Keeping Cool with drive placement...

[Caveman]

Floppy, CD-RW, DVD, HDrive... What's the best way to mount these in a computer case for maximum cooling? Any theories on keeping cool?

 

[Caveman]

Nobody?

 

[MichaelD]

Airflow in a computer case is actually not as hard to figure out as some people would have you believe. You only need to remember a few simple things.

1. Heat rises. Even inside a closed container
2. Things like cables, wires and cards block airflow
3. You need a place for air to come in and a place for air to go out
4. You need something (fans) to move that air

The most important thing about case cooling/ventilation is to have a steady supply of fresh air moving thru the case. One intake fan at bottom front of case and one exhaust fan at top of rear case is a great start...and a minimum IMO.

Your HD generates the most heat (out of the components you listed). Try to keep it "in the airstream" if possible. IOW, if you have three different bays to mount the HD in, but only two of them have perforated vent holes in the case chassis at the front of the HD bay, mount the HD in one of those bays with the ventilation holes. The rear exhaust fan will pull fresh air thru the front of the case, thru those holes and over your HD, cooling it.

CDR/CDRW I don't worry too much about. Unless all you do is burn CDs all day long, cooling your CDRW is important, but not vital, like a HD. I just make sure that I have some airspace on top of my CDRW (I mount it on top...no other CDRs above it) and that's it.

Hope this helps.