HD coolers - are they worth it?

[Texun]

Originally posted by: Shagger
I recently upgraded to a 120GB WD and a 160GB WD drive and in ghosting the images across (I usually have them sitting outside the case on a static bag) I noticed the drives got SUPER hot. I can mount a 80MM case fan and blow cool air across the drives to cool them - is everybody doing this?

I use one. I took an 80mm (had plenty of spares) and applied some double stick tape to the bottom of the drive cage and have it blowing up on the bottom of the drive. If you are going to run more than one drive then you can use your imagination as to how you want to mount them. FWIW, I've shut my PC down after hours of use and the drive is almost cool. I also have three drives in my file server and use the same setup. One thing that I avoided was stacking the drives so close that it blocked the air. I've got a large case so spacing them out wasn't a problem. Two on the bottom and one in the top just below the CDR.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
words i live by: If its too hot to touch, cool it.

Agreed. I had two 7200rpm WD hard drives crammed together in the internal 3.5" drive bays of my one case - man, those things got toasty after awhile. They now sit in the 5.25" bays, with an 80mm fan in front.

Originally posted by: Overkast
A good 80mm case fan will cost you $8.00 USD at the most... why the hell not spend the money and just grab one to mount in front of your HDs???

I spend more on lunch for Christ's sake. Just get a fan and cool the HDs whether they need it or not... that's what I say.

Geez, expensive lunch. I try to keep mine under $1.50. Cheapest I managed was a cup of soup and a banana - 25 cents for the soup, and like 19 cents for the banana (half-pound banana).
Anyway, hard drive cooler - I like the Ultimate Hard Drive cooler. It's a nice big aluminum heatsink with a good clamping system. Even without the fans in front, it still wicks heat away from the drive.