The best method to cool hard disks?

[Anusha]

I have two hard disks; a 320GB and a 500GB. They run quite hot, in my tight case.

I have mounted a front intake case fan, but since the vents are not so great, the air flow (CFM) is low, and the cooling is not as good as I expected.

Any ideas what I can do to make the hard disks cooler? Should I install those hard disk coolers that are mountable underneath the disk? I don't want to make things loud either.

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

If you have a Dremel or other cutting tool you can cut out the fan hole inside the case where the fan mounts (assuming your not talking about the face plate restricting the airflow). Even the holes with the hexagonal cutouts still restrict the airflow a little. The first thing I do with my cases is cut out both the front and rear fan grills. Also, the fan will run quieter with less restriction.

 

[Anusha]

Actually there are those hexagonal cutouts in the metal chassis. But there is no vents on the face

What can I do?

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

If it were me I'd start out by cutting out those hexagonal fan gaurds. Also, you'd be surprised how much air will actually make it past the face of the computer even if there are no holes there for airflow. If that doesn't help enough and you have space, you could mount another fan behind the hard drives with zip ties or something (the front fan to push air over the HD's and the new inside one to pull air from them). If your case is too tight to add fans and nothing is helping, those HD coolers with the dual fans do help. I used one a long time ago but the fans were prone to dying, can't remember the brand though.

 

[Anusha]

I will try to do as you suggested.

This is the current setup: (sorry the text isn't that clear)

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

Since it looks like that front fan is your only intake, cutting out the rear fan guard and replacing it with one of those ringed wire ones will help as well. Also, letting the rear fan run as fast as you can stand (noise wise that is) will help a lot with the airflow and overall case temperature. Just make sure you have the front fan as an intake and rear as an outtake.


Edit: A PCI slot cooler (the type that blows out the back of the PC) could also help if you're tried all the above and nothing helps enough. The idea is to have good airflow from the front of the case to the back. Removing all the PCI slot blockers on the rear of the case and having a mounting a fan to them to blow air out the back is another (and cheaper) way if you aren't going to use any of your PCI slots.

 

[sneekypeet]

just kidding.

I say throw a monitor like Everest in and get us a temp reading...."They run quite hot, in my tight case." isnt very descriptive!

 

[btarunr]

I have two hard disks; a 320GB and a 500GB. They run quite hot, in my tight case.

I have mounted a front intake case fan, but since the vents are not so great, the air flow (CFM) is low, and the cooling is not as good as I expected.

Any ideas what I can do to make the hard disks cooler? Should I install those hard disk coolers that are mountable underneath the disk? I don't want to make things loud either.

Proper air-flow ensures good cooling, you might try to improvise a push-pull fan where you have the usual front fan that draws in air, an 80mm fan would do, and another fan behind the drives tied to the chasis using cable-ties. The second fan should be able to draw air away from the drives. It's a fun, inexpensive way if the second fan doesn't intrude into the motherboard area or blocking expansion cards. The cables to the drives can be wound under the drives, you could use a 90º SATA connector. Most of today's PSU's come with nodal power connectors (similar to T-Molex). So, the cables won't intrude into the pull fan.

Wait, I'm working on your pic...

 

[Anusha]

just kidding.

I say throw a monitor like Everest in and get us a temp reading...."They run quite hot, in my tight case." isnt very descriptive!

43C on the Maxtor 320GB and 36C on the Samsung 500GB
They look OK, I know, but when I touch them, I feel they are much warmer than that.

 

[thoughtdisorder]

Proper air-flow ensures good cooling, you might try to improvise a push-pull fan where you have the usual front fan that draws in air, an 80mm fan would do, and another fan behind the drives tied to the chasis using cable-ties. The second fan should be able to draw air away from the drives. It's a fun, inexpensive way if the second fan doesn't intrude into the motherboard area or blocking expansion cards. The cables to the drives can be wound under the drives, you could use a 90º SATA connector. Most of today's PSU's come with nodal power connectors (similar to T-Molex). So, the cables won't intrude into the pull fan.

Wait, I'm working on your pic...

+1. Also, lose the flat ribbon cables for round ones, really helps air flow and they're cheap....

 

[sneekypeet]

Those temps arent that bad TBH....but if you think they are hotter than its up to you.

 

[Namslas90]

Use SIW to compare temps with those Everest gave ya;

http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/SIW/siw.html

Good acurate readings.

 

[Anusha]

Proper air-flow ensures good cooling, you might try to improvise a push-pull fan where you have the usual front fan that draws in air, an 80mm fan would do, and another fan behind the drives tied to the chasis using cable-ties. The second fan should be able to draw air away from the drives. It's a fun, inexpensive way if the second fan doesn't intrude into the motherboard area or blocking expansion cards. The cables to the drives can be wound under the drives, you could use a 90º SATA connector. Most of today's PSU's come with nodal power connectors (similar to T-Molex). So, the cables won't intrude into the pull fan.

Wait, I'm working on your pic...

Maybe you will get a better understanding if you saw the image I posted inside of my case.

I am using 90º SATA connectors. That IDE cable sux I know! I can't help it. I don't want to replace the DVDRW drive just because of that cable. I mean, it is a Benq DW1640 and is doing really well even now after 3 years.

And yes, I have the front fan as intake, and rear fan, including the PSU fan(s) as exhaust.

Since it looks like that front fan is your only intake, cutting out the rear fan guard and replacing it with one of those ringed wire ones will help as well. Also, letting the rear fan run as fast as you can stand (noise wise that is) will help a lot with the airflow and overall case temperature. Just make sure you have the front fan as an intake and rear as an outtake.


Edit: A PCI slot cooler (the type that blows out the back of the PC) could also help if you're tried all the above and nothing helps enough. The idea is to have good airflow from the front of the case to the back. Removing all the PCI slot blockers on the rear of the case and having a mounting a fan to them to blow air out the back is another (and cheaper) way if you aren't going to use any of your PCI slots.

This is the exhaust grill. Is it bad? (Sorry for the low quality images, my internet connection sux)

 

[btarunr]

 

[Anusha]

Use SIW to compare temps with those Everest gave ya;

http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/SIW/siw.html

Good acurate readings.

HDTune gives the same readings, so I guess the Everest readings are accurate. But...why do I feel that the hard disk case (top) is hotter than definitely 37C? What's weird is I feel both drives are at the same temps, so how does the 7C difference make any sense?

 

[Anusha]

@btarunr

Do you think I should mount the hard disks so that the power cable and sata cable is facing the front of the case?

Also, I don't think I can mount that 2nd fan, as it is blocked by the mobo components. (Have to double check). The hard disks are at the very edge of the mobo.

I forgot to mention one. There is a duct on the side panel, facing the CPU, when I close the case.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

HDTune gives the same readings, so I guess the Everest readings are accurate. But...why do I feel that the hard disk case (top) is hotter than definitely 37C? What's weird is I feel both drives are at the same temps, so how does the 7C difference make any sense?

Probably to do with the position of the temp sensor in each, and the fact that human skin isn't a particularly accurate thermometer

I wouldn't worry about your hard drive temps, I'm sure they're within safe margins in a case like that, and research carried out by Google a while back actually showed warm drives lasted longer than cold ones in their servers.

 

[Anusha]

Probably to do with the position of the temp sensor in each, and the fact that human skin isn't a particularly accurate thermometer

I wouldn't worry about your hard drive temps, I'm sure they're within safe margins in a case like that, and research carried out by Google a while back actually showed warm drives lasted longer than cold ones in their servers.

In that case, maybe I'm worrying too much. But I run the PC for days in a row sometimes, and that's what worries me.

If google is right, then I should remove the intake fan too, LOL.

 

[btarunr]

@btarunr

Do you think I should mount the hard disks so that the power cable and sata cable is facing the front of the case?

Also, I don't think I can mount that 2nd fan, as it is blocked by the mobo components. (Have to double check). The hard disks are at the very edge of the mobo.

I forgot to mention one. There is a duct on the side panel, facing the CPU, when I close the case.

A. Yes, that's what I...and perhaps most people I know with multiple drives do, it improves airflow for passively cooled components on the motherboard and expansion cards.

B. Mount the second fan using long cable ties or simply use a thin wire and tie it through the holes on the chasis' drive bays. If it's intruding into the motherboard area push it a little towards the RHS (but make sure the gap between the chasis and the two drives ( that's the pale yellow mesh in that pic I marked) is sealed with plastic tape, use a broad package sealing tape.

C. Does the duct intrude into the drives (and the pull fan we're planning on)

E. Temperatures upto 45º C could be considered safe for drives.

 

[Anusha]

B. Mount the second fan using long cable ties or simply use a thin wire and tie it through the holes on the chasis' drive bays. If it's intruding into the motherboard area push it a little towards the RHS (but make sure the gap between the chasis and the two drives ( that's the pale yellow mesh in that pic I marked) is sealed with plastic tape, use a broad package sealing tape.

I have to check on this.

C. Does the duct intrude into the drives (and the pull fan we're planning on)

Well...no. Just wanted to let u know, in case...hehe

E. Temperatures upto 45º C could be considered safe for drives.

I'm not convinced about the readings, as both drives are identically warm when touched, but HDTach and other utilities show a 7C difference.

 

[alleycat]

Thermaltake Hardcano 14 5.25IN Drive Bay Aluminum Clamshell Cooler for 3.25IN HDD W/ Fan & Blue LED (most expensive but most effective and the most silent)


Thermaltake A2427 Hard Drive Blue LED Cooler 80MM 2200RPM 22CFM 21DBA Fan (2nd most expensive but is silent and effective)


Thermaltake A2376 Aluminum Hard Drive Cooler W/ 80MM Fan 3200RPM 30DBA 32CFM 4-PIN Molex (cheapest, contains aluminum so it transfers heat onto the cooler but fan is noisy)

 

[trog100]

those little holes in the tin case are bad.. they restrict air flow big time.. snip them out with some little wire cutters.. the airflow will double..

trog