2 HDDs in a SFF... would that be safe?

R

rene mauricio

Gawd
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
648
The real question is; would it be smart to use 2 Raptors in a SFF system? I want so badly to hold off on buying the DFI SLi-DR and go SFF this time around, but that means that I have to wait for a SLi capable 939 SFF. With all that inside, would it be safe to also throw in two 74GB Raptors?
 
I have the following stuffed into a Shuttle case:

*P4 3.6
*NV 6800 GT PCIe
*250 gig WD
*36 gig WD Raptor

Sucker runs hot--but stable--so I certainly wouldn't sweat it :)
 
Whatever you do, DO NOT do two Maxtors, many people have had complete system failures with running dual maxtors. Raptors isn't a good idea either due to heat. Stick with Western Digital or Seagates
 
IceWind said:
Whatever you do, DO NOT do two Maxtors, many people have had complete system failures with running dual maxtors. Raptors isn't a good idea either due to heat. Stick with Western Digital or Seagates
Click to expand...

Would you care to elaborate on this Maxtor problem?
 
IceWind said:
Whatever you do, DO NOT do two Maxtors, many people have had complete system failures with running dual maxtors. Raptors isn't a good idea either due to heat. Stick with Western Digital or Seagates
Click to expand...
found that bit funny :p (before anyone says "I don't get it" I said that cause Raptors are made by WD)



anyways, I would like to know about the Maxtor issue as well
 
I don't have any experience with the Maxtors but from what I've read they can be a real problem in SFF, systems particularly the Shuttles. I can't remember the exact reasons people gave for staying away from the Maxtors but I think they were along the lines of they keep dying in the SFF systems or they have compatability issues with the SFF mobos.

Raptors I guess are ok even though they can run hot. I might actually pick one up when funds are sufficient for my Shuttle. I decided to go with the Seagate right now and it works fine for me. It's fast and quiet and stays reasonably cool. Plus the five-year warranty is sweet too. Try checking the forums here... http://www.sfftech.com/ for SFF info concerning Raptors and the like.
 
there are things you can do to your shuttle to make it run cooler, like that blowhole mod that guy did. lots of other creative ideas too, like the mesh side panels and what not. i think you would be fine with the heat, but unless shuttle or antec or w/e sff you plan on getting with SLi also upgrades their PSU to a higher output, then i don't really know if current sff PSU outputs are high enough.
 
Enh... I really don't think it would be a problem. I've been running a 74gig Raptor in my XPC since just after they came out. I also have a 250 gig 7k250. Haven't had a problem yet.

My raptor is currently running at 28 C. My 7k250 is at 29 C. I expect them to heat up a little more and stabilize in the mid 30s... along with every thing else except for the VRMs and my x800.

The SLI setup could potentially be a problem. I've heard rumors of hot vid cards baking hard drives, but I've never seen it.

Sounds like a fine idea to me though. SLI + RAID 0 in a XPC. Even though there have been discussions about the point of RAID for a desktop...

-dB

Edit: Heh... Antioch... I'm in Oakley.
 
umbra said:
sff+2 hard drives+ ventilation= fine
Click to expand...

A very good summing up of this thread. Be careful if you add 2 hard drives. In my opinion you should be just fine with two hard drives of whatever kind you choose. Even the Raptors should be okay. What you need to do is make sure to monitor the drive temperatures and if necessary you can perform a few simple modifications to get this all to work.
 
Deadlierchair said:
A very good summing up of this thread. Be careful if you add 2 hard drives. In my opinion you should be just fine with two hard drives of whatever kind you choose. Even the Raptors should be okay. What you need to do is make sure to monitor the drive temperatures and if necessary you can perform a few simple modifications to get this all to work.
Click to expand...

How do you monitor a harddrive's temperature? I wasn't even aware that temperature was an issue with harddrives, let alone that they had thermal monitoring diodes.
 
robberbaron said:
How do you monitor a harddrive's temperature? I wasn't even aware that temperature was an issue with harddrives, let alone that they had thermal monitoring diodes.
Click to expand...

Very much so, HDDs wear out faster at higher tempatures and prone to failure the higher the tempatures. Desktop drives start to die at around 50c or higher.
 
IceWind said:
Whatever you do, DO NOT do two Maxtors, many people have had complete system failures with running dual maxtors. Raptors isn't a good idea either due to heat. Stick with Western Digital or Seagates
Click to expand...
You do realize that a raptor *is* a western digital product, right?
 
Laforge said:
You do realize that a raptor *is* a western digital product, right?
Click to expand...

DaCoOlNeSs said:
found that bit funny (before anyone says "I don't get it" I said that cause Raptors are made by WD)
Click to expand...

This has already been covered. I think what he was trying to say was to avoid both the Raptors and the Maxtors and stick to normal 7200 RPM drives from Seagate and WD. But...yes, Raptors are warmer, but not warm enough that you can't use one. And...Maxtors are innocent.
 
Deadlierchair said:
This has already been covered. I think what he was trying to say was to avoid both the Raptors and the Maxtors and stick to normal 7200 RPM drives from Seagate and WD. But...yes, Raptors are warmer, but not warm enough that you can't use one. And...Maxtors are innocent.
Click to expand...

Wrong, go to SFFforums saying that and you will get sad stories to turn that opinion 180 degrees.

And when I meant Raptors I meant running Dual Raptors probably isn't the best idea but I know people are doing it, nothing wrong with the brand name in itself. I for one keep my HDD"s running as cool as possible.
 
The problem Maxtor drives were the thin ones that Maxtor released about a year ago. They heat up like a space heater. People were cramming 2 or 3 of them in a SFF and thinking that they they wouldn't have any issues.

Maxtor fixed this problem by not making the single platter HDD anymore.
 
In my Soltek EQ3401M:
3.0C @ 3.7 with Swiftech 92mm Cooler
Gig Corsair XMS
6800GT-OC
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
36GB Raptor
300GB MAXTOR (OMG FIRE!! FIRE!! :rolleyes: )
DVD Burner
Another 92mm Fan


Most stable system I've ever built.
 
Doc Holiday said:
The problem Maxtor drives were the thin ones that Maxtor released about a year ago. They heat up like a space heater. People were cramming 2 or 3 of them in a SFF and thinking that they they wouldn't have any issues.

Maxtor fixed this problem by not making the single platter HDD anymore.
Click to expand...
What model #'s are the "thin" ones and how thin were they?
 
IceWind said:
Wrong, go to SFFforums saying that and you will get sad stories to turn that opinion 180 degrees.

And when I meant Raptors I meant running Dual Raptors probably isn't the best idea but I know people are doing it, nothing wrong with the brand name in itself. I for one keep my HDD"s running as cool as possible.
Click to expand...

Well, I just went through every single thread title and didn't find a thing. Same thing with Google. Anyhow, that's not what's important. Maxtor may have made one bum drive but as long as you avoid that one you will be fine. There's no reason to blanket reject one company because of one drive problem. Also, it is my opinion that overheating problems like this should have been forseen by the users. You can't put a system together today and just forget about it and hope it all runs well. For the first few hours of operation you've got to monitor temperatures, voltages, all that good stuff.

Anyhow, avoid that Maxtor drive, and use some common sense and you'll be fine.
 
Just as a refresher, we are speaking about Shuttle's in general, or SFF's? If its a BYO it works fine as long as you ventilate. Also, you might be able to get away with buying the PF16 Case Shell replacement from Shuttle that add's the black mesh screening to ventilate the box better.

I haven't heard anything about the Maxor issue, so I'd be curious as what to avoid in the future.

-E
 
Alright. I have not given up on the SFF idea since most of you agree that it should be fine so long as I have a mesh case. Speaking of which... would that be a DIY project or does Shuttle sell some premade?

Decibel said:
Edit: Heh... Antioch... I'm in Oakley.
Click to expand...

Ugh, at least you can relate to the pain that is Contra Costa. Thank God we do not live in Brentwood. :D
 
r0gue3, what kind of hard drives you have in your Shuttle SN95G5? I want to upgrade to a raptor 74gb but i've read reviews saying that it's pretty hot. I'm running an AMD 3500 at 2.5GHz so the temps are about 40-45C at full load. I wonder if the raptor will make it heat up more.
 
ok.. i am uploading some maxtor pics right now.. but first..

i have an sn45g2v2 with a MAXTOR 160gig and a samsung spinpoint 160 gig sitting right on top of it.. my vcore is about 1.45v right now.. and the cooling is stock.. the fan is going about 2200 rpm..
according to sandra my temps are:
39 board
46 cpu
43 psu
i can't seem to get sandra to pull up my hd temps.. but i didn't pop the hood on my case and they are just warm.. i have definitely had hotter running drives..


to those who asked.. here are some pics of a thin maxtor next to a "normal" one..
id38156.jpg

id38157.jpg


go for it, but monitor temps and have a backup plan.. that's all i can say.. my backup plan was to build a file server or get an external enclosure if my temps got too high...

but i think you are trying some raid 0, so that wont' work for you...
 
Ive had a 30GB single platter 'thin' maxtor running for almost 2 years now without a hiccup (although it was in a full tower, with one fan)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top