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Black metal drive cage with slim optical slot and two trayless 2.5 inch bays, blue LED indicators, key lock

iStarUSA Inc.

iStarUSA Inc. T-5K225T-SA 5.25" to Slim ODD & 2x2.5" SATA 6.0 Gb/s Hot-Swap Cage server accessory

SKU CH-P5XC-VFFT6 MPN T-5K225T-SA

Converts a 5.25" bay into one slim optical drive slot and two trayless 2.5" SATA 6.0 Gb/s hot-swap bays with key lock

  • Product typeHard Drive Cage
  • Product colorBlack
  • DetailsStandard Drive Bays 5.25 in Drives: 1 Hotswap 2.5 in: 2 Slim
  • Key featuresHigh performance transfer rate up to 6.0 Gb/s Two 2.5 in hot
  • Converts one 5.25" bay into a slim optical drive plus two 2.5" SATA 6.0 Gb/s hot-swap bays
  • Hot-swap 2.5" drives without trays, secured by a key lock
  • Blue access LEDs show drive activity at a glance
  • Stainless and SECC chassis with metal latch withstands heavy use
  • Accepts 2.5" drives from 7 mm to 12.5 mm thick

Drive bay conversion

The iStarUSA T-5K225T-SA converts a single 5.25 inch bay into one slim optical drive slot and two trayless 2.5 inch SATA hot-swap bays. It supports SATA I, II and III drives at up to 6.0 Gb/s and includes a key lock for physical security. The chassis uses stainless steel and SECC with a black finish and blue access LEDs.

Suitable builds and limits

This cage suits servers or workstations that need dense 2.5 inch storage alongside a slim optical drive in a 5.25 inch opening. Builders who require 3.5 inch drive support, thicker 2.5 inch drives beyond 12.5 mm, or an included optical bay cover should look elsewhere.

Deciding specification

The two trayless 2.5 inch SATA hot-swap bays with key lock are the feature that determines fit. If the chassis has a free 5.25 inch bay and the drives are 2.5 inch SATA between 7 mm and 12.5 mm thick, this unit matches the requirement.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Drive Cages & Server Add-Ons, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $29.99
Cheaper than about 79% of the 1,119 comparable items (median $74.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameiStarUSA
Model nameT-5K225T-SA
Product typeHard Drive Cage
Product colorBlack
Size & build
Shipping weight0.79 kg
Package size188 × 183 × 91 mm

Questions about this item

Will the trayless 2.5" drive bays need any periodic maintenance or replacement parts?

The trayless bays use a direct-insert design with a plastic ABS front panel and metal latch rated for heavy use; no trays or caddies to lose or replace, so routine maintenance is limited to keeping the latch and slot clear of dust.

What is the first limit reached when both 2.5" SATA drives run sustained workloads?

The cage is a passive enclosure — throughput caps at the SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface and any thermal throttling of the installed drives, since there are no built-in fans or active cooling.

How much noise and heat should I expect when the cage runs all day with two drives and a slim optical drive?

Zero added noise from the cage itself because it has no fan; heat dissipation relies on the chassis airflow passing through the 5.83" x 1.65" x 5.59" stainless and SECC body.

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