HD Cooling?

[skubik]

I'm planning on getting a WD 100GB 7200rpm HD in the very near future, but I'm wondering about whether I should be getting a HD cooler as well.
I've read various reviews/posts on the 'net about them, some saying that coolers are necessary for 7200> rpm drives, while others say that they're only necessary for 10000>rpm drives.

I've read reviews/posts that say that having a cooler with a heatsink (like the 'Ultimate Hard Drive Cooler': http://www.startech.com/ststore/itemdetail.cfm?product_id=HDDSINKPRO ), to more generic fans (like the StarTech one listed at http://www.startech.com/ststore/itemdetail.cfm?product_id=FANDRIVE2 ... sorry 'bout all the StarTech links... but these were the only decent pages I found on these kind of coolers).

Is buying a cooler even worth it? If so, is it worth going all out and buying a $50-70 cooler, or will a $20 one suffice? Anyone have any opinions or experience with this?

Thanks,

- skubik.

 

[Lars_Coleman]

I have about three 7200RPM drives in my machine and don't seem to have any problems with cooling. All I have is three 80mm Sunon high output fans (two exhaust and one intake). My processor seems to idle at around 38 Celcius at an ambient room temp of 75 Fahrenheit.

<font color=red>People and hard drives are like bandwagon fans and sports!</font color=red>

 

[bum_jcrules]

As you will here from myself and I am sure others as well, it is always a good thing to try to keep every component as cool as possible. (Note: without condensation using Air Cooling that is...) By keeping excess latent energy to a minimum is good. The cooler the system and system components the lower the internal resistance inside the circity. Less resistance means greater yields can be reached when striving to reach its maximum potential. So getting a HHD cooler can help keep the component cool. One thing you still need to remember, you need good airflow through the case, in and out, to remove the heat from the HDD and not have it spread to another part of your case.

Try some of these sites...

1. <A HREF="http://www.coolerguys.com/cpucool/hdcooler.shtml" target="_new"> Coolerguys</A>

2. <A HREF="http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/45/cat45.htm?556" target="_new">2CoolTek</A>

3. <A HREF="http://www.inflowdirect.com/thersenhddco.html" target="_new">Inflow Direct Inc.</A>

In Canada...

1. <A HREF="http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Bigfoot&Category_Code=0060" target="_new">BigFoot Computers</A>

<b><font color=red>Note: This might be stupid but some people forget: When in Canada, you use Canadian Dollars. So the price will be higher because US Dollars are worth more. Overall price will be roughly the same.</font color=red></b>

<b>"The events of my life are quite inconsequential.." - Dr. Evil</b> :lol: