Paul
Sun Jul 06 01:08:48 PDT 2008
Walter R. wrote:
> Running Win XP pro SP2
>
> I installed a Maxtor SATA 500 GB hard drive in my 7 year old computer, using
> an IDE/SATA controller. Its running fine.
>
> However, it runs quite a bit warmer (hotter) than my 80 GB IDE hard drive. I
> cannot
> touch it for more than 5 seconds, without letting go.
>
> Is this high temp normal for a big hard drive? Is the temp of a drive
> depending
> on the size of the drive?
>
> Thanks
>
>
You can check the drive temperature, using a utility that can read
SMART parameters. An example is Speedfan from almico.com . (Naturally,
there are lots of caveats when it comes to these kinds of measurements,
such as incorrect motherboard temperatures, or drives that don't really
read temperature etc. YMMV.)
It sounds like your drive casing is at 55C-60C or so, and that is
a bit on the high side. I'd probably have an "adverse reaction",
if my drive was doing that :-)
Currently, my 80GB drive is at 31C, and the case air temp is
25C. So my drive is 6C above internal ambient. And has a good flow
of air across the top (as the intake vent on the PC, is right
next to the drive bay). If your computer case is not well cooled,
or if the hard drive is in a dead zone with regard to air flow,
that will be part of the problem.
Go to the Seagate site, and download their disk diagnostic (whatever
one is used with Maxtor drives). If the diagnostic fails the
drive, get it replaced under warranty. You will likely
receive a refurb in its place. The reason I suggest a test,
is to see whether there are already symptoms caused by
the high temperature.
One reason high temperature is not good for modern drives,
is it can accelerate the rate that fluid evaporates from
the fluid bearings. The bearings are sealed, but high temperatures
don't help matters.
And just for fun, some stats from Russia.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=222978&cid=18059050
Paul