I've been lurking for quite some time, and thought I would show my version of sidesinks for harddrives. Following the article, I made the 7.5" aluminum uchannels using three per side and stacking both my drives into one unit. Next in the PC I've mounted them vertically on foam. This has worked pretty well, lowering my temps from 50C on foam alone and 48C horizontal to 44C (average both drives) This is with no case fans other than the HSF and the PSU (@7volts). The noise from these drives are considerably reduced. But there is more work to be done for me to be happy.

Check out an image here:

http://www.uidaho.edu/~grie2362/img/sidesinks.jpg

i'm having a hard time locating Al u-channels in hardward stores like home depot. anyone know a metal shop in the san jose area that is accessable to the public where i could find these?

The most effective HDD quieting anyone has come up with is Leo Quan's rubber box, in his article about quieting a dualie. It does require a fan for cooling but a 5-6V Panaflo, virtually silent, suffices. He is working on V2, for even more noise reduction, so you might wait before you make one.

Trust me, it's there at home depot. I had a hard time locating it myself, and nearly gave up too, until I asked the sales rep. Look for it in the doors section.

Thanks for the promo Mike!

im using 2 p2 slot coolers minus the fans, i milled mounting holes
works surprisingly well
oh and its hung from the heatsinks too

Home Depot and hardware stores sell aluminum channel in 4-8' lengths, and it should be in a display along with steel channel and threaded rods. The aluminum should be available in U, L, and square channels and also in thick, flat pieces.

I have been using smartdrives (that aluminum, foam padded hd box) on a couple of systems for 6 months now. I am generally happy with them -- except for the $$$. I was thinking that I could make my own with a large aluminum "project box" that I found at an electronics supply store. I noticed that the smartdrive has a metal lining (inside of the foam). I am guessing that is part of the cooling system. I can do that. I was also going to add sidesinks and use a larger box with thicker foam. But do you think there is anything special about the foam they use? A special "heat conducting" foam?

That's my guess, cuz all the foam I've tried conducts heat very very poorly.

i don't know what smartdrive uses, but there are thermally conductive electrically isolated gap pads. e.g.: http://www.chomerics.com/products/therm_gapfillers.htm

pingu666,

I would be interested to see how you hung them. I have been trying to work out a suspension system as well for a custom fabricated box. And perhaps for these drives as well. Especially to mount them vertically, since this appears to get the best results temp wise.

i used blowhole trim stuff
i removed the 3.5" drive bay, and drilled 4 holes in the bottom of the 5.25"bayplate, then i threaded the trim thru the holes (after deburing mind) and tied a knot in the trim. atm i think theres 2 pices of blowhole trim, go from left rear>right rear and left front > right front
id advise u to find out the centre of gravity of the drive etc so u can have it level. the rear on mine is a lil heavier so that sags down.
ive gotta write it up for www.moddin.net actully.
oh and i reamed out some holes that where already in the heatsinks for the blowhole trim to pass thru.
maybe ill write it up tomoz wid pics and stuff

Just got the panaflos and put one blowing on the HDD and it dropped the temps on the drives to 32C, thats a 12C change. WOW.. I'm very pleased now.

And thanks pingu666 I have them suspended vertically now but I still have some whine. Its a lot more noticeable now that the system has gotten much quiter.

yeah mine whines like a bitch

i made a soundproofed cardboard box to go around it
helps a lil

Are ramsinks suitable for use as HDD sidesinks?