Comments on Effective Passive HD Cooling?

Silencing hard drives, optical drives and other storage devices

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MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

Anyone going to try side cooling?
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Gxcad
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Post by Gxcad » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

I am interested in trying something with the sides, I found this article extremely interesting. One thing I am curious now is how does the noise reduction compare between suspending and suspending with sandwitch. Probably not much <IMG SRC="modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif"> Maybe try sandwitching AND side sinking, which also provides a "solid" wall to block sound instead of just foam. I covered the sides on my sandwitch with brownbread and noticed a reduction in noise over just foam.
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<br>On another note, I think it is important to note which cuda model was used, as I believe the 80gb version runs a bit hotter than the 40gb version.
<br>
<br>-Ken
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MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

I have a concept to combine both sandwiching & side-sinking as well as decouple mounting all in one project. Will let you know.
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<br>It was a 40G Cuda -- but I don't think it matters. Whatever the drive temps are, you should see a similar improvement, at least in Phil's PC. These things do tend to be very specific. Change the airflow a little, and you'd probably get different results.
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Sirpent
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Post by Sirpent » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

I have read that one of the chips on Cuda can run really hot and the drive can actually fail because of it. How hot it runs seems to depend on the particular drive, and also on the 12V rail voltage: more voltage - more heat. What is your experience - regarding side- and sandwich-cooling?
<br>
<br>Also (as OT), Innovatek produces a side cooling HD waterblock.
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miker
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Post by miker » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

<br>I was planning on making a combo of the three methods, sandwiching, suspending, and using the u-channels for extra cooling.
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<br>I found the right aluminum at "<!-- BBCode Start --><A HREF="http://www.onlinemetals.com" TARGET="_blank">Onlinemetals.com</A><!-- BBCode End -->. THey also sell u-channel aluminum, but only at a couple widths.
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<br>I was thinking if I can get the u-channel just right, i can fit that in the space around the hard drive, between the aluminum plates.
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<br>Anyone know the exact height of the hard drive, to match the u-channel height to fit in there?
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<br>Only thing I see here is losing the silence effect of the foam "stuffing" where I would be putting the U-channel.
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MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

>>I was planning on making a combo of the three methods, sandwiching, suspending, and using the u-channels for extra cooling.
<br>>>
<br>>>I was thinking if I can get the u-channel just right, i can fit that in the space around the hard drive, between the aluminum plates.
<br>>>
<br>>>Only thing I see here is losing the silence effect of the foam "stuffing" where I would be putting the U-channel.
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<br>Use thin aluminum plates, side-sinks a bit talller than the drive, leave a gap between the drive and the metal plates, fill those gaps with high density foam. Even stuff the U-channel with foam. The heat will be directly conducted via the side-sinks to the plates, so it should not matter much that the foam is there (in terms of heat). Suspend the thing. Best of all worlds? Try it and see. <IMG SRC="modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">
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<br>HD are usually 1" tall. 5.25" bay spec is ~1.75". You probablky need to use 2 drive slots.
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Lliam
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Post by Lliam » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

One thing that hasn't been mentioned but has been brought up on the very good site <!-- BBCode Start --><A HREF="http://www.7volts.com" TARGET="_blank">7 Volts.com</A><!-- BBCode End --> is STATIC.It is said to build up on some hard drives when in the suspended-on-rubber configuration. (The most obvious way around that is connect a small earth lead from the metal of the drive to the case)
<br>Anybody any thoughts? Could static build up be contributing to the early demise of some drives???
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Sonarcade
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Post by Sonarcade » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

>>Anyone going to try side cooling?
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<br>Yes! This method seems promising and very cost-effective. One problem though: where can I get these side u-channels with the holes in the right places? Home Depot? I'm not too familiar with acquiring these things. Thanks. <IMG SRC="modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">
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miker
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Post by miker » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

<br>If you can drill your own holes, try <!-- BBCode auto-link start --><a href="http://www.onlinemetals.com." target="_blank">www.onlinemetals.com.</a><!-- BBCode auto-link end --> You can also get the HDD sandwich materials there as well.
<br>
<br>-Mike
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Sonarcade
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Post by Sonarcade » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

>>
<br>>>If you can drill your own holes, try <!-- BBCode auto-link start --><a href="http://www.onlinemetals.com." target="_blank">http://www.onlinemetals.com.</a><!-- BBCode auto-link end --> You can also get the HDD sandwich materials there as well.
<br>>>
<br>>>-Mike
<br>
<br>Unfortunately, I don't have any drills that bore through metal and was looking for a "consumer-grade" version of the u-channel heatsinks by getting someone in a store to tailor the bar into a heatsink. I don't know if asking for this at a fairly low price is asking for too much.
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MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Mon Aug 12, 2002 2:32 pm

>>Unfortunately, I don't have any drills that bore through metal and was looking for a "consumer-grade" version of the u-channel heatsinks by getting someone in a store to tailor the bar into a heatsink. I don't know if asking for this at a fairly low price is asking for too much.
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<br>The U-channels in the article were found at HOme Depot, Phil tells me. Cheap, comes in longish strips. 1m? You can use a hack saw to cut them and it doesn't take a very powerful drill to put mounting holes in them. I bet your local high school mech shop would give you access to some tools.
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