Question Should a (running) hard drive lay vertically or horizontally?

[93QSD5]

Imagine an external hdd like a wd elements or my book, should it lay vertically or horizontally?

What's the best position for the components?
The studs are are the bottom of the case but I can't imagine having a spinning hard drive vertically is going to be good on the components or noise level.

(A.I) Image generated for illustrative purposes:

Wouldn't horizontal be better since the vibrations are spread out evenly across a wider surface and the platter head also has it easier?

The reason why I ask this question is because running vertical hdds gives me great concerns due to the vibration/noise and potential damage therefore.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lutfij]

I lay all drives flat. Just an FYI, you shouldn't be moving a drive's orientation while it's under operation.

 

[93QSD5]

I lay all drives flat. Just an FYI, you shouldn't be moving a drive's orientation while it's under operation.

Yeah I find it weird how we have always had our hdds flat/horizontally and yet, manufacturers insist on producing vertical casings.

 

[Zerk2012]

I used a vertical one for years and years never had a problem.

 

[TerryLaze]

Wouldn't horizontal be better since the vibrations are spread out evenly across a wider surface and the platter head also has it easier?

If your platters are rattling you already lost....
The whole assembled drive has vibrations but the platters do not vibrate in relation to the heads, at least not until a ms before they die.
You can have them at any angle that you want, there is no difference for the drive.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Imagine an external hdd like a wd elements or my book, should it lay vertically or horizontally?

If you place external HDD in upright position, it can tip over and get damaged.
Flat position is safer (relatively).

Of course you can accidentally yank the cable, drop drive to ground and then none of that matters.

 

[USAFRet]

For me, flat. Less likely to get knocked over.

But, current consumer NAS boxes all have them on edge with no issues.

I expect for the drive and data, it makes no difference.

 

[Misgar]

The 8-disk and 6-disk arrays in my two HP servers have the hard disks mounted vertically, but of course they're secure in caddies. In my other servers, the drives are mounted horizontally.

I don't like running my WD Elements drives vertically, in case they get knocked over, but they run even hotter when lying flat.

For big file transfers (Terabytes) I aim a large desktop fan over 3.5" USB3 drives to stop them reaching +55°C.

 

[kanewolf]

Enterprise hard drives are frequently vertical. That is the easiest way to put 24 drives in a 19 inch rack mount enclosure.

 

[JeffreyP55]

Imagine an external hdd like a wd elements or my book, should it lay vertically or horizontally?

What's the best position for the components?
The studs are are the bottom of the case but I can't imagine having a spinning hard drive vertically is going to be good on the components or noise level.

(A.I) Image generated for illustrative purposes:

Wouldn't horizontal be better since the vibrations are spread out evenly across a wider surface and the platter head also has it easier?

The reason why I ask this question is because running vertical hdds gives me great concerns due to the vibration/noise and potential damage therefore.

Thanks in advance.

It really shouldn't matter. HDD are allergic to clumsy people. Never drop it.