Icybox IB-867 5.25 inch USB 3.0 Multi-Card Reader with USB Charging Port

The IcyBox IB-867 Card Reader is a fantastic piece of kit to install to your desktop. It allows front USB expansion by adding 4xUSB 2.0 slots, and one USB 3.0. If you are unfortunate enough to have a case with only a couple USB ports on the front, then this is certainly an upgrade worth looking into.It also has a USB port dedicated to power. You can plug your phone charger in here if you are running low on wall sockets. This port can also be used in conjunction with the eSata port, to allow the powering of your hard drives externally.Overall a versatile piece of hardware that looks great on black cases....so why only 4 stars?Well I've been building my own computers for around five years now. Of every piece of hardware I've ever used, this reader is the second most difficult to install, second only to the Corsair H100i (which by the way is an absolute bitch to novice builders!)Firstly, the dimensions are not what you might expect; it does not take up the entirety of the 5.25" bay; in fact only needing to go about halfway in. That's fine, because you can still install it with the screws provided, right?Nope. I don't know if I just got a badly made one, or a wrong set of screws, but the screws that came with the thing will not screw in easily at all. Actually, I found myself having to screw abnormally hard to get the thing secure in the bay.So just a warning; if it looks like the screws aren't going in, it's probably because the holes are not big enough for the screws you were given! Just use a lot more force and it eventually goes in. (sixteen or so screwdrivers later...)Hence, this product loses one star for difficulty installing. I use a Corsair Carbide 400r case for reference. I had to remove the little clip that is supposed to hold the hardware in place (works for an optical drive, but not this).

So I bought this after my wife took up photography to easily and quickly download pictures she takes from her memory cards. The product succeeds at this!This compliments my case well (I have a corsair graphite) as the brushed aluminium feels top class! My case only has one USB 3 port on the front and this hasn't been too much of a problem except before I got the NAS and used to backup files, etc. to multiple drives. Additionally, I found that charging phones / ipads was quite a pain as when you plug them into the PC itunes (worst program in the world) opens up and wants to sync.So, I bought this! Okay, so side note - my motherboard didn't have enough USB 2.0 headers - so I got the NZXT to solve this issue (an internal USB 2.0 hub - really cool toy that)!This thing is amazing, the only problem is with the installation. It feels almost a little too wide and high for a 5.25" bay - which sounds ridiculous but it's true. When you try and fit it in, it doesn't simply "slide in". You kinda have to wiggle it around. Eventually though, it goes in - where you encounter the second challenge. The Icybox is very short - it doesn't slide it very deep. This is normally not a challenge where you mount with screws but my case has a cool tool-less mechanism for bays that only works if the device is a normal length - so the icybox did not sit stably in the bay.Someone at icybox thought of this but it seems that they haven't drilled holes in all the right places. I have compared this to my dvd drive and it seems that they haven't put holes in all the standard places (top and bottom of the unit. I therefore had to drill an extra hole :(It's now stable and works really well. Like it and a worth while upgrade to my already awesome case.

The device works, that's good.The big disadvantage here is super short cables. If you anything like me, a man who cares about cable management, then you will be suffering and struggling making in at least not very ugly. Still, it is ugly in my opinion. Please, see the image I've attached. On the left side - it is before the Icybox, on the right - after. Such a mess!SATA has enough length, but USB cables don't. That's why I ordered additional cable extenders to make them longer and now waiting for them.And just look at power cable it is not short, it is super extremely short!

The first one I got simply wouldn't fit into my only remaining slot on the Cooler Master III case so I sent it back as I thought one of the corners at the end as too proud. Then I got the 2nd one and again I had the same problem, so I had to swap bays around and it finally slotted in. I don't want to use the USB 3.0 port as I have two already connected up to the Mobo so the USB 3.0 and consequently the SD card slot doesn't work now, which is a shame, but it's not a big deal as I have a separate USB 3.0 card reader. The USB 2.0 ports work fine as does the charging slot which is the main reason I got this so happy days. What baffles me is there is only 1 x USB 3.0 slot on it, I would've expected at least 2 in this day and age. Just as well I'm not relying on this for my card reading and USB 3.0 needs as I would be disappointed. But it does enough for me to be happy with it.

This isn't bad at all. Nice metal design and has plenty of ports on it.I would have liked it to have 2 USB3 ports rather than one but that's no big problem for me.The charging port works great and charges devices quickly.The Four USB ports work fine and gives me plenty of ports to plug my devices into.I haven't tried the eSata port as I have nothing that uses it but it's nice to have.The Card reader can be a little fiddly to figure out how the correctly put the cards in but works fine and connects via the USB3 connection to the motherboard so very fast transfers!Lots of wires to manage and install but works brilliantly.