iStarUSA BPU-230HD Drive Enclosure for 5.25" Bays — Hot-Swap SATA/600 Rack with RAID Ready Multi-Drive Support

The iStarUSA BPU-230HD is a high-performance drive enclosure engineered to maximize space, speed, and reliability in professional storage environments. Built to fit 5.25" bays, this enclosure converts two optical drive slots into a versatile rack that can house up to three drives in 3.5" or 2.5" form factors. It’s designed for demanding workloads such as video editing, data backups, archiving, and media libraries, delivering fast data transfer through a SATA/600 host interface and robust thermal management to keep drives operating at peak efficiency. With a rugged aluminum chassis, conductive dissipation grooves, and clear status indicators, the BPU-230HD is a scalable backbone for any workstation, server, or small data center build.

• Versatile drive conversion: Converts 2x 5.25" bays into a compact, high-density rack capable of housing up to three drives—3.5" or 2.5" SATA HDDs/SSDs—allowing you to expand storage without sacrificing precious chassis space.
• Hot-swap readiness: Designed for easy, tool-free drive changes with a hot-swap rack, enabling quick maintenance, replacements, or upgrades without powering down your system.
• 12 Gb/s SATA interface: Features an internal Serial ATA/600 (SATA III) host connection to deliver high-speed data transfer for fast reads and writes, ideal for streaming, backups, and data-intensive workflows.
• Durable aluminum chassis with thermal management: Sturdy black aluminum construction integrates conductive dissipation grooves and a built-in heat sink to improve heat dissipation, helping maintain performance during extended heavy use.
• Indicators & protection: Equipped with power, fan, and high-temperature LEDs that provide immediate visual feedback on system status, aiding in proactive cooling and maintenance in busy environments.

Technical Details of iStarUSA BPU-230HD

• Drive support: 2x 5.25" bays converted into an internal rack that accommodates up to three drives in 3.5" or 2.5" form factors (SATA HDDs/SSDs).
• Host interface: Serial ATA/600 (SATA III) interior connection, enabling data transfer rates suitable for contemporary HDDs and SSDs while maintaining compatibility with existing systems.
• Hot-swap and RAID: Hot-swap capable for rapid drive changes; supports RAID configurations when paired with a separate RAID controller (not included in the enclosure package), giving you flexible redundancy and performance options.
• Construction: Premium aluminum chassis featuring conductive dissipation grooves and a dedicated heat sink, engineered to distribute heat away from drives and maintain stable operation under load.
• Indicators: Power, fan, and high-temperature LEDs provide real-time status information, helping administrators monitor health and respond quickly to thermal or power issues.
• Finish & compatibility: Black anodized exterior with a professional, durable finish designed for workstation, professional studio, and small data-center environments.

How to install iStarUSA BPU-230HD

• Power down all connected equipment and unplug from mains before starting installation.
• Remove the 5.25" bay cover or bracket from your chassis and position the BPU-230HD in the available space, aligning with the chassis mounting points.
• Secure the enclosure using the appropriate screws to ensure a stable, vibration-free fit within the chassis.
• Install your 3.5" or 2.5" SATA drives into the enclosure’s drive slots, ensuring each drive is properly seated and connected to the internal connectors.
• Connect the enclosure to your system’s motherboard or RAID controller via the SATA interface, using standard SATA data and power connections as required by your setup.
• If you plan to use RAID, install a compatible RAID controller in your system and configure your array according to the controller’s motherboard or management software.
• Power up the system and enter the BIOS/RAID configuration utility to verify drive detection and set up any preferred RAID array. Monitor the LED indicators to confirm normal operation and drive health.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Does the BPU-230HD include a RAID controller? A: No. The enclosure supports RAID configurations when used with an external RAID controller. The enclosure merely provides the multi-drive chassis, hot-swap capability, and the SATA/600 interface; you will need a compatible RAID controller to define arrays and manage RAID levels.
• Q: What drives are supported? A: The unit supports 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDDs and SSDs. It accommodates up to three drives within the 5.25" bay conversion, giving you flexible storage options for different performance profiles and budgets.
• Q: Is the enclosure hot-swappable? A: Yes. The BPU-230HD is designed for hot-swap operation, allowing you to replace or upgrade drives without powering down your system, minimizing downtime in busy environments.
• Q: What interfaces does it use? A: It uses an internal Serial ATA/600 (SATA III) host interface, providing up to 12 Gb/s data transfer rates across connected drives, aligned with modern SATA performance expectations.
• Q: How is cooling handled? A: The enclosure features an aluminum chassis with conductive dissipation grooves and an integrated heat sink, plus status LEDs to help monitor thermal performance during operation.