HP front carrying handle works in xw and all Z workstations

[SDH]

This came up related to how an optional front top carrying handle could not be removed in a Z420, and the solution,  HERE.  I need to schlep around a fair number of tricked out heavy HP workstations, of all vintages, and had an idea this might fit all of them.  Turns out it does.....

This device has HP option part number A9A48AA  and part number stamped on the metal frame of 660542-001.  These are available currently via HP and other on-line HP sources, and sometimes via eBay under that part number.  Cost is about $35.00; I got mine for $25.00 USD off eBay, shipping included.  They are heavy duty, as you would expect from HP, and this is a standard sized unit that slides into any 5.25" optical drive bay.  It also has space for mounting two 2.5" form factor drives as you'll see, and is meant to go in the top 5.25" bay for best ergonomics.  There is room at the rear for cable connections to added drives, but it can get a bit tight up there.  I don't use any locking side screws on my 5.25" devices.

Here are a few pictures of it in use in a xw6600.  The USB3 front ports you see there in the floppy bay are fed from the HP Texas Instruments based USB3 "2x2" card that has 2 rear backplane USB3 ports, and a card header for adding 2 more out front.  That card has part numbers 661320-001 and 663213-001 on it, and there is an older NEC/Renasus one you don't want.  I have been very pleased with that card and the Akasa 3.5" front form factor adapter shown below.  Drivers for that card are available via a search for Z620 drivers, because the TI chipset used on the ZX20 workstations is identical to that used on this card (which was originally developed to add USB3 to the ZX00 workstations, but works for the xw generation fine also).  If you add that card make sure to plug it in to a PCIe generation 2 slot and power it properly before you load the drivers.  For the xw6600 the lower PCIe x16 video slot is what I use.  You can check your service manual to see which are PCIe2.... the xw6400 only has PCIe generation 1 slots, so that card will run at 1/2 of full USB3 speed instead.  Here's pics, which you can see after a moderator releases them:

[old_geekster]

Great information for those who might need it, @SDH!

[MtothaJ]

Good info. I am thinking of putting together an ITX gaming build based on the Z270 platform, using the Cooler Master Elite 130 case and utlising this handle in the optical drive bay to help move it around.

Its a shame its quite expensive (actually more expensive than the case I am planning on using for the build 😉 ) but its definietly a quality item and very useful. I am quite surprised no one else is offering such a solution.

[SDH · Accepted solution]

The quality is there.... it is quite heavy duty.

I wish I had found these earlier because I actually have cracked a couple of front black plastic grills carrying them from the bottom front.  A tip:  I use "Gorilla" brand non-gel type of super glue to fix such things.  During cure it puts out a pretty strong type of fumes, so run a fan over the area while curing.  That will prevent a "frost" from developing on that plastic otherwise exposed to a strong concentration of the fumes.  This stuff is so strong that it virtually melts slightly the point of contact and fuses otherwise unfixable cracks/breaks.  The fan idea is key.....