Drive Brackets

Question

I am a volunteer with a group that refurbishes donated PC's (e.g., from corporations, agency, etc.) and distributes the PC to those who cannot afford their own, usually through a family-type agency. We recently received 3 PC's from a security conscious donor who not only removed the hard drives, but also the brackets that are used to mount the hard drives in the PC's. The 3 PC's are Dell OptiPlex GX520 (2 units) and a Dell OptiPlex GX280. Does anyone have a part number for these brackets, or can tell me any third-party bracket that I can look for that will work in these units. I have SATA hard drives for the PC's, but need brackets.

Thanks for the help.

shesagordie · Accepted Answer

mfhny Try here:- http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=1109 Bev.

mfhny · Accepted Answer

Many thanks for the help and suggestions from all of you.  I have ordered replacement parts from one of the vendors suggested, and am confident that this will be problem solver.  Nice to know that there are people out there who help out when needed.  Thanks again.  Mike H

mfhny · Answer

Sorry Bev, hit enter too soon !

mfhny · Answer

Beb - Thanks.  Looks like just what I need.  Big help.

shesagordie · Answer

mfhny You are welcome and I'm happy to have helped. Have a great weekend. Bev.

jackshack · Answer

Perhaps one of these guides will help you figure it out:  Optiplex GX 520 User's Guide.

mfhny · Answer

Bev;

Hi. Another question, please. I received the brackets from the vendor you suggested, and they fit the drive, as expected. But I think there is another piece missing from the GX520's I am working on - specifically, what do the brackets attach to within the case? I have a feeling that when the original hard drives were removed, not only were the brackets removed with the drives, but whatever piece(s) the brackets attach to within the case were also removed. Any idea? Thanks. MIke H

mfhny · Answer

Jack - thanks, already read through the user guide.  Unless I missed something, it does not go into the actual inside pieces of the case, only the equipment that is used within the case, e.g, the hard drive.  For the hard drive, it says to 'Gently position the drive until it clicks into place.', but in my case, there is nothing for the drive bracket to click into!

jackshack · Answer

Which model of the GX520 do you have?  It appears that the plastic caddies are different on the two small outline machines as compared to the mini-tower (which is where Bev's link takes you).

mfhny · Answer

Thank you both, Bev and Jack.  Looking at the video and the piece to buy, it looks like that is exactly what I need.  Big help by both of you!  Thanks again.  Mike H

shesagordie · Answer

mfhny Replacement Dell SATA Hard Drive Caddy for Optiplex GX520 Small Form Factor (SFF) Systems, can be purchased either from HERE , or HERE Bev.

jackshack · Answer

Ah, Bev beat me to it.  If you check out the links she has given you can see that the hard drive caddy for the small form factor machine is more of a tray.  If you check out this video on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk5tAVndZFc, you will see that they are expecting you to click the hard drive into the caddy which has not been removed from the case.  It is evidently necessary to mount the plastic caddy into the computer before installing the hard drive.

mfhny · Answer

These are Small Form Factor machines.

jackshack · Answer

We were very happy to help.  Best of luck to you!

shesagordie · Answer

mfhny

Mike H,

:emotion-21:

A hint, always remember that Dell's Optiplex desktops, can be made in one of several different flavours.

eg, Mini Tower Computer, [Small Mini Tower Computer] Desktop Computer, Small Form Factor Computer, Ultra Small Form Factor Computer.

Bev.

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Drive Brackets

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