What to do with empty external drive bays?

[SUOrangeman]

My Codegen ATX-9001 case has two external and exposed drive bays, one 3.5" and the other 5.25". Even though I have five drives installed, I tucked them behind the door, leaving me with those two exposed bays unoccupied.

I'm interested in hearing some decent suggestions with what I should do with these two drive bays. I haven't come up with anything thus far that really tickles me. I've thought about:

Front USB/FireWire ports
- These would be nice to have, but I haven't jumped to FireWire nor USB2 yet. Yes, if I go this route, I'd want to be ready for USB2.

Front GamePort/headphone/Microphone
- Again nice, but I've gone years without it

Floppy drive
- Been without one for 9 months. Might have really neede one twice since then.

LCD
- Cool idea, but darn pricey. And why aren't there any USB-driven LCDs out by now? Seems like a natural fit. And my case, not quite a full tower, sits on the floor and is kinda tucked in a corner

Temp display
- See LCD

IrDA
- I already have a USB-to-IrDA adapter ... which gets used (syncs my Palm phone). My new mobo has no IrDA header.

SmartMedia reader
- Might actually get used, as I have at least two SM devices (Nomad II & digital camera)

Fan bus/lighting
- I've got four 80mm fans inside that I don't need to bother. I'm not o/c'ing on the fly. And since I'm in a corner, there is no need for window mods, nor the switched to control any internal lighting.

Anything else/better? My case already looks naked with nothing in those two bays at the top of my case.

-SUO

 

[ChrisADuffy]

All those ideas cover my thoughts, looks like you don't need anything in there. I saw some bay mounted speakers at Cyberguys they are suppose to clean up desk clutter. I am sure the sound can't be that good but it would cut down on extra stuff.

 

[DrVos]

Actually baybus's arent only used by overclockers. For people like me who like quiet, they put their computers in a low rpm "stealth" type mode when they are working or sleeping and turn the fans on full blast when they are playing games. As for other uses have you thought about a Newq? That would jazz up any computer!

 

[ChrisADuffy]

NewQ's look incredible, one of our local shops has one installed for a display. This was not mentioned but similar to LCD - Check out this Serial Vacuum Fluorescent Display it would take up two drive bays.

 

[mechBgon]

For the record, you can plug a CrystalFontz LCD into USB using an adapter cable they sell. I'm sorely tempted by their four-line LCD, since I have two free 5.25" bays.

I did see something that could be useful and is very cheap to buy, a "CD Home" at mwave.com It's compatible with all operating systems, too.

Other than that, front USB ports are beneficial if you want to plug a USB thumb drive directly into the case, rather than reaching behind it or using an extension cable.

If you have PCMCIA devices you could look at the Antec DataChute PCI, which puts PCMCIA in a 3.5" bay.

There is a crazy-mad-scientist-lookin' thing called a PC Geiger which shows FSB, has USB1 and Firewire outlets and also a couple of switches. It shows PCI-bus utilization level and POST codes too. Review of PC Geiger at VIAHardware

What I think would be slick, and does not yet exist as far as I know, would be a weentsy mini-CDR drive that fit a 3.5" bay and recorded on the mini-CDR discs. Now would that be sweet or what?

 

[adamfelker]

One thing I just recently added to my computer was buttons to control Winamp. They're mounted in an extra 3.5" drive bay (at the bottom of the case, not the most convenient place, but this was more of an experiment). Search Hardforum for "Controlling Winamp through buttons" and you'll see a huge thread all about it.

 

[SUOrangeman]

The NewQ Platinum looks like a winner. Sure, it is overkill, but who cares? Admittedly, I'll probably replace my two CRTs with 19" LCDs before I get the NewQ. Unless it shows up in a hot deal in the near future.

Thanks for the suggestions.

-SUO