Gf's computer drives are all running ridiculously hot, second HDD is too hot to keep my fingers on...

[dug777]

It's bulletproof but a little dated today, more than enough for office/matlab/some light CAD work/DVDs and Sims2. Specs are; 2ghz Northwood Celeron, 512mb of RAM, ASUS P4PE mobo, Leadtek GF4MX 440, 80GB OS drive (Seagate), 120GB storage drive (WD), CD burner, DVD drive, steel case with a single 80mm exhaust fan and 300w Macron psu.

No stability problems at all, it runs 24/7 and has been up for the past fortnight at least since i last restarted it, but i'm concerned that the drives are so hot, i can't comfortably keep my fingers on the side of the 120GB WD (Everest says the drive temps are 42'C for the WD and 53'C for the Seagate, no SMART problems), and her DVDs come out incredibly hot...

Mobo temp is 34'C, processor is idling 38-40'C...

Ideas?

EDIT: Looks like it was her psu after all, drives are merely warm to the touch, only thing i've changed is dropping my truepower 380w in there...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I ahd that board, mine had a cold boot issues, and a PCI/AGP lock bug. Anywho, I wouldn't worry too much, storage is cheap. But if you want, grab a HDD cooler or just uograde her to a better case so there will be a fan blowing over them and better cooling all together.

 

[dug777]

anyone got any idea WHY it's doing this tho?

 

[PurdueRy]

Bad power supply providing too much voltage?

 

[alimoalem]

53C is ~127F...that's kinda hot. why you asking why it's getting hot? you already know it's cooling

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
53C is ~127F...that's kinda hot. why you asking why it's getting hot? you already know it's cooling

It's a normal case with an exhuast fan in a reasonably cool room with the side of the case off at the moment, there's absolutely no reason why they should be that hot, i can't even keep my hands on the 120gb WD (and i can't really get my hands on the Seagate)...

The psu option is one i had been considering, any way to test that theory out?

 

[hemiram]

You could put a voltmeter on the leads, or run the ASUS motherboard monitor thing, and it sould tell you the voltages. I bet they are ok. Are the drives too hot to leave your fingers on if you leave the case open for a while? Check the fans, make sure there's not a load of fur (cat hair is amazing in it's ability to clog fans up) in them and make sure they are spinning up to about what they should be.

Even in my old Acer case, I never had a drive I couldn't hold all day, and there was basically no airflow over them at all.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Bad power supply providing too much voltage?

I'd upgrade the CPU to a Northwood P4 (more fluid performance) and swap HD's to see if the problem continues to permit and then buy a new case if you still have enough money

 

[dug777]

i might try my truepower 380w in her rig and see if that makes a difference...

 

[CrispyFried]

did you use all 4 screws to mount them? they help (a little) to conduct heat away. but airflow is the best thing..

 

[Greenman]

Why not just turn it off at night and let it cool down?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Might just be a really bad case design with no airflow at all around the drive areas.

As others have said, get some airflow in there with a fan if possible. I bet even a really low RPM fan would make worlds of difference. Also make sure intake areas aren't clogged with dust.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Might just be a really bad case design with no airflow at all around the drive areas.

As others have said, get some airflow in there with a fan if possible. I bet even a really low RPM fan would make worlds of difference. Also make sure intake areas aren't clogged with dust.

i don't think i'm making myself clear, even with the side of the case off in a cool room the WD which is hanging under the main drive rack (so it's sides and bottom are open to the air, with nothing heat generating below or beside it), is boiling hot (and i mean too hot to comfortably keep a finger on)...when i bought my current rig it had no case fans, and the HDD never got more than warm despite that.

It's a heat problem above and beyond a lack of airflow as far as i can see...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How about taking the harddrive out and sitting it on a cardboard box next to the computer so the top has some airflow over it? You can see if it still gets really hot that way or if more airflow would help it stay normal.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
How about taking the harddrive out and sitting it on a cardboard box next to the computer so the top has some airflow over it? You can see if it still gets really hot that way or if more airflow would help it stay normal.

i might give that a shot :thumbsup:

 

[dug777]

bump for update in OP.

cliffs: my psu in there and the drives are a normal temp...