Need help w/ HD temps

[svenge]

I've had my rig up and running for about 2 months now, but now that spring is here and summer's on the way, I'm starting to get concerned w/ my HD temps. Originally in March my HD would only get to 46C at worst, but lately it's gotten up to 52C. I'm not exactly sure what would be the best way to reduce my HD temps. My case is the Centurion 5 with an PATA optical drive on the first of five 5.25" bays, a floppy drive in the top 3.25" bay, and a SATA WD 160GB HD in the 3nd of the five bays directly behind the included 80mm fan. Should I invest in one one of those HD coolers? I saw the iCage at NewEgg and it looks like something that might be able to cool my HD considerably. Any suggestions?

 

[Howard]

50C is fine.

 

[svenge]

If 50C is fine, what temp should I be worried at?

 

[Howard]

I think the max operating temp is specced at 59C by most manufacturers. Let me confirm.

WD and Maxtor spec max at 55C. Seagate specs max of 64C for some drives (69C for others). Seagate may have drives that can only handle temps lower than 64C, but I don't really feel like looking through multiple datasheets.

 

[svenge]

So if it gets consistently over 55C, should I invest in a HD cooler then?

 

[Howard]

Not necessarily. Perhaps the 80mm fan isn't delivering sufficient airflow. If you've got any spare aluminum U-channel laying around, cut some to length and attach it to the sides of the HD with the regular mounting screws. The extra width will force you to put it somewhere else, but you can suspend the HD in a 5.25" bay. You should also be able to fit a 120mm fan up in the bays if you wanted to, seeing as the bay covers are perforated (IIRC), or you can replace the bay covers with modder's mesh. The possibilities are endless at zombocom.

 

[RallyMaster]

Howard's words are true. The 80 mm may not be providing adequate airflow to the hard drives and therefore it heats up. Heck, my hard drives are 28, 31 and 38C respectively but only because of the 120 mm blowing on them.