According to the T3400 manual, it looks like you can have a total of 4 hard drives:
Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Tower Computer):
Do not attempt to install a SAS hard drive in the lower 3.5-inch drive bay. This drive bay will only support a floppy drive or Media Card Reader.
Installing an Optional Fourth Hard Drive (Tower Computer):
In a tower configuration with multiple optional drives, there can only be one floppy drive or Media Card Reader, which must be installed in the lower 3.5-inch drive bay. The third hard drive must occupy the upper 3.5-inch drive bay.
According to the Dell invoice, I have a *minitower* - the manual, in parentheses, refers to a "Tower Computer". I don't know what the difference is, but a good assumption is that the Tower is bigger than the Minitower.
I'm not sure if there's a way to install a third drive in the minitower - that's why I asked the question.
Got a response from the Dell tech support people. That was quick! :emotion-21:
" There is no difference between tower and mini-tower. The T3400 is no longer sold, but its replacement is the T3500. In the configurator, the T3500 is listed in the system details in the right rail as a mini-tower, which means it stands upright. The other offering is a Desktop which “lays down” so you can put a monitor on it. "
Sounds like you're OK to install that extra hard drive. :emotion-15:
I knew the T3400 came in both a standing and a reclining configuration, but the references to a "tower" in the manual and a "minitower" on my invoice had me a bit confused.
Now that I know that I can install a third HD in my T3400, I have a few questions ...
I ordered my T3400 with both primary and secondary hard drive bays populated, an optical drive in each 5.25" bay (upper and lower), and a media card reader which Dell placed in the upper 3.5" bay leaving the lower 3.5" bay open.
I want to add a third hard drive (SATA) and I have a couple of questions: 1. According to the user guide, a 3.5" HD should be installed only in the upper 3.5" bay (which makes me wonder why Dell installed the media reader there instead of the lower bay). In any case, I assume that I *must* move the media card reader to the lower bay so I can install the new 3.5" HD in the upper 3.5" bay. Correct?
2. I believe I read in the user guide that Dell installs an additional fan when they populate a PC with three drives. Do I need to install an additional fan?
3. Because the media card reader is in the upper 3.5" bay, I presume there's no heat shield there (I haven't opened the case yet, so I don't know). If I install the new HD in that bay, will I need a heat shield?
4. Can you offer any additional advice, warnings, etc that may be of value in completing this hard drive installation?
All excellent questions. I don't have specific answers for any of them. I don't own a T3400, never even seen one.
1. Reasonable to move the media reader to allow installation of third HD per the instruction manual.
2. Couldn't hurt to add a fan, assuming you know where it goes, and the case has mounting gear and the PSU has an available connector. You might want to talk to Dell Spare Parts since Dell fans are typically proprietary designs. And you'll need to figure out if this extra fan has to be connected to the motherboard so it can be controlled/monitored or if it's an independent always-on fan.
Hi, did you get an answer to this as i am in exactly the same position. Do i need a mounting kit for the 3rd hard drive and does anyone know the part number for the fan for the 3rd hard drive. I contacted Dell UK they kept pointing me in the directon of the caddy which is used for a second hard drive which i'm sure will not fit in the 3rd drive slot. Thanks
This is an old thread - especially for a guy with a lousy memory (me).
I seem to recall I saw a picture of a third drive Dell would have installed if the PC was ordered with one. It takes up two bays because it comes with a fan mounted below it.
Instead of frogging around with all the swapping, etc, I simply bought a 1TB drive to replace my 500GB and partitioned it. I use the 500GB drive, along with a couple other I own, for backup.
Seemed like the easiest solution and HD prices are quite reasonable. Good luck.
RoHe
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May 5th, 2010 17:00
According to the T3400 manual, it looks like you can have a total of 4 hard drives:
Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Tower Computer):
Do not attempt to install a SAS hard drive in the lower 3.5-inch drive bay. This drive bay will only support a floppy drive or Media Card Reader.
Installing an Optional Fourth Hard Drive (Tower Computer):
In a tower configuration with multiple optional drives, there can only be one floppy drive or Media Card Reader, which must be installed in the lower 3.5-inch drive bay. The third hard drive must occupy the upper 3.5-inch drive bay.
Ron
edp
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May 6th, 2010 05:00
Ron - thanks for the quick reply ....
Yes ... I read that in my manual as well.
According to the Dell invoice, I have a *minitower* - the manual, in parentheses, refers to a "Tower Computer". I don't know what the difference is, but a good assumption is that the Tower is bigger than the Minitower.
I'm not sure if there's a way to install a third drive in the minitower - that's why I asked the question.
EdP
RoHe
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May 6th, 2010 07:00
I don't see any manuals or other documentation that refer to a mini-tower so I'm inclined to assume "tower" and "mini-tower" are the same.
I'll ask the moderators if they have any additional info about the possible existence of a mini-tower.
Ron
edp
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May 6th, 2010 08:00
Thanks ...
The Item Number on my invoice is 223-1703 if that's of any help
RoHe
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May 6th, 2010 08:00
Got a response from the Dell tech support people. That was quick! :emotion-21:
" There is no difference between tower and mini-tower. The T3400 is no longer sold, but its replacement is the T3500. In the configurator, the T3500 is listed in the system details in the right rail as a mini-tower, which means it stands upright. The other offering is a Desktop which “lays down” so you can put a monitor on it. "
Sounds like you're OK to install that extra hard drive. :emotion-15:
Ron
edp
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May 6th, 2010 09:00
Excellent! Thanks.
I knew the T3400 came in both a standing and a reclining configuration, but the references to a "tower" in the manual and a "minitower" on my invoice had me a bit confused.
Thanks again.
edp
73 Posts
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May 7th, 2010 10:00
Now that I know that I can install a third HD in my T3400, I have a few questions ...
I ordered my T3400 with both primary and secondary hard drive bays populated, an optical drive in each 5.25" bay (upper and lower), and a media card reader which Dell placed in the upper 3.5" bay leaving the lower 3.5" bay open.
I want to add a third hard drive (SATA) and I have a couple of questions:
1. According to the user guide, a 3.5" HD should be installed only in the upper 3.5" bay (which makes me wonder why Dell installed the media reader there instead of the lower bay).
In any case, I assume that I *must* move the media card reader to the lower bay so I can install the new 3.5" HD in the upper 3.5" bay. Correct?
2. I believe I read in the user guide that Dell installs an additional fan when they populate a PC with three drives. Do I need to install an additional fan?
3. Because the media card reader is in the upper 3.5" bay, I presume there's no heat shield there (I haven't opened the case yet, so I don't know). If I install the new HD in that bay, will I need a heat shield?
4. Can you offer any additional advice, warnings, etc that may be of value in completing this hard drive installation?
Thanks for your attention.
Ed
RoHe
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May 7th, 2010 11:00
Ed-
All excellent questions. I don't have specific answers for any of them. I don't own a T3400, never even seen one.
1. Reasonable to move the media reader to allow installation of third HD per the instruction manual.
2. Couldn't hurt to add a fan, assuming you know where it goes, and the case has mounting gear and the PSU has an available connector. You might want to talk to Dell Spare Parts since Dell fans are typically proprietary designs. And you'll need to figure out if this extra fan has to be connected to the motherboard so it can be controlled/monitored or if it's an independent always-on fan.
3. No idea about heat shields.
4. See above...
Good luck!
Ron
n1koolkat
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January 27th, 2011 22:00
Hi, did you get an answer to this as i am in exactly the same position. Do i need a mounting kit for the 3rd hard drive and does anyone know the part number for the fan for the 3rd hard drive. I contacted Dell UK they kept pointing me in the directon of the caddy which is used for a second hard drive which i'm sure will not fit in the 3rd drive slot. Thanks
edp
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January 28th, 2011 07:00
koolkat
This is an old thread - especially for a guy with a lousy memory (me).
I seem to recall I saw a picture of a third drive Dell would have installed if the PC was ordered with one. It takes up two bays because it comes with a fan mounted below it.
Instead of frogging around with all the swapping, etc, I simply bought a 1TB drive to replace my 500GB and partitioned it. I use the 500GB drive, along with a couple other I own, for backup.
Seemed like the easiest solution and HD prices are quite reasonable. Good luck.
EdP