Does hard drive orientation matter?

[ponyo]

I have an Dell Optiplex 380 and it requires custom plastic HD mounting bracket. I installed second HD but used old metal mounting bracket from my old PC to lodge the HD at a weird ~30 degree angle. That was the only makeshift way I could get it to fit. The HD is secure and does not move. Will my hard drive be OK to operate this way or will it die premature death because of it?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It'll be okay. A few cases orient the hard drives vertically and I've never heard of any problems with it.

 

[eelw]

Having it run 90 degrees vs an odd angle, big difference.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

No shit. The real question is is there a big difference in terms of lifespan? And given all the plethora of portable hard drives resting in strange orientations, as well as the iPod Classics that also spin every which way, and which haven't failed, don't you think the reasonable conclusion is that it doesn't really matter?

 

[eelw]

Also a big difference in a 1.8/2.5" drive vs a 3.5" drive. But yeah, noticable difference in lifespan? And considering how cheap drives are. Just hope the OP has regular backups.

 

[C1]

This has come up a number of times before. Dont worry about it. Any relative motion would be more of concern. What always was amusing though is WD's installation instruction which states to not mount the drive vertically.

I will say though that it is eyebrow raising that some of the largest 3.5" external HDDs come with cheap stands to hold the drive vertically while in operation. It is also eyebrow raising to note in some of the user reports that the drive became permanently unusable after accidentally being overturned/flopped over (from vertical to horizontal) while in operation.

 

[Lanyap]

Buy a bracket and don't worry about it. $5 + shipping.
http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=1109

 

[mfenn]

What always was amusing though is WD's installation instruction which states to not mount the drive vertically.

That's especially hilarious when you consider that WD's MyBook external enclosures orient the drives vertically.

 

[Blain]

This has come up a number of times before.

Yes it has...

"Hard drive orientation."

"hard drive mounting orientation"

"Hard Drive orientation/cooling?"

 

[tynopik]

Yes it has...

those only address vertical vs horizontal

this question is about something else

i would be very hesitant to leave a drive at a 30 degree angle

i seem to recall way back when something about drives should either be mounted flat (+/- 10 degrees) or vertical (+/- 5 degrees)


edit: more info

 

[Soundmanred]

It depends on how close to the equator you live and what phase the moon is in.

 

[ponyo]

Buy a bracket and don't worry about it. $5 + shipping.
http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=1109

Thanks but they rape you on shipping. $8 fee for ground shipping a piece of plastic? D: I think I'll just leave it as is for now and see how it goes. I might just make my own ghetto bracket with some cardboard and duct tape.

 

[corkyg]

... I might just make my own ghetto bracket with some cardboard and duct tape.

Not a bad idea. I have done that, and can also recommend velcro. It has worked for me.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Get an SSD, so then you don't have to worry about orientation.

 

[ponyo]

Get an SSD, so then you don't have to worry about orientation.

Let me know when I can get 2TB SSD for $70.

 

[Blain]

Let me know when I can get 2TB SSD for $70.

It will happen one day, just hang in there.

 

[0roo0roo]

statistically significant difference? probably not, just expect any drive regardless of orientation to fail, that is the only way to go.

 

[0roo0roo]

It will happen one day, just hang in there.

years

for now, mechanical hd's are stupid cheap

 

[piasabird]

I think the most important thing is to always have the hard drive in the same configuration. Mechanical parts start to wear a certain way in a specific configuration and if you change it from vertical to horizontal or vice versa that could cause some problems.

 

[goobernoodles]

I don't know offhand if mounting it at a weird angle like that would affect the lifespan. I wouldn't want to be the asshole to figure it out by losing data though.

Suspend it. Cheap and it'll be quieter.

 

[mfenn]

I don't know offhand if mounting it at a weird angle like that would affect the lifespan. I wouldn't want to be the asshole to figure it out by losing data though.

Even a perfectly-mounted HDD will lose data. I'd say to go ahead and mount it how you want and get a backup solution (which everybody should have anyway). Remember, data that's only in one place is as good as gone.

 

[Lanyap]

Thanks but they rape you on shipping. $8 fee for ground shipping a piece of plastic? D: I think I'll just leave it as is for now and see how it goes. I might just make my own ghetto bracket with some cardboard and duct tape.

You can find it on ebay cheaper. Search for "Dell U6436". Why go ghetto when you can do it right for a few bucks. Why take a chance on a 2TB drive.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I don't know offhand if mounting it at a weird angle like that would affect the lifespan. I wouldn't want to be the asshole to figure it out by losing data though.

It is impossible to determine from anecdotal evidence whether the orientation causes or prevents any single event of hard drive failure and data loss. Basically, if the hard drive fails, you have no way of knowing whether it was because of the orientation, or if it was going to fail anyway and the orientation had nothing to do with it. Ultimately unless there is more, objectively collected data on this, orientation should not affect your behavior in regards to a backup, or lack thereof.

 

[Blain]

It is impossible to determine from anecdotal evidence whether the orientation causes or prevents any single event of hard drive failure and data loss. Basically, if the hard drive fails, you have no way of knowing whether it was because of the orientation, or if it was going to fail anyway and the orientation had nothing to do with it. Ultimately unless there is more, objectively collected data on this, orientation should not affect your behavior in regards to a backup, or lack thereof.

We frown on objective data. It's just too hard to come by...
"Subjective" makes us feel better.