Storage Solutions External SATA HDD casing

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Eazy said:
Strangely what I have read in the storage forums is that when an external HDD case gets warm/hot it is a good sign, it shows that the case is doing a good job of removing the heat off the HDD, people have said that when a external case is cool then it is an indication that the HDD will be running HOT. Seems that the external case is supposed to do the job of a heat sink, but I am not going to put any AS5 on my HDD and Vantec case. :ohyeah:

When I run my 160gb SATA 11 Hitachi HDD in the computer case it runs at an idle temp of around 34C and in the Vantec eSATA case the same HDD idles at around 36C. Only if a HDD is connected as an eSATA can you get the temp from it, USB2 does not pick up HDD temps.
Click to expand...

Agreed that a warm case is better than a cool one. But, I'm not confident that the HDD runs cool in a case that is warm to the touch. I believe that the HDD will be surrounded by an envelope of hot air all the time in any sealed case.

Thermal transfer is taking place i.e. from HDD body to air envelope and then to the case....but if the heat transfer from case to the outside is slower than the transfer of heat to the case, the HDD temps will gradually go up.

Anyway, all theories aside, have you observed the hourly temps on your HDD over time...like say over 8-24 hours? Does the temps remain constant? This would negate any concerns on the Vantec if any.

It would be good to know if anyone has this information. Nothing beats practical data :cool2: .
 
^^^ I hardly run my external HDDs for over an hour at a time, they are used only for backing up. And I run my eSATA HDD as a USB2 because it is very difficult to disconnect an eSATA HDD in Windows - I have to reboot or shut off to be able to disconnect the eSATA HDD :( I dont get a temp reading from the HDD when it is run as USB2 so I normally dont have an idea about the temp of the HDD, but in SUMMER the cases do get quite warm and I would think the HDD must be around 40+C.

When I am going to run the HDD for long periods - like when I am mirroring a HDD or copying 100GB+ then I open the lid of the Vantec case and keep the HDD open on my table with a table fan blowing on it at high speed, this keeps the HDD quite cool.
 
Hmm...I guessed so. Even I used them for 3-4hrs at max. Also, for me, It's scary having all those wires lying around and I lost a HDD by accidentally pulling at the power adaptor causing it to fall down.

You really take care of your HDDs. I'd never bother with opening the case once the damn thing is inside. It's a misery to take out the HDD from an el cheapo casing and getting it back in there isn't any better :P.
 
sydras said:
Hmm...I guessed so. Even I used them for 3-4hrs at max. .
Click to expand...
hardly run my external HDDs for over an hour at a time, they are used only for backing up
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u guys r so scared the ur hdds might fry up

i keep it running all the time and turn it off at night when i go to sleep

it's not even that hot to touch

i'd say around 40-45C
 
Best soln for using the hdd externally for many hrs is the Antec MX-1.

Sadly its priced really way too much and is bulky to carry it around.
 
Saiyan said:
Best soln for using the hdd externally for many hrs is the Antec MX-1.

Sadly its priced really way too much and is bulky to carry it around.
Click to expand...

I guess so...since it has active cooling. And ya...Antec's stuff is always overpriced.
 
I have been looking all over for the Vantec Enclosures

1. NST-200S3-BK

2. NST-200SU-BK

3. NS T-280S3-BK

4. NST-260SU-BL

Where do you get them in India?
 
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