Hi, I just put two of these in my PC, running in RAID 1 mode:
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JS 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard
Drive
The description at the place I bought them (newegg) touted how cool
they ran. That's one of the reasons I went with this model drive.
My system doesn't have the right probes to tell me the exact temp they
are running at, but when I put my digital weather thermometer probe
against the plug end of either drive, it shows 120 F (49 C). So, I
imagine that the inside of the drive could be as high as 140 F (60 C).
By hard drive standards, are these temperatures normal or is something
wrong here? If something is wrong, is it fixable or should I just try
to return the drives and get something else?
Thanks for any insight or help anyone can give me about this problem.
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:42:36 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
<randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Hi, I just put two of these in my PC, running in RAID 1 mode:
>
>Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JS 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard
>Drive
>
>The description at the place I bought them (newegg) touted how cool
>they ran. That's one of the reasons I went with this model drive.
>
>My system doesn't have the right probes to tell me the exact temp they
>are running at, but when I put my digital weather thermometer probe
>against the plug end of either drive, it shows 120 F (49 C). So, I
>imagine that the inside of the drive could be as high as 140 F (60 C).
>
>By hard drive standards, are these temperatures normal or is something
>wrong here? If something is wrong, is it fixable or should I just try
>to return the drives and get something else?
>
>Thanks for any insight or help anyone can give me about this problem.
>
>-Randy
That does seem a bit warm (assuming the thermometer is
accurate), most likely your case doesn't have enough airflow
through the drive rack. If that's the problem, getting
different drives isn't going to help much if at all.
On Sep 10, 7:53 pm, kony <s...@spam.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:42:36 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
>
>
>
> <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >Hi, I just put two of these in my PC, running in RAID 1 mode:
>
> >Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JS 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard
> >Drive
>
> >The description at the place I bought them (newegg) touted how cool
> >they ran. That's one of the reasons I went with this model drive.
>
> >My system doesn't have the right probes to tell me the exact temp they
> >are running at, but when I put my digital weather thermometer probe
> >against the plug end of either drive, it shows 120 F (49 C). So, I
> >imagine that the inside of the drive could be as high as 140 F (60 C).
>
> >By hard drive standards, are these temperatures normal or is something
> >wrong here? If something is wrong, is it fixable or should I just try
> >to return the drives and get something else?
>
> >Thanks for any insight or help anyone can give me about this problem.
>
> >-Randy
>
> That does seem a bit warm (assuming the thermometer is
> accurate), most likely your case doesn't have enough airflow
> through the drive rack. If that's the problem, getting
> different drives isn't going to help much if at all.
Thanks...yup, the thermometer is very accurate. And, just to be sure
I opened the side of the computer case up, and actually pulled the
drive rack out completely and set it outside the computer. Either
way, when it is inside the computer (with a cooling fan blowing toward
it), or when the drives are outside the computer with good free
airflow around them -- I am getting above 112 F (44 C) at the hard
drive housing. With the cover on the computer I'm getting 112 F.
The cpu in this system runs at a cool 97 F (36 C) -- so I don't think
I'm having cooling issues within the case.
I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
running" I think these are out of whack.
Randy Brick MacKenna <randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1189473471.268356.45220@r29g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com:
> I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
> temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
> running" I think these are out of whack.
>
> -Randy
Don't know about the specific model, but in general WD drives run cool, and
the re2 models actually cooler.
Anyway, install speedfan and you will have all the temperatures you need.
On Sep 10, 9:42 pm, Rookie <roo...@hates.spam> wrote:
> Randy Brick MacKenna <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote innews:1189473471.268356.45220@r29g2000hsg.googleg roups.com:
>
> > I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
> > temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
> > running" I think these are out of whack.
>
> > -Randy
>
> Don't know about the specific model, but in general WD drives run cool, and
> the re2 models actually cooler.
>
> Anyway, install speedfan and you will have all the temperatures you need.
Thanks...yeah IIRC, speedfan doesn't deal with RAID all that well.
Anyone reading this, if the have a WD caviar 7200rpm SATA drive in
their system I'd love to have a reference from you as to what your
drive temp is. Passive cooling, preferably.
Randy Brick MacKenna <randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1189476194.140023.213080@r29g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com:
> On Sep 10, 9:42 pm, Rookie <roo...@hates.spam> wrote:
>> Randy Brick MacKenna <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote
>> innews:1189473471.268356.45220@r29g2000hsg.googleg roups.com:
>>
>> > I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
>> > temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
>> > running" I think these are out of whack.
>>
>> > -Randy
>>
>> Don't know about the specific model, but in general WD drives run
>> cool, and the re2 models actually cooler.
>>
>> Anyway, install speedfan and you will have all the temperatures you
>> need.
>
> Thanks...yeah IIRC, speedfan doesn't deal with RAID all that well.
>
> Anyone reading this, if the have a WD caviar 7200rpm SATA drive in
> their system I'd love to have a reference from you as to what your
> drive temp is. Passive cooling, preferably.
>
> Thanks,
> Randy
>
>
Speedfan has been frequently updated, and the latest beta seems quite
improved. Give it a try.
Rookie wrote:
> Randy Brick MacKenna <randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:1189476194.140023.213080@r29g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com:
>
>> On Sep 10, 9:42 pm, Rookie <roo...@hates.spam> wrote:
>>> Randy Brick MacKenna <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>> innews:1189473471.268356.45220@r29g2000hsg.googleg roups.com:
>>>
>>>> I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
>>>> temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
>>>> running" I think these are out of whack.
>>>> -Randy
>>> Don't know about the specific model, but in general WD drives run
>>> cool, and the re2 models actually cooler.
>>>
>>> Anyway, install speedfan and you will have all the temperatures you
>>> need.
>> Thanks...yeah IIRC, speedfan doesn't deal with RAID all that well.
>>
>> Anyone reading this, if the have a WD caviar 7200rpm SATA drive in
>> their system I'd love to have a reference from you as to what your
>> drive temp is. Passive cooling, preferably.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Randy
>>
>>
>
> Speedfan has been frequently updated, and the latest beta seems quite
> improved. Give it a try.
Looks fine , thanks! (and no i am not randy)
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:17:51 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
<randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> That does seem a bit warm (assuming the thermometer is
>> accurate), most likely your case doesn't have enough airflow
>> through the drive rack. If that's the problem, getting
>> different drives isn't going to help much if at all.
>
>Thanks...yup, the thermometer is very accurate. And, just to be sure
>I opened the side of the computer case up, and actually pulled the
>drive rack out completely and set it outside the computer. Either
>way, when it is inside the computer (with a cooling fan blowing toward
>it), or when the drives are outside the computer with good free
>airflow around them -- I am getting above 112 F (44 C) at the hard
>drive housing. With the cover on the computer I'm getting 112 F.
No, outside a computer is not "good free airflow", that is
the opposite. You want ample fan-forced airflow in the
front intake of a computer and then through the drive rack.
I still think your case has insufficient airflow. Having a
fan doesn't mean anything, it has to move sufficient airflow
past the drive which also means:
1) Case front bezel has a fair number and area of opening.
2) Case fan mount doesn't have a lot of obstructions around
it like a metal wall with only little holes or slots stamped
out.
3) The airflow the fan produces doesn't just blow in the
direction of the drive, rather the majority flows through
the drive rack across the top and bottom surfaces of the
drive.
4) The case exhaust is also optimal, as what comes in has
to exit the case at the same rate.
It may be that some of these factors are present, and you
have not mentioned what your ambient (room) temp is unless
I've overlooked it, but there is still every reason to think
the drive runs hot because it is improperly cooled.
>
>The cpu in this system runs at a cool 97 F (36 C) -- so I don't think
>I'm having cooling issues within the case.
One has nothing to do with the other. A CPU has it's own
heatsink and fan and has a lower power idle state.
>
>I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
>temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
>running" I think these are out of whack.
>
Again I suggest you need to divert from this tangent and
focus on the time-tested proper hard drive cooling
configuration. Unfortunately a computer case can't just be
randomly picked and used under the assumption it is ok,
there are far too many poorly designed cases out there.
However, there is already another factor to consider in that
we cannot just randomly assumed a drive is "X" degrees
hotter inside because of the rear temp reading. The frame
is aluminum and transmits heat fairly well, particularly so
right next to the circuit board. While 60C would be on the
hot side, the important parts might be closer to 50C which
is to be expected in a case with poor airflow, or sitting
out on a desk without any fan-forced airflow on them.
On Sep 11, 12:35 am, kony <s...@spam.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:17:51 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
>
> <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> That does seem a bit warm (assuming the thermometer is
> >> accurate), most likely your case doesn't have enough airflow
> >> through the drive rack. If that's the problem, getting
> >> different drives isn't going to help much if at all.
>
> >Thanks...yup, the thermometer is very accurate. And, just to be sure
> >I opened the side of the computer case up, and actually pulled the
> >drive rack out completely and set it outside the computer. Either
> >way, when it is inside the computer (with a cooling fan blowing toward
> >it), or when the drives are outside the computer with good free
> >airflow around them -- I am getting above 112 F (44 C) at the hard
> >drive housing. With the cover on the computer I'm getting 112 F.
>
> No, outside a computer is not "good free airflow", that is
> the opposite. You want ample fan-forced airflow in the
> front intake of a computer and then through the drive rack.
>
> I still think your case has insufficient airflow. Having a
> fan doesn't mean anything, it has to move sufficient airflow
> past the drive which also means:
>
> 1) Case front bezel has a fair number and area of opening.
> 2) Case fan mount doesn't have a lot of obstructions around
> it like a metal wall with only little holes or slots stamped
> out.
>
> 3) The airflow the fan produces doesn't just blow in the
> direction of the drive, rather the majority flows through
> the drive rack across the top and bottom surfaces of the
> drive.
>
> 4) The case exhaust is also optimal, as what comes in has
> to exit the case at the same rate.
>
> It may be that some of these factors are present, and you
> have not mentioned what your ambient (room) temp is unless
> I've overlooked it, but there is still every reason to think
> the drive runs hot because it is improperly cooled.
>
>
>
> >The cpu in this system runs at a cool 97 F (36 C) -- so I don't think
> >I'm having cooling issues within the case.
>
> One has nothing to do with the other. A CPU has it's own
> heatsink and fan and has a lower power idle state.
>
>
>
> >I'm wondering if anyone has WD drives, and they happen to know what
> >temp they are running at. For drives that are marketed as "cool
> >running" I think these are out of whack.
>
> Again I suggest you need to divert from this tangent and
> focus on the time-tested proper hard drive cooling
> configuration. Unfortunately a computer case can't just be
> randomly picked and used under the assumption it is ok,
> there are far too many poorly designed cases out there.
>
> However, there is already another factor to consider in that
> we cannot just randomly assumed a drive is "X" degrees
> hotter inside because of the rear temp reading. The frame
> is aluminum and transmits heat fairly well, particularly so
> right next to the circuit board. While 60C would be on the
> hot side, the important parts might be closer to 50C which
> is to be expected in a case with poor airflow, or sitting
> out on a desk without any fan-forced airflow on them.
Thanks! Excellent points. You are correct about the case -- this is
an old Celeron 2.2Ghz eMachines computer that I rescued from someone
who spilled a Coke into it, then decided to wash out with a garden
hose. After thorough drying, the machine runs just fine. I put the
new WD drives in it because I'm setting it up as a Linux server in my
home.
So, the case is probably not designed for these newer drives. Late
last night I added a high-quality fan that I had, by wire-tying it
directly to the drive cage. Now, with the cover on the machine the
drives are 97 F (36 C) -- which is fine. The ambient temp of this
room (my basement) is always between 60 and 75 F, so that's not a
problem.
I suppose I can live with this -- or upgrade to a better case -- but
even so, I am still very surprised that a hard drive that is marketed
as "running very cool" can only achieve that distinction when it is
actively cooled.
Maybe they run cooler than other drives with similar active
cooling...I'm not sure. Maybe I was hypnotized by some marketing hype
(although Tom's hardware guide was quoted, which I thought was fairly
unbiased).
If the consensus is that these temps are perfectly normal, and
"coolness" can only be achieved through active cooling (whether by
direct impinging on the drives, or good case design), then I will just
live with it.
On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:09:35 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
<randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Thanks! Excellent points. You are correct about the case -- this is
>an old Celeron 2.2Ghz eMachines computer that I rescued from someone
>who spilled a Coke into it, then decided to wash out with a garden
>hose. After thorough drying, the machine runs just fine. I put the
>new WD drives in it because I'm setting it up as a Linux server in my
>home.
>
Many OEM cases are unfortunately, only set up to cool one
drive well.
>So, the case is probably not designed for these newer drives. Late
>last night I added a high-quality fan that I had, by wire-tying it
>directly to the drive cage. Now, with the cover on the machine the
>drives are 97 F (36 C) -- which is fine. The ambient temp of this
>room (my basement) is always between 60 and 75 F, so that's not a
>problem.
>
>I suppose I can live with this -- or upgrade to a better case -- but
>even so, I am still very surprised that a hard drive that is marketed
>as "running very cool" can only achieve that distinction when it is
>actively cooled.
If we could get rid of marketing departments, in some ways
it would help. They may make a claim justified by merely
beating some other products in a particular area, and IIRC,
some WD drives, likely yours also, do run a bit cooler than
others but not so much that it's a good idea to ignore the
same cooling measures.
>
>Maybe they run cooler than other drives with similar active
>cooling...I'm not sure. Maybe I was hypnotized by some marketing hype
>(although Tom's hardware guide was quoted, which I thought was fairly
>unbiased).
Tom's Hardware is a fairly biased site in some instances,
but in this case they may have made a reasonable comparison,
if they have measured drive temp with a thermometer instead
of just an onboard sensor reading (which is only a spot-temp
of one component on the drive in some cases).
>
>If the consensus is that these temps are perfectly normal, and
>"coolness" can only be achieved through active cooling (whether by
>direct impinging on the drives, or good case design), then I will just
>live with it.
Yes I would call them normal, thoguh a bit higher than I'd
have expected when the ambient is as low as the 60F figure
you mentioned.
Caviar drive - running too hot? 
Linear Mode
