Damage from operating disk at angle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark M
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark M

I believe the manufacturers of hard drives usually recommend that
they are operated either horizontally or vertically.

If a hard drive is operated in these conditions then would it incur
significant wear?

I assume 7200 rpm, operating at 25 degrees off horizontal (or off
vertical) for 8 hours a day.

By 'significant' I mean that after a year or so would the drive
generate noticeably more noise, be more prone to complete failure,
operate noticeably more unreliably, have measurably slower arm
strokes, etc.
 
I believe the manufacturers of hard drives usually recommend
that they are operated either horizontally or vertically.
Click to expand...

Not anymore. Its uncommon to see that 'recommended' today.
If a hard drive is operated in these conditions
then would it incur significant wear?
Click to expand...

Unlikely given that they dont bother to mention it now.

On the other hand, there hasnt been anything like as
much field experience with fluid bearing drives as the
others yet so its certainly a tad more of a risk with those.
I assume 7200 rpm, operating at 25 degrees
off horizontal (or off vertical) for 8 hours a day.
Click to expand...
By 'significant' I mean that after a year or so
would the drive generate noticeably more noise,
Click to expand...

Very difficult to quantify with non fluid bearing drives which
produce a significant percentage of noisy drives over time anyway.
be more prone to complete failure,
Click to expand...

Unlikely now that bearing failure is an uncommon failure mode.
operate noticeably more unreliably, have
measurably slower arm strokes, etc.
Click to expand...

Cant see why that last should happen from the physics.
 
Mark M said:
I believe the manufacturers of hard drives usually
recommend that they are operated either horizontally
or vertically.

If a hard drive is operated in these conditions then
would it incur significant wear?

I assume 7200 rpm, operating at 25 degrees off
horizontal (or off vertical) for 8 hours a day.

By 'significant' I mean that after a year or so would
the drive generate noticeably more noise, be more
prone to complete failure, operate noticeably more
unreliably, have measurably slower arm strokes, etc.
Click to expand...


Tech support reps for Maxtor, Western Digital, and
Seagate say that orientation is irrelevant as long as one
side is parallel to the earth (i.e. "flat" horizontal, on its
"side", or standing on "end"). The only reservation is with
"slanted" or "canted" orientations, but that may just be
a cover-their-a$$ disclaimer due to limited experience
with modern bearings. IOW, with such an orientation
you're on your own. They all do recommend a firm
mounting, though, to prevent movement of the hard drive.
I suspect that motion, such as jiggling of the hard drive,
could confuse the servos that position the arm.

*TimDaniels*
 
Personally I wouldn't mount a drive at an angle other than horizontal
unless I had a real solid reason for doing it. Gravity seems to get
everything in the end.
 
If you are worried, mount the drive vertically if you can.

Frankly most hard drive fluid bearings are made by Nippon Miniature
Bearing (NMB, Japan) in various global plants & angle is immaterial.

Older ball-bearings did have issues - but that was mainly lubrication
along with noise (ball bearings get noisier with age, fluid do not at least
in anything like a reasonable time frame to obsolescence/other failure).

Hard drive temperature - now that's different:
o Drive temperature is not governed by chips or such like
---- yes, drive circuitry gets hot and has a min m/sec airflow over it
o Instead drive temperature is governed by the magnetic media
---- generally 52-55oC is advised
---- so mount front/low if possible re in the path of cool intake air

For certain drives the wattage is important - eg, a 22W 10,000rpm
or 15,300rpm drive, since that will require about 4cfm to cool it. It
is a small amount of airflow - but for 4 drives you are up to 16cfm.
 
I believe the manufacturers of hard drives usually recommend that
they are operated either horizontally or vertically.

If a hard drive is operated in these conditions then would it incur
significant wear?

I assume 7200 rpm, operating at 25 degrees off horizontal (or off
vertical) for 8 hours a day.
Click to expand...

Hard drives need to be turned on an angle depending on your distance
from the equator. If not done, significant damage can occur...and
usually does.

Folks in Canada have a higher fail rate than we in the U.S...folks in
Mexico, a lower rate.

The best place to own a computer is in Panama.


Have a nice week...

Trent

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!
 
Trent© said:
Hard drives need to be turned on an angle depending on your distance
from the equator. If not done, significant damage can occur...and
usually does.

Folks in Canada have a higher fail rate than we in the U.S...folks in
Mexico, a lower rate.

The best place to own a computer is in Panama.


Have a nice week...

Trent

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!
Click to expand...

Why would you post this kind of advice? Some of these people might believe
you! Users are scary enough as it is, without adding misconceptions.
 
vertical position is ok too

i 've never seen a hdd fail due to woring in vertical position

vertical or horizontal is what i have seen in installation notes for drives
manufactured since 1993

peter
 
Why would you post this kind of advice?
Click to expand...

Sometimes you just hafta think outside the bun!! lol
Some of these people might believe
you! Users are scary enough as it is, without adding misconceptions.
Click to expand...

MISCONCEPTIONS??!!! What are you talkin' about?

Find someone that had a failed hard drive. Ask him/her if they had it
turned on an angle equal to their distance from the Equator. You'll
probably find out that they didn't.

See...that proves it! lol

You probably also don't know that eating pickles will kill you. But
its true!

Do a check on anybody that ate pickles 125 years ago. You'll probably
find that they're all dead now. Proves THAT hypothesis, too! lol

Have a nice day...and lighten up!


Have a nice week...

Trent

NUDITY...birth control for folks over 50!
 
come on
a little bit of humor is what we need sometimes!
Click to expand...

He probably bought one of my keys to the executive elevator when we
were in high school together...or the annual free pass to the swimming
pool on the 7th floor...and now he's pissed!! lol


Have a nice week...

Trent

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!
 
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