Review on StarTech Com 3 5In 5 25In Bracket Adapter by Robert Prix

PROS:* Affordable and well built* Plastic construction feels strong yet flexible* Thick enough to not easy to break, but all my screws that I had fitted well. * Had all the holes where I needed them which is always a plus * Comes with four mounting screws to attach the adapter to your case. (They provide the screws needed to attach the drive or other device to the adapter. These mounting screws are typically included with your drive, front panel hub, card reader, or whatever you are installing)* 2-year warranty* Black , the color matches my Anker USB 3.0 hub and the case fits perfectly. CONS: I'm not really happy with it, but here are a few things worth mentioning. There is a small gap around the Anker USB hub I installed. It doesn't matter, but if you expect a very good fit, you might not get it with all devices. I'm worried that some dust might get through, but time will tell. I've read that some people have issues with the plastic being too thick for the drive mounting screws. I mention it here, but I had no problems. If there is a problem, you can probably always get longer screws, remove any washers, or countersink the holes a bit if you need the short screws to work. - It's plastic so I'm sure it will break if you force it. - The mounting screws used to attach the drive adapter to the case are a type of "self-tapping" or self-tapping screws that bite into the plastic to make their own threads and secure the plastic. In my experience they've worked fine a few times, but the plastic usually doesn't hold up if you keep removing and reinstalling them. If you're one of those people who constantly changes things and builds new computers from existing parts, you should be aware of this. I'm sure you'll have to remove and reinstall this adapter many times before you burn the plastic so bad the screws won't hold. Product Dimensions: 8 Height 28.6 mm [1.1 in] Length 146 mm [5.7 in] Width 133.4 mm [5.3 in]. MY EXPERIENCE: I bought this to install a front USB 3.0 hub to add USB 3.0 ports to the front of the computer. It worked almost perfectly for this use. USB 3.0 front bezel installed in an unused 5.25" optical drive expansion bay on an HP retail computer. I needed a 3.5" to 5.25" drive adapter that looked nice but had a flat bezel and didn't protrude too much. This was necessary so that the USB ports could be hidden behind the drive bay door cover to maintain a unified look while still allowing access to the ports. . The adapter comes with 4 screws to attach it to the drive bay of your case. Since this was a standard HP OEM case, you can't easily remove one side so I was only able to use two mounting screws, but that's all that is required to keep it from slipping. The ANKER USB 3.0 front panel hub fits in to save space. The front USB hub does not completely fill the 3.5" drive hole, so there is a small gap on the sides of the hub and on the top between the USB hub and the adapter. It's not a huge gap, it looks like somewhere between 1/32" and 1/16" but it's enough for you to notice and see through the light once it's out of the case. When everything is installed in the housing, I don't notice the lid at all. It does not bother me. Because it is a one size adapter, you cannot expect light and perfect fit. I was able to compensate for the gap between the bottom and the top by using washers as shims on the bottom attachment points. I could also use some sort of black trim on the inside to really seal this in, but I wasted no time. I'm a little worried about how much dust the slot lets through, but that setting is hidden behind HP's optical drive bay expansion slot cover. The gap doesn't bother me much, but I thought I'd mention it. I'd rather have a little more room and NOT have to get out files, grinders or sandpaper to get everything to fit, so I won't complain. I had no trouble installing things. The screws were long enough to hold everything securely in place. It doesn't take much time. We're not working on jet engines here ;) I'm uploading a lot of pictures, but there really isn't much else to say. Based on the price, fit and looks, I definitely recommend this adapter.