Mounting a hard drive upside down

[goobee]

Any problems with mounting a hard drive facing down instead of up?

Thanks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I've seen them mounted both ways (and on its side), but I think face up is the preferred way to do it. I'm not sure what the issue is behind it, but I think right side up is the way to go.

 

[goobee]

Bummer. :frown:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I don't really know if the guy that said that knew what he was talking about though...

I know some manufacturers of computers mount them upside down. It's probably not really going to matter.

I just always mount them rightside up so I haven't experimented with other orientations.

 

[goobee]

I have this old case that gives you a mounting spot on top of the inside of the case but it has to hang upside down. I just wanted to get a consensus before putting my 250gbs Maxtor up there. Thanks.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Doesn't seem to matter.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: goobee
Any problems with mounting a hard drive facing down instead of up?

Thanks.

Nope, I have mine sideways right now 😀

 

[Zepper]

If you go to the mfr's web site and read their installation guides (yeah, sure - RTFM) you can easily find out that drives can be mounted in any orientation that is less than 5 deg. off from horizontal or vertical. But I'm a throwback and mounting upside down (PCB up) is Taboo! here and if I find one mounted upside down, I FIX IT! I do this on the basis that no bearing works equally well in all orientations and if any would be the worst, upside down would be it.
. Worst to worst, you can rig a bracket with some plumber's strapping. It's cheap and easy to work with.

.bh.

 

[madthumbs]

I wouldn't put them upside down simply to keep dust off the board.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: madthumbs
I wouldn't put them upside down simply to keep dust off the board.

If the mounting bracket is on the "roof" of the computer, mounting upside down would let the board be against the top metal, and the covered top, now facing down would be what is exposed.

And, mounting in a normal drive cage, right side up, exposes the circuit board to dust from below. I don't think that is really a significant issue.