Icy Dock: ExpressCage MB326SP-B External 5.25-Inch Bay

Icy Dock introduced ExpressCage MB326SP-B, a six 2.5″ SAS/SATA HDD/SSD hot-swap cage for external 5.25″ bay.

The ExpressCage MB326SP-B brings an enclosure made for anyone that requires high storage density. It fits up to six 2.5″ SATA/SAS HDD/SSD (5-9.5mm) into a single external 5.25″ bay with the ability to hot swap for drive replacement.

The ExpressCage name reflects the tool-less drive installation design that makes installing your drive just as simple as a tray-less device, and optional bottom tray screw holes are provided for extra protection and added stability. With dual 40mm cooling fans placed behind the unit and all around ventilation, your drives will stay cool. The fan speed slider switch lets you choose between high, low, or auto smart cooling, so you can set it based on your preference.

It combined the stability of a tray system and the convenience of a tray-less system, makes it the storage enclosure for power users and system builders.

ExpressCage MB326SP-B front and rear

Utilize standard 5.25″ bay
Bringing high density 2.5″ storage array into a desktop computer system, ExpressCage MB326SP-B turns any standard external 5.25″ bay into a hot-swappable drive enclosure cage and fits up to six 2.5″ SAS/SATA HDD/SSD between 5mm to 9.5mm in height. It supports 6Gb SATA III and is backward compatible with SATA II and SATA I drives. In addition, an active power feature keeps the enclosure powered down until a drive is inserted minimizing energy usage.

ExpressTray design
ExpressTray simplifies the drive installation process, offering a more flexible, hassle-free drive installation and maintenance. To install a new drive, place the HDDs or SSDs on the ExpressTray and then insert the tray into the ExpressCage and you are ready to go. To remove drive, you need to reverse the process. Pull on the rear tab of the tray to free up the drive and then remove the drive. A reinforced latching system located on the ExpressTray is made durable so you won’t have issues with them further down the road.

For applications where require extra drive stability and security, an optional bottom tray screw holes are provided for added drive protection. Ventilated slots in front of and beneath the tray help keep airflow efficient to keep the drives cool.

Features upon features
Through planning and design, the company incorporates desired features into our ExpressCage MB326SP-B

Dual 40mm cooling fans located rear of the unit keeps the drives cool by ventilating all six drives and dissipating heat through air vents surrounding the unit. Control the amount of air flow with included fan speed slide switch. Set the fan to high for maximum airflow, low for whisper quiet operations, or auto for smart cooling (determines the temperature of the drive and changes the fan’s RPM accordingly to keep drives cool).

If the pre-installed fans are not your preferred choice, it’s upgradable with any standard 40mm fan with 3-pin header. Choose your favorite aftermarket fan and install it into our ExpressCage MB326SP-B with no effort at all.

Additionally, each bay has its own indicator light to notify you of any HDD activity. Soft-blue LEDs makes it easier to sense when the drives are in use without straining your eyes. Locking latch support for both 7-pin SATA and 15-pin power connectors secures the connection so they’ll never slip out of place. (Requires cable with supporting locking latch features as well).

ExpressTray MB322TP-B ExpressCage MB324 series drive tray features:

• Supports up to six 2.5″ SATA/SAS HDD/SSD into a single 5.25″ bay

• Support 6Gb SATA or SAS single channel (requires SAS host)

• Hot-swappable bays for quick drive installation

• Accommodates 2.5″ drives with 5, 7, and 9.5mm height

• Active Power Technology (APT) – only powers up if there is drive installed in the drive bay

• Removable ExpressTray system for tool-less, easy installation comparable to tray-less designs

• Optional bottom mounted screw holes for increased stability

• Blue indicator LED provided for each bay

• Dual 40mm fan for drive cooling

• Three pin fan headers to support many aftermarket fan upgrades

• Two 15-pin SATA power connection powers all six drives

• Locking latch design for both 7-pin SATA connector and 15-pin power adapter

• Fan speed control for high, low, and auto (smart cooling) settings

• Metal case with heavy duty ABS tray and door latch

• Designed for power users and system builder applications, mainly space saving and hot swap usage and for 2.5″ HDD or SSD

MB326SP-B data sheet