There probably isn't a significant demand anymore given that OSes can just be installed via USB, and removable media is a niche item these days. Plus, with the current style tilted towards side panel windows, it would be hard to hide the 5.25" cage, unless they put it at the bottom, and that could mean trading out 3.5" drive space.Well, I bit the bullet and moved back to a full size case (up from a mid tower). It use to be that a mid tower had at least one 5.25 drive bay (and back in the hey-day, 2-4), but that seems to be no more. Had to get a Fractal Design Define 7 XL to meet my demands for a case that supported a full size ATX board, at least one 5.25 drive bay, and a 7+3 slot configuration (i.e. so a 3 wide GPU could be installed where it's PCB wouldn't break where it connects into the motherboard due to the stress of it's weight).
I mean seriously why any case manufacturer hasn't simply made a mid tower that is an inch or two wider which would allow them to place an optional vertical mount 5.25 bay, and also have room for the 7+3 (or even a 7+4) configuration for alternate GPU orientation is simply beyond me. Adding that inch in width would seem to be so trivial and allow for so much more functionality (space for hard drives on the rear, water pumps, cable/tube routing, offset to move top mount radiators away off axis of the motherboard so there is more clearance on the motherboard for taller components interfering with the radiator/fans, etc....).
I agree cases these days suck. There are no external 5.25 bays. I still use internal DVD/BD drives mostly to transcode DVD's. I have used usb drives but they would not work well sometimes not reading the disc right. There are other uses for 5.25 bays, card readers and I use hot swap hard drive enclosures too. Fortunately, cases don't really wear out so I have 3 really great cases including 2 Inwin GRone's which can take a huge video card and has an external SATA dock so I can pop in a hard drive with out having to open the case.I am a little disappointed in the fact that many cases are removing the space for a 5.25" drive bays, as I am finding it more difficult to find a new case for my next main desktop build. Fitting a 4080 or 4090 is just not possible in my current case (in reality I will probably be holding off for the 50xx series and just use an existing card in the meantime, but I don't expect the sizes of the cards to get much smaller in this next gen).
Like I said, just need to make it a little wider... Could go a little wider still and then you could have a 4 slot GPU in the alternate mount... Yes I know, I didn't pick a perfect example of a case to do this with it having a window in the front which means the bay is blocking the airflow, but just assume the case had a traditional front, with normal front intake fans (which the majority of cases still are). And for those that don't want it, have the full cage be removable, and then you can fit a side intake vertical radiator in that spot, or a water cooling reservoir, or pump, 3.5" drives, etc.. It certainly wouldn't be wasted space....There probably isn't a significant demand anymore given that OSes can just be installed via USB, and removable media is a niche item these days. Plus, with the current style tilted towards side panel windows, it would be hard to hide the 5.25" cage, unless they put it at the bottom, and that could mean trading out 3.5" drive space.
For me, bluray burners and aquaero in 5.25.I agree cases these days suck. There are no external 5.25 bays. I still use internal DVD/BD drives mostly to transcode DVD's. I have used usb drives but they would not work well sometimes not reading the disc right. There are other uses for 5.25 bays, card readers and I use hot swap hard drive enclosures too. Fortunately, cases don't really wear out so I have 3 really great cases including 2 Inwin GRone's which can take a huge video card and has an external SATA dock so I can pop in a hard drive with out having to open the case.
Fractal Design Pop, Define R5, Define 7, Focus G.I didn't know cases came with 5.25 anymore. When they came out I bought a pioneer usb 3 bluray burner burned loads of dual layer 25gb? disc's but 25gb is such a small amount that all the hassle makes people buy 2 18tb drives for $350? And keep them offline compared to 25gb at a time 10 mins to burn 4 mins to verify? Or was it more because people recommend burning at 4x? I still use it now and then to burn cds or dvds for people. Hopefully 25tb drives will be mainstream soon.
Most front panels are all glass now
Antec VSK3000B (mATX), Antec VSK4000B (ATX)Fractal Design Pop, Define R5, Define 7, Focus G.
Phanteks Enthoo Pro PH-ES614
Daring an off topic..would having a power and sata sticking out the back of a midi tower to plug in an internal blu-ray now and then constitute a serious problem.
single..no kids or animals
If the cables are long enough for the drive to be placed down in a stable position.Daring an off topic..would having a power and sata sticking out the back of a midi tower to plug in an internal blu-ray now and then constitute a serious problem.
No dont worryIf the cables are long enough for the drive to be placed down in a stable position.
Just don't try to plug it in with the PC powered on.
Fractal Design Pop, Define R5, Define 7, Focus G.
Phanteks Enthoo Pro PH-ES614
Aren't those cases a bit on the older side though? You can certainly find cases with 5.25" drive bays, but there seems to be few new cases that accommodate such drives.Antec VSK3000B (mATX), Antec VSK4000B (ATX)
Fractal Design Core 1100 (mATX), Core 500 (ITX), Core 1000 (mATX), Core 2300/2500 (ATX)
Aren't those cases a bit on the older side though? You can certainly find cases with 5.25" drive bays, but there seems to be few new cases that accommodate such drives.
The Define 7 was 2020 and the Pop was 2022. The Phanteks was 2014, but there hasn't been much that's changed other than front panel usb ports and I can grab a 5.25" usb front panel for USB 3.1 (3.2) or USB4 expansion card if needed.Aren't those cases a bit on the older side though? You can certainly find cases with 5.25" drive bays, but there seems to be few new cases that accommodate such drives.
Ya but is it necessary to have a 5.25 just to plug usb that should be included with mobo and case?The Define 7 was 2020 and the Pop was 2022. The Phanteks was 2014, but there hasn't been much that's changed other than front panel usb ports and I can grab a 5.25" usb front panel for USB 3.1 (3.2) or USB4 expansion card if needed.
Is it necessary to buy a new $100-$200 case just for usb if a $20 5.25 can do the same?Ya but is it necessary to have a 5.25 just to plug usb that should be included with mobo and case?
Is it necessary to have a case at all just pile your hardware on the floor. my case is kind of like art. H500m ? 4 glass panels huge fans. I have two types of pc. Hide behind tv micro atx and giant cases. Doubt a usb4 5.25 card is 20$ anywayIs it necessary to buy a new $100-$200 case just for usb if a $20 5.25 can do the same?
If someone needs a 5.25" drive often enough, it makes sense to buy a case to accommodate it.Is it necessary to have a case at all just pile your hardware on the floor. my case is kind of like art. H500m ? 4 glass panels huge fans. I have two types of pc. Hide behind tv micro atx and giant cases. Doubt a usb4 5.25 card is 20$ anyway
Not a lot using usb4 right now, so I have some time before I might need it. I'm more likely to go Thunderbolt though with all the usb naming bs.This pc here is an open bench, so no case - but I keep it away from kids and pets. My main cases are Caselabs S8, 1 with mesh side panels and the other with one windowed side.Is it necessary to have a case at all just pile your hardware on the floor. my case is kind of like art. H500m ? 4 glass panels huge fans. I have two types of pc. Hide behind tv micro atx and giant cases. Doubt a usb4 5.25 card is 20$ anyway
If someone needs a 5.25" drive often enough, it makes sense to buy a case to accommodate it.
Plenty of reasons to not have stuff laying around hodgepodge, from simple aesthetics, to general organization, and to hardware protection.
I keep my old cases with at least 1 5.25 bay
Bought a BR player and the most expensive 25/50/100 gigs available
They disks are supposed to last around 100 years if stored away from heat and moisture
Have Family pics and info on the BR disks, hard drives and flash drives, hope some of them last for my Grandddaughters ....
Ricky.