my HDs are getting HOT!

[delussional77]

I recently migrated my current setup from a full size tower desktop to a Silverstone LC-17 HTPC case

the case only has two rear 80mm fans running permanently.

I have 6 seagate SATA HD's that are currently all running. I can't even put a finger to the drives until about 30 minutes after I have shut the system down without it being really, really hot!

I'm assuming that this is bad for the drives, but how high of a temp is too much? Is there a way for me to monitor the actual temperatures?

What sort've solutions exist to cool down the drives? I don't have much spare room for fans since this case is meant to look nice and not have holes all over it.

Thanks!

[Canon]

As a general rule from most specs I've read, anywhere from 55-60°C max operating temp. Check the manufacturer's website for your specific model(s) though.

One way to possibly get a readout (doesn't work for all drives and some controllers apparently don't pass this info through for some reason) is to install and run HDTune. This is a benchmarking/diagnostic utility and it seems to show the temperature. You can do benchmarks too while your at it if you are interested.

http://www.hdtune.com/

As for solutions... I'm sure there are some that may help (could water cool LOL), but IMHO 6 drives inside an HTPC system is far too many. Have you considered setting up some sort of file server or stuffing them into a NAS (network attached storage) box that has proper ventilation?

[delussional77]

hmm..not good

all 6 of my drives are in the 50-60 range

i'm going to disconnect them for now until I find a solution to cool them

anybody have any other ideas besides getting a NAS or something of the sort?

The six drives are split into 2 cages of 3 hard drives each. It looks like there is mounting points on the front of each cage for a fan to go, any ideas?

[Nenu]

Yes fit fans :)

[delussional77]

what kind of fans?

anything special required? I looked in newegg for HDD fans and they all looked really strange, not like anything would fit

appreciate the advice guys, I don't want my new drives dying!

for the record:
(3x) 750Gb
(3x) 320Gb

the computer is pretty damn packed

[Nenu]

These fan mounting points, are they part of the case, making the fans face inwards?
If so, they arent hard drive fan mounts, they are ye normal case fan mounts.

Look at where the fans go and measure the size on the edges of the screwholes.
They will probably be 80mm but you need to check.

[delussional77]

thanks Nenu,

as you were writing that I went ahead and pulled out a cage and removed the 3 750's just to see what it was all about.

on the "front" of the cage (up against the front of the case and essentially touching the fronts of the drives) there is a mounting part that does indeed allow for the attachment of an 80mm fan

i had one spare 80mm fan so I quickly ziptied it on there and re-mounted the harddrives on the next set of holes. I was able to make this cage fit back into the case and wired everything up. We'll soon see how much of a difference it makes. Each drive has like 1mm of clearance between drives.

[Nenu]

It should make a fair difference (compared to no fans!).
If there are 2 fan mounts you had best populate them both or block one off, otherwise air will circulate through the unused hole, wasting the fans power.

[delussional77]

check here at "the cooling" to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.procooling.com/index.php?func=articles&disp=144&pg=2

[Nenu]

check here at "the cooling" to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.procooling.com/index.php?func=articles&disp=144&pg=2

Fit 2 x 92mm fan.
This is better than 80mm because they can shift the same or more air and be quieter.
if you are worried about noise choose silent fans or quiet fans with a speed controller.

ps this is assuming that the holes on the front inside of the case really are holes.
If they are not holes on the case fronts inside let me know cos we are gonna have to look at a cooling strategy.

[delussional77]

hey Nenu, thanks alot man!

those circular "plates" actually pop out exposing the front of the case. The entire bottom of the front of this case is slotted to allow for airflow. I can really feel the air moving and with the top of the case off i'm holding steady at 40 degC instead of the 60 degC I was when I made this thread. I will let the comp run all night and then i'll try it with the lid on to see if it performs okay.

definitely ordering a pair of silent 92mm

any recommendations?

[Nenu]

Cool (literally) :)

Soz, I'm in the UK so am not sure what 92mm fans you can get over the pond.
You might want to make another thread asking for Silent/Quiet 92mm Fan advice if you dont get a result here.

[Danny Bui]

There's a small list of recommended quiet/silent 92mm fans here:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page2.html

The name of the website should tell you how serious they are about quiet.;)

Though if you want to save some and take a small chance, I've heard that this 92mm fan is pretty quiet:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Panaflo-M1A-Z-92x92x25mm-case-fan-FBA09A12M-Z-pr-3403.html

[Nora]

One of the free monitoring programs I like is called PC Wizzard 2008. It will let you what temp the hdd's are running at.

[chulerico]

depending on HD, most run fairly hot, unless you get one of the newer ones, green, which run very cool to the touch,

sam

[alcuin]

40c is what I aim to keep my hard drives at. Above 55 triggers SMART alarms for me.

[delussional77]

thanks for the advice everyone

currently, with crossflow 92mm fans installed all 6 sata drives are idling between 35-40.

I'm getting a new video card here shortly that will be fan cooled and I'm adding another 80mm fan to properly exhaust the hot air contained in the case

also, I decided to use the smart.dll plugin for Samurize.