Drive Rails and Mounting Kits

The simplest way to mount hard disks into the system case is the direct mounting method, where the disk is screwed directly into a drive bay.  Some cases use drive rails, which are small pieces of metal or plastic screwed onto the side of the drive, which can then slide into the hard drive bay. Some cases also have drive cages, which are removable brackets into which the drive can be mounted.

For the last 25 years or so, 3.5" form factor drives have been the standard, designed of course to go into 3.5" drive bays. With the advent of Solid State Drives (SSDs), look for more desktops to include either 2.5" bays or mounting solutions; this will likely become a common trend in enthusiast-class desktops.

Next: Temperature Limits and Drive Cooling