StarTech has released the SATSAS425BK, a four-bay hot swap backplane which allows four 2.5-inch drives to be placed in an single 5.25-inch bay. The adaptor has connectors compatible with both SAS and SATA 3.0 Gbit/s hard disks. To support high-capacity 2.5-inch models with additional platters, a maximum height of 15 mm is specified for the drives. The disks are hot-swappable and can be exchanged without having to open the chassis. To prevent theft, the bays can also be locked.
The adaptor has dimensions of 15.6 x 14.5 x 4.2 cm (L*W*H) and weighs 577 grams. To improve heat dissipation, a 40 mm fan has been installed on the rear of the backplane.
While the StarTech SATSAS425BK officially has a recommended pricetag of just under £94, several retailers have already listed the device at a lower price.
