Cooling for HDDs

I've been using removeable Hard Drive racks in my towers for several years now, mainly because I enjoy tinkering with different configurations, cloning and the like. I find, however, that the built-in cooling fans in these units get quite noisy over time, probably due to the use of sleeve instead of ball bearings. So, two questions: has anyone out there found a way to insinuate lubricant into a sleeve-bearing fan (remember, these are the 40mm x 40mm variety) to get some peace, or is a switch to ball-bearing fans the only semi-permanent solution? Or: if one removed the fan from the rack completely, allowing for an increased airflow over the resident hard drive, whilst installing an auxiliary fan in the rear of the tower, would this keep the cooling function within the tower at a sufficient level to prevent hard drive heat problems? I haven't experienced any hard drive overheating that I know of, so any info in this area would be appreciated as well.
Thanks,
Garth.

 

Tony: Thanks for the quick reply, and the reminder that I already have a few utilities on board (Everest and Sandra '07) to monitor temps. I d/l and installed SIW as well, and after comparing returns from all three, I think I've got good information to work with. I believe that I'll start with a case fan, and go from there. As well, I can see a requirement for me to do some serious studying up on SMART tech and the like.

 

Garth,

I use a lot of removable drive caddies too. You are oh so right re: those fans, be they rear mount or the larger bottom mount fans. When they start making noise, I simply remove them and have never experienced any problems. Quite frankly, I don't think they do much in the way of HDD cooling when they are working properly.

 

Thanks for the info. Now that I've been reminded about HD temperature source, I'll be able to return to the caddy use with less fear of something burning up, breaking down, or otherwise. Now if I could only boot from my primary hard drive instead of needing a boot floppy, I'd be making real progress - but That's for another thread, in another forum (insert rueful grin HERE).

Garth.

 

Just in the last few years hard drives are running a lot cooler. I also make extensive use of caddies without the fans and did have to watch those temps. Seems however to be a thing of the past now with most current drives.

 

McT: thanks for the positive info - I'm just about to begin retrofit. TonyT: can I take from your comments re SMART that the monitoring utilities previously discussed will take their info directly from the hard drive connex - forgive my ignorance, but during a few years of watching the SMART info flashing by on bootup, it never occurred to me to find out just what it meant...
Garth

 

Tony:
Once again, thanks for the info. As I'm operating with an ESC PM800 MoBo - by this time, about three-year-old stuff, I don't expect any sophistication ref. on-board temp sensors or the like - there certainly isn't any mention of such in the doc's. So as not to be accused of beating this thing to death. I think that I'll install the HD racks, find some way to keep track of the drive temps (perhaps a remote-reading thermometer), and get a case fan on the job. I certainly have a lot more info about the temperature situation than when I started.
Garth.

 

The removable caddies I'm using are aluminum and have built in thermal sensors, digital readouts and temp alarms that can be set manually. Only problem is, temperature readouts are not that accurate and these are next to impossible to find for sale today. I'm fortunate in that I bought several when they were available and still have a few stashed away. Each of my machines are fitted with two and I've also got a few extra trays with drives mounted that can be moved around.

A good friend of mine introduced me to drive caddies several years ago when he and a couple of others were big into MP3s and used to swap fully loaded drives between themselves for copying.

I don't enable SMART drive technology because the scanning actually slows things down, albeit extremely marginal. Just got in the habit of always disabling and like a lot of old habits, they tend to stick with one even as technology changes. I didn't know that SMART provided temperature readings but it wouldn't influence my thinking either. I seldom see an HDD that goes much higher than 27° C regardless of what's inside the case.

 

Thanks for the info.
To TonyT: the last thing I need right now is to be pointed toward new gadgets - 'cause I already found one. Since my concern has been HDD temps, why not find something to assist me in determining said temperatures!? No, not the device you suggested, as its use would require opening the tower and presenting the probe toward the drive. Not the same environment. No, I've got to find a temperature sensing device which reads in a standard operating condition. Now, right here is where all of us are slipping into the yada, yada mode, and rightly so. It (temperature) really isn't that important, if one pays attention to the basics of cleanliness, adequate ventilation and the like. Unfortunately, you, my friends, have got my teeth into this thing, and I can't let go. Therefore, I've zeroed in on a digital temperature reader in kit form, using a wee IC sensor which I can mount on each drive in turn, and monitor the temps in real time, compare the results with those produced by the utilities mentioned in earlier strands in this thread, and GO CRAZY. Anyway, I installed a case fan in my primary tower while all of this was going on, and did note a significant decrease in the temps reported. This is getting good.
Rockster, I'm currently babysitting a couple of Al external drive caddies (quite basic, no sensors or the like) for my son - seems he can't get them to talk to his MacBook, but we're working on that. I'm looking forward to trying out my new scheme on these, to see if the heat dissipation capabilities are up to spec. This might take a few days, but I WILL post when I've got more info in this area.
Thanks again to all who persist in pushing me onward toward the light - or is it the heat? I'll be in touch.
Garth.