Question about installing an HDD without a mount on a Mini PC
Question about installing an HDD without a mount on a Mini PC
Are you certain you need a hard disk drive? Solid-state drives are now quite affordable.
I have a 5 terabytes drive, 2.5 inches, with all my data stored on it. I can't spend money on a m.2 for that size.
I also don’t have the budget for a 5tb+ Sata SSD. I only have my 2.5 sata HDD. I considered using a secure plastic mount and securing the entire HDD mount to the lid with plastic epoxy. Would that be feasible? Of course, I’m concerned about it shifting over time because of vibrations. If I have a HDD caddy mount with rubber nibs that screw into the caddy itself, it would help absorb the vibrations for the rest of the setup, so I was hoping the epoxy would provide enough stability. Is this a possibility?
Locate a 2.5" external case. Discard any connecting components, retaining only the drive mount. Secure it onto the case. Supply standard SATA data and power cables to operate the drive.
And it would be fine doing that way? The case you see is the inside lid, once it’s back together the drive would effectively be glued to the roof of the mini pc. My main worry was if the glue wore off and fell, it would drop straight down onto the main board. It’s so tight inside that it’s the only spot I could place it. That’s why I decided to use a lot of epoxy plastic glue to fuse a plastic HDD mount to the inside of the lid and then screw the HDD onto the glued mount.
I have updated my setup with a 3D printed mount that I plan to coat in epoxy for added strength, then apply it to the inside lid. Since I won’t be using screws, I’m considering screw mounts of epoxy which may not be reliable, so I’m unsure if this will be sufficient. I’ll also add rubber washers at each hole to reduce vibration. Do you think this approach will keep everything secure?