PDA

View Full Version : 4 HDD in an Antec P180B

U HAX0R
09-12-2006, 09:46 AM
I have an Antec P180B and 4 HDD's inside. For those that don't know, you can put 4 HDD's in the bottom chamber. The inside of the case is like this. (http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/xoxide/antec-p180-case-2.jpg) There's also a fan there but it's in the way and you need to remove it if you wanna put drives in there. So mine was removed a long time ago.

I had 3 drives down there for a while and everything was running great. But now I added a 4th drive and just now I bothered to check the temps on these. Primary WD 160GB was running at 50C+ (Max 66C) and one of my 320GB was running at 47C (max 49C) :eek: So I was like oh noes! Gotta do something.

So I tried to put back the fan, doesn't work, my SATA power cables stick out too much and touch the fan. Tried to put the fan between the front panel and the cage, didn't work fan is too big (even after I removed the bracket for those familiar with the P180). So, I just put 2 HDD down and 2 up. Drives are much cooler now, but I hate this configuration, so messy. :mad:

So I was thinking about what should I do:

1. Leave the drives like that. (2 up 2 down) :mad:
2. Try to find a thinner 120mm fan to put between the cage and the front part and put the 4 drives there.
3. Put the 4 drives down there and hope the heat don't kill them.

But I think #3 would be stupid, right ?

And would #2 be enough for cooling them ?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

On another topic, how can I check the temperature of all my drive ?
Druneau
09-12-2006, 10:02 AM
90 degree SATA plugs?
U HAX0R
09-12-2006, 10:13 AM
90 degree SATA plugs?

It's the SATA power cables that cause me trouble. From the PSU.

Unless they have some kind of adapter for that ? :confused:
defakto
09-12-2006, 10:46 AM
Is it possible to create a small spacer out of plastic or wood to push that case fan back far enough to give you clearence? Leaving the drives without cooling shouldn't be an optino unless you want to replace things.
GLSauron
09-12-2006, 10:57 AM
I have 4 SATA drives in my P180, all in the lower chamber and managed to fit a fan in there.
best picture I can find of it http://www.ilkhan.com/misc/IMG_0099.JPG
U HAX0R
09-12-2006, 11:23 AM
Is it possible to create a small spacer out of plastic or wood to push that case fan back far enough to give you clearence? Leaving the drives without cooling shouldn't be an optino unless you want to replace things.

Don't think so, cables from the back the PSU would be in the way.

I have 4 SATA drives in my P180, all in the lower chamber and managed to fit a fan in there.
best picture I can find of it http://www.ilkhan.com/misc/IMG_0099.JPG


Oh your fan is the opposite direction of how I wanted to put mine, so the air is blowing on the drives right ? Is it efficient enough ? The pic is fine by the way. :)

I'll try again to fit the fan in there. But, it's hard to do because of my PSU, it's an Antec NeoHE and all the cables are sleeved, so they don't bend as well as unsleeved ones and just how they're made it's troublesome, like the connectors are so apart from each other ...

Maybe if I put the fan like this I could put it there, the cables would probably touch the fan but maybe not the fan blades.

Thanks.
Ockie
09-12-2006, 05:17 PM
I've never head of this being an issue, the only issue you have to be careful off is breaking off sata ends.
GLSauron
09-13-2006, 03:55 AM
Oh your fan is the opposite direction of how I wanted to put mine, so the air is blowing on the drives right ? Is it efficient enough ? The pic is fine by the way. :)
I replaced the fan with a silent one, and flipped it around, I think. IIRC the fan is pulling from the front and blowing onto the PSU. Its been stuck in my closet for a while now, but I may have to go check. :mad:

Since the area is fairly sealed, the air should be being pulled from in front of the HDDs. I pulled the airflow cover thing off, but the space leading up from the chamber is mostly filled with cables anyway (2 2-spot SATA power and 4 SATA signal).