Does a harddrive have to be horizontal when you mount it, or can it be vertical?

[Atlantean]

I just got another harddrive, and I was wondering if it can be mounted vertically .

 

[zsouthboy]

Orientation matters not. </Yoda> Unless you are dating a......... well nevermind


Upside down and backwards if you want. Doesn't matter. Mount away!

 

[Atlantean]

Muchas gracias for the assistance.

 

[dszd0g]

For a longer discussion:

OK to mount harddisk upside-down?

 

[Zyko]

Actually, On some OLD drives (Very limited funds, i pick up "outdated stuff" from my friends alot :- )
there is "rules" as to how you are alowed to orient the drives... But newer drives are not so sensitive as to that..
Mount em upside down, Or in a 45 Degre angle.. They should not care to much, Exept for a few off the really new
"liquid" suspended drives. Dont know for sure.. Way out of my budget, But i hear they actually dont aint
recomended for "tilted" orientation.

Thats my five pence...
Hope it counts for something...
B!

 

[dszd0g]

I do not know of any drive manufacturer that says that is a recommended configuration for their platter drives (solid state is another matter) to be installed at a 45 degree angle. For the last 10 years or so the case has been that installing them along any axis is acceptable. I just checked Seagate's Cheetah technical specifications and they have a figure that shows the four different recommended mounting configurations along the horizontal and vertical axis (basically flat, upside down, and to either side are acceptable according to Seagate for their Cheetah drives). The Cheetah drives use fluid bearings.

The balanced rotary arm actuator design of the drive allows it to be mounted in any orientation. All drive performance characterization, however, has been done with the drive in horizontal (discs level) and vertical (drive on its side) orientations, and these are the two preferred mounting orientations.

According to Seagate, you may take a performance hit if one installs the drive at an angle, but it should work.