Drives suddenly increased operating temp

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimR
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JimR

I have a 5-year old Dell 400SC running as a home desktop, with 2 drives.
A ST 3400 633AS and a WDC WD400BB. I have been using lmsensors and
ksensors to monitor the temp on these for a number of months. They
normally both run very close to 40 degrees C, which is below the alarm
condition.

Two days ago, they both jumped up to 42 - 43 degrees C, which tripped
the alarms on ksensors. The case fan and power-supply fan both seem to
be operating normally. I opened the case and vacuumed out what little
dust there was (I do that twice a year anyway). I also reversed the
position of these two drives within the bay (they will not fit into any
of the other bays.) However, that did not resolve the problem.

Tonight I jury-rigged an external fan on top of the vents for the
regular case fan. As soon as I oriented it the right way, then drive
temps are both steady at 39 degrees C.

All of the power-supply voltage monitors are within .02, so I don't
think that is the problem.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
JimR
 
JimR said:
I have a 5-year old Dell 400SC running as a home desktop, with 2 drives.
A ST 3400 633AS and a WDC WD400BB. I have been using lmsensors and
ksensors to monitor the temp on these for a number of months. They
normally both run very close to 40 degrees C, which is below the alarm
condition.
Click to expand...
Two days ago, they both jumped up to 42 - 43 degrees C, which tripped
the alarms on ksensors. The case fan and power-supply fan both seem to
be operating normally. I opened the case and vacuumed out what little
dust there was (I do that twice a year anyway). I also reversed the
position of these two drives within the bay (they will not fit into any
of the other bays.) However, that did not resolve the problem.
Click to expand...
Tonight I jury-rigged an external fan on top of the vents for the
regular case fan. As soon as I oriented it the right way, then drive
temps are both steady at 39 degrees C.
Click to expand...
All of the power-supply voltage monitors are within .02, so I don't
think that is the problem.
Click to expand...
Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Summer has started?

I think up to 45C should be unproblematic and temporary peaks
of 50C should still be ok.

Arno
 
JimR said:
All of the power-supply voltage monitors are within .02, so I don't
think that is the problem.
Click to expand...


As others have said, summer temperatures are starting, so I wouldn't
worry about it. I have drives in my system that continously operate
above 40C, and even one external USB drive that operates above 50C.
Granted that external drive doesn't have a cooling fan.

Yousuf Khan
 
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