Expanding my laptops HDD capacity cross-posted from: https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/66988984 > # What I have > I have an old Acer Aspire A515-51G and I also have a desire to have a home server. In combination this creates a need for the laptop to carry more HDDs than it can from factory. Usually it can take one M.2 SSD and one 2.5" SATA drive. > > # What I want > I want to make the laptop able to run at least 4 HDDs in RAID 5 for storage and have one SSD as boot drive. > > # What I did > ### The buying phase > - 4 HDDs > - M.2 to SATA adapter > - 12V/5V SATA power converter > - 12V 10A power supply > >  > > ### The designing phase > I needed space to hold the HDDs, so I designed a 3D printed a cage to attach to the bottom of my laptop. Two 80mm fans can be attach to it. [You can see it on printables](https://www.printables.com/model/1831549-expansion-hdd-cage-for-acer-aspire-a515-51g). Also I [remixed a tray](https://www.printables.com/model/1831546-ssdhdd-tray-for-coolermaster-haf-x-942) (here is the [original](https://www.printables.com/model/272136-ssdhdd-tray-for-coolermaster-haf-x-942)) so the HDDs can slide in and out of the cage. > > . > > ### The assembly phase > A cutout at the bottom of the laptop was needed to give access to the SATA ports of the adapter. > >  > > I put a 2.5" SSD into the already present place for it in the laptop. > > Then the cage was attached to the laptop, the HDDs were put in their trays, the trays inside the cage and the cables attached to the adapter and HDDs. > >  >