External HDD Enclosure – Heat and Heavy usage

[aldification]

Hi, I have a WD Black 4TB 3.5 inch internal Drive. I’d like to put it in an enclosure, to use with my Acer E5 575 Laptop running Windows 10. My aim is to use data on the enclosure actively for long time periods – not as a backup drive. As an example enclosure, I was considering buying the Inateck FE3001. I don’t want to place fans near the unit for extra cooling. My question is, if I had the drive running in an enclosure for about 10-12 hours per day, would this risk it overheating, and getting damaged? Thanks

 

[jay32267]

I think you will be OK.

Drives don't give off that much heat and I would imagine that the enclosure has been tested with drives running at 100% for extended periods.

I would try it...but keep an eye on it....touch the enclosure every so often to see how hot it's getting. If it's too hot too touch....it's too hot. If it's just warm....you're OK.

 

[aldification]

Hi, great, thanks for that. A follow up question if I may. So would it be correct then that overheating is as likely with today's external portable drives (E.g. WD My Passport) as it is with a HD in an enclosure?

And are powered external drives likely to overheat less than powered HD's in enclosures? Many thanks!

 

[jay32267]

"So would it be correct then that overheating is as likely with today's external portable drives (E.g. WD My Passport) as it is with a HD in an enclosure?"

Not necessarily, because an HD that is designed to be in a computer case that is put in an enclosure isn't necessarily the same "thermally" as an external portable drive.

"And are powered external drives likely to overheat less than powered HD's in enclosures?"

That's a tough call...but my gut feeling is....it doesn't much matter because I would think both would run cool enough even on 100% usage.