Question M58 SFF - additional HDD - temp concerns

[FWForward]

I attempted to upgrade my HDD from 2TB to 6 - but windows won't boot from that disk. I could instead add the 6TB HDD and run both HDDs. I don't need the optical drive, I think I could fit a bracket in there to hold the HDD and fix some kind of grille over the face opening. It seems to get enough power. But I am wondering if it will stay cool enough in its use as a media server or as we used to call them HTPC. I could try it and periodically check the temperature, but before doing so, any yeas or nays on whether it is likely to stay happy? TIA!

 

[Lutfij]

The SFF prebuilt was designed to be an office machine not an HTPC. I would advise you to tread carefully.

 

[FWForward]

The SFF prebuilt was designed to be an office machine not an HTPC. I would advise you to tread carefully.

Thank you, I appreciate it. It has worked better as HTPC over the last five or so years than as an office machine before that - its response performing office tasks hasn't been great, but no problems sending music or movies out via plex server. But I also am probably not pushing it hard.
That said, if you have any specific warnings or suggestions that I am probably not thinking about, I am happy to hear them!
Thank you again!

 

[Misgar]

Modern hard disks often run considerably cooler than drives manufacturered 10 years ago, especially if the drive is running at 5,400RPM or 5,900RPM and not 7,200RPM.

15 to 20 years ago, when some of my computer cases did not come with front panel fans blowing air through the hard disk drive cage, I used to fit cheap and cheerful hard disk coolers such as the one below. In fact, I've got one screwed to the underside of an old 120GB Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 ATA/133 (IDE) drive on my work bench here.
https://www.amazon.com/ASHATA-Drive...sprefix=3.5in+hard+disk+cooler,aps,174&sr=8-9

The fan assembly is 5/8in (16.5mm) thick and screws to the mounting holes on the underside (PCB side) of a 3.5in hard disk. In a very cramped computer case, you may not have enough room to mount this cooler.

I also recommend fitting a vented 5.25in panel in front of the drive, if it is mounted close the the front panel. This allows cooler air outside the case to be drawn over the drive and can reduce its temperature by several degrees.

If you want to continuously monitor hard disk temperatures on the Windows Taskbar, install Hard Disk Sentinel. It places a small green icon for each drive on the Taskbar, showing its temperature. If the drive gets warm, the icon turns yellow. If it gets hot, the icon turns red.
https://www.hdsentinel.com/

You can buy various adapters and brackets to convert a 5.25in optical drive bay to hold a 3.5in hard disk. With this adapter, you might have to mount the hard disk upside down, to install the cooling fans.
https://www.amazon.com/SOLUSTRE-3-5...prefix=5.25+to+3.5in+brackets,aps,173&sr=8-16

Alternative side mounting brackets.
https://www.amazon.com/DGZZI-Mounti...refix=5.25in+to+3.5in+brackets,aps,168&sr=8-3

 

[Misgar]

Another option would be to buy a cheap SATA SSD and clone your 2TB Windows hard disk on to a much faster solid state drive, using Macrium Reflect Free. This sofware allows you to re-size a larger drive down on to a smaller drive, provided you remove enough files from the 2TB drive, before cloning. The speed benefit of booting from SSD instead of hard disk is considerable.
https://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-SA510-Internal-Solid/dp/B09ZYQ84CM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QSLI9RL1C9I&keywords=1TB+sata+SSD&qid=1692114161&sprefix=1tb+sata+ssd,aps,169&sr=8-5&th=1

500GB SATA SSDs are cheap and more than adequate for a Windows installation. If you need additional space, 1TB and 2TB SATA SSDs are more expensive.

SATA SSDs are "laptop sized" 2.5in drives and can be tucked away almost anywhere inside a computer case, without necessarily bolting them down.

You could then remove the 2TB hard disk drive and fit the 6TB drive in its place, if space is at a premium.

 

[FWForward]

Another option would be to buy a cheap SATA SSD and clone your 2TB Windows hard disk on to a much faster solid state drive, using Macrium Reflect Free. This sofware allows you to re-size a larger drive down on to a smaller drive, provided you remove enough files from the 2TB drive, before cloning. The speed benefit of booting from SSD instead of hard disk is considerable.
https://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-SA510-Internal-Solid/dp/B09ZYQ84CM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QSLI9RL1C9I&keywords=1TB+sata+SSD&qid=1692114161&sprefix=1tb+sata+ssd,aps,169&sr=8-5&th=1

500GB SATA SSDs are cheap and more than adequate for a Windows installation. If you need additional space, 1TB and 2TB SATA SSDs are more expensive.

SATA SSDs are "laptop sized" 2.5in drives and can be tucked away almost anywhere inside a computer case, without necessarily bolting them down.

You could then remove the 2TB hard disk drive and fit the 6TB drive in its place, if space is at a premium.

These are incredibly helpful responses, background, and options. I am going to proceed with the bracket first and watch the temp with Sentinel. The fan is an easy add, and I may install the HDD upside down as you suggest so I can add it easily (and I do have a 5.25 vent panel I can put in front so air can move).

The SSD is not something I had thought about - and the price of a 1TB is so low now! I built my workstation - a different PC - with a 256MB for boot and complex projects (11 years ago) and it has been really great, super fast to boot and get to work. I will think about one both for space savings and speed.

Now if I could find the solution to not having, for Win11, TPS, er, TPM... I could keep this thing for years.

Thank you again! I'm psyched to get to work!

 

[Misgar]

I'm continuing to run Windows 10 Pro on all my main computers. I tried Windows 11 as a Virtual Machine in Hyper-V on the day it was released, but I didn't like the changes to the desktop, so I haven't installed on any other drives. I'll think again in October 2025 when support for 10 expires.

If you don't need some specific feature of Windows 11, consider reverting to Windows 10. It still has a couple of years life left in it, despite some of the security weaknesses when compared to 11.

 

[FWForward]

I'm continuing to run Windows 10 Pro on all my main computers. I tried Windows 11 as a Virtual Machine in Hyper-V on the day it was released, but I didn't like the changes to the desktop, so I haven't installed on any other drives. I'll think again in October 2025 when support for 10 expires.

If you don't need some specific feature of Windows 11, consider reverting to Windows 10. It still has a couple of years life left in it, despite some of the security weaknesses when compared to 11.

Glad to hear you're also on 10. I stayed put given the TPM madness last year and am likewise probably going to stick with it as long as possible. I built my workstation in 2012 and it is still totally capable and fast. I don't want to mess with a good thing!

 

[Misgar]

I keep an old Phenom 965 built in 2006 running with multiple OS drives (Windows XP, 7 and 10) to retain compatibility with old Nikon and Canon SCSI scanners and DAT drives. I still run Server 2008R2 on a system with an old 8-port LSI HBA SAS controller with no Server 2012/16/19 drivers.