Installation and Use
Installing the IcyDock multi-bay backplane module into my Cooler Master Cosmos S case was a tight fit, but it works. I opened up all of the bays, but installed only one drive because I have but a single SATA port unused on my motherboard.
I revved up HD Tune Pro for a quick read speed test, just to make sure that the module wasn’t a bottleneck. It is not; the speeds are approximately normal for that drive.
Final Thoughts
The module allows the user to hot-swap drives because of the very nature of SATA-SATA itself allows hot-swap. The cooling fan and aluminum construction are sure to keep the drives inside cool, probably extending the life of the drives.
The addition of lock to the bays would be the sole improvement to the module. The drives and fan are powered by a pair of 4-pin Molex connectors from the power supply. It’s a good thing if the power supply has no spare SATA connectors, but a bad thing if the power supply has no spare 4-pin connectors.
It’s certainly a great addition to a server case when the storage bays are all full. ThinkComputers give the IcyDock MB674SPF Multi-bay Backplane Module a 9 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– Supports four SATA drives
– Uses 4-pin power instead of SATA
Cons:
– No lock
– Uses 4-pin power instead of SATA
