstation caddy works a treat!

 

 

I've got about 120 of these in stock

 

 

No afraid not. Appears to have 1x 5.25" bay, 1x 3.5" bay but weird mounting points that none of the brackets I've found or tried so far fit the damm thing! Another 3.5" bay with seemingly no main mounting points.

 

For now I think I've got no option but to bodge it with some tape or velcro as other posts have suggested. Will tape the 2.5" drive into the 3.5" "Bay" with tape and try that.

 

Will keep you posted.

[Arthur]

1 x 3.5" bay but weird mounting points that none of the brackets I've found or tried so far fit the damm thing!

Any adaptor that follows the SFF-8301 spec is going to have the mounting holes in the exact same place as a standard 3.5" HDD.

 

e.g.

 

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UN550AC

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H91BXJU

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F3QFKNS

 

I have a few RM Ecoquiet 965s so I can test one and update this thread.

Edited September 18, 2018 by Arthur

[DrBeaker]

Any adaptor that follows the SFF-8301 spec is going to have the mounting holes in the exact same place as a standard 3.5" HDD.

 

e.g.

 

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UN550AC

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H91BXJU

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F3QFKNS

Couple of good options to look into there thanks. Sometimes you need a fresh point of view from someone else I'd forgotten about the 3.5" to 2.5" adapter (option 2)

I have a few RM Ecoquiet 965s so I can test one and update this thread.

 

If you do, yes please let me know. If I get the go ahead I'll try to do some pics etc myself.

 

Unfortunately as always with schools it's (££££'s and $$$$'s) whether they're going to give me the budget to do it properly or end up bodging it. The cost of the adapters is going to add to the upgrade cost whereas that will total alone will pay for another SSD drive for another PC + some tape/velcro to bodge it.

[synaesthesia]

Over complicating it somewhat! A screw isn't a bodge!

[DrBeaker]

Over complicating it somewhat! A screw isn't a bodge!

 

LOL No I meant 2x cable-ties in a case securing the SSD when the drive can still move around when the baseunit is moved - is a bodge AFAIC. If I could find one screw hole to use to secure the drive I'd be happy! (Without case-modding etc) otherwise it's literally not worth my time to sort out as the hardware is so old. But when budgets are tight you have to do what you can. Adding a £10 bracket to every PC is soon gonna take up a large portion of what little budget I have.

Edited September 19, 2018 by DrBeaker

[synaesthesia]

Ah fair enough. As said though, we have a fair few hundred of those cases all with SSD's - all either mounted with one screw in the existing HDD bay or in the floppy bay.

[HTCPCP]

LOL No I meant 2x cable-ties in a case securing the SSD when the drive can still move around when the baseunit is moved - is a bodge AFAIC. If I could find one screw hole to use to secure the drive I'd be happy! (Without case-modding etc) otherwise it's literally not worth my time to sort out as the hardware is so old. But when budgets are tight you have to do what you can. Adding a £10 bracket to every PC is soon gonna take up a large portion of what little budget I have.

 

If it works, and no one can see it, surely it's not a bodge?

 

what you need to also factor in is your time and sanity - replacing the hard drive in 10 machines is quite dull, a whole suite - even more so. What could you use the time to do - well cleaning out the crap inside the machines is always a good one. Use some of the money saved by investing in some disposable gloves, an air compressor, some cloths and some isopropyl alcohol - not great fun, but IMO a better use of time than doubling your work by using an over priced bracket!

[Arthur]

If you do, yes please let me know.

Here are some pics of the two adapters I have in an RM One Ascend 2050 (which looks like it has the same internals as your Ecoquiet 965?). Click the images to enlarge...

 

On the left is the General Caddy and on the right is the Sabrent adaptor. Both fit perfectly.

 

 

 

 

As others have said, SSDs are generally fine without adapters as you can see below.

 

[DrBeaker]

Thanks for taking the time to do that Arthur. I'll follow-up with whatever method I go with.

 

But based on what I got told today about the available £££'s , my Plan A of SSDs + adapters is out the window at least! Talk about moving the goalposts!

[DrBeaker]

UPDATE:

 

In the end despite all of the R&D I went with the simple option of cable ties and double-sided tape. Works fine, sits in the bay and doesn't move - no real cost. However the SSD is worth more than the whole of the baseunit now!