Hard Drive Temperature

Factual Questions
1

I recently purchased an additional hard drive, intending to use it as a backup. My tower case has three slots in it, and this is the third hard drive, so all three slots, one on top of the other, are now full. The hard drives are fitted tightly against each other.

While formatting the new drive, my drive monitoring software noted that it had gotten up to 109F, which is two degrees over the “report a problem” temperature of 107F. It never got hotter than that, and after the format was done, it cooled down again to… 104F or so.

I know that excess heat will shorten the life of a drive, but both drives have a listed operating temp range that goes up to 140F. Is there any reason to worry about it getting to 110F, or is my drive monitoring software just being extra cautious?

2

I don’t know technically. I go by the feel. Normally, I can put my hand on it and it feels hot, but not too hot to handle. I mount an extra fan to blow across the top surface. Now my temperature is warm and comfortable. I have always done this and never ever lost a hard drive in a desktop. On the laptop I have 1/4 inch mounts under the feet to allow more air current.

I’d say a couple degrees is not critical in your case especially since the manufacturer allows 140 degrees and you are 40 degrees below in the worst case.