safe to put case fan next to HDD?

[BZ]

I want to put an 80mm fan in the middle two 5.25 bays - with CDR above and HDD below

I've seen people do this, but is there a danger of magnetics from the fan? The reliability of the IDE devices is what I'm trying to improve by cooling them, so I don't want to do it if it will screw them up!

thanks

 

[EyeMWing]

If it won't stick to the side of the case, it's safe to be near your harddrives.

 

[beatle]

The magnetic field is so weak that you have nothing to worry about. If magnetic screwdrivers are also safe for harddrives (they are) then a fan is no problem.

 

[MichaelD]

It is most definitely safe. Antec makes their 8xx and 10x0 series cases with hard drive cages that have a fan holder built right in. The fan is about 1/2" away from the HDs once installed. I've built countless systems like this for years adn have never had a "magnetically related" problem. You're golden.

 

[BZ]

ok thanks - BTW I just did it and it looks so cool (my first case mod). Now I just have to spray paint my drives black to match my case. Hope my wife doesn't realize what a bad sign this is...

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: beatle
The magnetic field is so weak that you have nothing to worry about. If magnetic screwdrivers are also safe for harddrives (they are) then a fan is no problem.

Depends on how well-magnetized your screwdriver is. I use neodymium magnets to magnetize some of my screwdrivers; they're pretty strong now.


The magnets in the fan shouldn't be a problem - at least they aren't one in my system, which has 2 HD's in RAID 0 mounted in the 5.25" bays, with an 80mm fan right in front of them.