With the ever increasing speeds obtainable from modern solid state drives, more and more enthusiasts are switching to using them as their primary system drive in desktop machines. Since most SSDs are designed in the 2½" notebook format however, which many desktop computer cases are not equipped to handle, this leaves users with a quandary over how to mount their new drive. Use only one or two screws to hold it? Double-sided tape? or maybe just leave it dangling at the end of the SATA cable? For those who want something a little more secure and a cleaner looking installation, Icy Dock has the perfect solution.


The two items we have for review today are the MS882SP-1S-1B and the MS990SP-B SSD/HDD converter and bracket. While both units are designed to mount 2½" drives in a standard 3½" location, each goes about it in a slightly different way. The 882 converts a single 2½" drive into a 3½" equivalent that is compatible with hot swap SATA bays, external enclosures and enterprise environments. The 990 bracket conversely holds one or two drives in a completely tool-less fashion, while still fitting within the confines of a single 3½" drive space.


Both units ship in retail boxes and are protected by bubble wrap. Each also includes a brief user installation guide and mounting hardware if applicable. Join me as I take a closer look at these Icy Dock drive accessories, starting with the MS990SP-B.