Hard Drive cooling???, in a HTPC environment!

[GLO]

I was wondering what other peoples thoughts are for Hard Drive cooling!

For example, would would perform better!
1. a bare HDD with a typical HTPC airflow across them, or
2. using the Coolermaster Cool Drive 4 (or coolDrive 3) with fan on low (for minimal sound)?

 

[GLO]

Initially that would be for 1 Hard drive, but a second HDD will be added in the future.

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<b>GLO</b>
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[error_911]

wuzy, if cooling one drive is not important, but cooling two drices in a RAID-0 is, please, explain why, because I'd love to know how your two drives necessite cooling more than his single device.. wuzy, there's no logic in your argument, and his drive needs cooling for optimal lifetime, no questions asked - <b>especially</b> in an htpc environment, which tends to have more restrictions on airflow, and has higher case temps

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[error_911]

glo, take a look at my reply to wuzy - if i were you, i'd go ahead and add that extra cooling, there's no question about whether or not its worth it - additional cooling in a restricted-airflow area, if keeping with airflow patterns inside the case, is always beneficial

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[GLO]

the reason why i asked the question is since their is minimal or limited air movement (like only a slight breeze)to keep the noise down; i was wanting to compare any benefits of a free standing 7200rpm SATA HDD versus the same HDD in the confines of a HDD cooler (that may have less air movement around it) since its encased?

Does that help clear up my question?

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<b>GLO</b>
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[error_911]

well, "in the confines of a HDD cooler" ends up being better-ventilated than sitting in the 3 1/2" bay of the case, regardless... if you're asking what kind of true performance benefits you would see - good luck in finding them: cooling your hard drive will increase its lifespan, which may contribute to lower noise over time, thats about it

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[error_911]

shh
lol

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[GLO]

Thanks guys,

I wasnt looking for any performance increase, just life expectancy and a reduction in HDD temp.

Naturally, when i add a 2nd and 3rd HDD they are unlikely to be in a HDD cooler becuase i dont have any more room for other HDD coolers and fortunately they will be more exposed to the ventilation of the case.

The moral that i have learnt here is, any HDD that is positioned in a location sandwiched between any other components like DVD burners or other HDD, the built in 40mm fan of the HD cooler will aid in ventilation that would not naturally occur.


On that point, what is the best part of the HDD to take th e temperate and subsequently the best place to direct cooling?

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Another thing you might want to consider (besides hard drive cooling) is case design, Coolermaster among others has some Micro ATX desktop cases that will stack much more nicely with your other HT components than a "cube" would.

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[GLO]

Thanks Crashman,

I will be using the Silverstone SST-LC03vfd case which is in a desktop arrangement.

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[error_911]

The entire hard drive being enveloped in an airstream is probably the best way to cool it, as no individual components really require direct cooling. Essentially, having an intake fan blowing on the entire drive is ideal. As for measuring temperature, most motherboards and drives will allow for direct temperature measurement via built-in gauges - you can use MotherboardMonitor5 (MBM5) to display the temp.

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[GLO]

Thanks error 911,

the Cooldrive4 only has a low CFM of about 9cfm when at max flow, naturally this can be turned down!

Just read an article saying that if you turn your HDD upside down so that the controller is topside up, it will run cooler! Heard of this before?

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by GLO on 05/11/04 03:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Crashman]

If you have a link, I'll check out the configuration on that case!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[GLO]

Here is the link! Its was acheived whilst dodoing a review on a HDD cooler but in principle the result should be the same without a cooler, just to a lesser degree.
http://www.mikhailtech.com/articles/cooling/hc250/

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

I've seen pleanty of drive coolers, I was speaking of a link to the case, I'd like to get a visual idea of airflow.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[GLO]

here is a link to the case
<A HREF="http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc03v.htm" target="_new">Silverstone LC03vfd site</A>

<A HREF="http://www.phamcomputer.com/silverstone/lascala3/lascala301.htmlhere" target="_new">and more pics </A>(its the same case, just with a VFD unit) internals are the same.
and here is a
<A HREF="http://htpcnews.com/images/silverstone_lc03/drivecagesfromback.jpg" target="_new">close up of the bays!</A>


<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[error_911]

I've never heard of this, though I'd love to see a link to the article. I mean, I can see how this would make some sense, since hot air rises, and the underbelly of the drive is the hotter side - but to make a significant difference... I don't know, would be worth a try if you feel like it .

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[GLO]

<A HREF="http://www.mikhailtech.com/articles/cooling/hc250/" target="_new">Here is the link</A>

And here is a close up shot of a HDD in the cooler <A HREF="http://www.hwextreme.com/reviews/coolers/coolermaster_cooldrive4/images/10.jpg" target="_new">here</A>

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Really nice case. The bays appear to be very open, I don't see why you'd need bay coolers.

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<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[error_911]

The cyber cooler actually exhausts air from the hard drive underbelly area, simply cooling the drive by convection, while the CoolerMaster CoolDrive blows air onto/around the drive, again cooling by convection, but at least cyphoning the air around the drive area. Whether or not there is any heat transfer from the drive to the metal casing though is negligible.

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[GLO]

the only reason why i am considering the Cooldrive 4 is becasue it has the built in fan controllers and hdd cooler ( its only a few $ more than the aerogateII , which has just the fan controller)

Plus i was going to keep the HDD in the lower bays so that they stay out of the heat accumulating at the top of the case!

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[GLO]

all things said, although the case it spacey, and knowing that i want to have a fan temp/monitor there, and although i probably dont need a HDD cooler, would you step up from the Coolermaster <A HREF="http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=ALD-V02-UK&other_title=+ALD-V02-UK+Aerogate II" target="_new"> Aerogate 2</A> or would you add only few more dollars and upgrade to the Coolmaster <A HREF="http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=LHD-V04&other_title=LHD-V04CoolDrive 4" target="_new">Cool Drive 4</A> which is a combo <A HREF="http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=ALD-V02-UK&other_title=+ALD-V02-UK+Aerogate II" target="_new"> Aerogate 2</A> and <A HREF="http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=DHC-U43&other_title=+DHC-U43+CoolDrive 3" target="_new"> CoolDrive 3</A>

<font color=red>Kind Regards
<b>GLO</b>
check out what i do! <A HREF="http://www.GLO-Racing.com" target="_new">http://www.GLO-Racing.com</A></font color=red>

 

[error_911]

I would definitely go with the CoolDrive 4 (I've always loved my fan-speed controller, and if you can combine the best of both worlds..!).

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://www.bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>