Is there any advice on whether a hard drive is okay to use both horizontally and vertically? Does it have any effect on performance or physical stress on the drive/motor.
If so, should it only be used in that one orientation or is it okay to change orientation from time to time?
This question is directed to 3.5" and 2.5" hard drives, but also to optical drives.
Thanks
well, i was once reading on one of hitachi's deskstar datasheets and it says that its Okay to put it in all 6 orientations... i think i should apply to hdds from all manufacturers...?
I used to run a computer on its side, and it was fine. I'd assume any hard drive would be fine vertically, although for some reason I can't remember, you're not supposed to put them upside down. I'm probably wrong though!
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Surely cases wouldn't be designed for vertical hard drive orientation if was going to cause THAT much damage..As no one would buy it.. (or visa versa)
My old Dell Dimension had a 10g HDD that was vertically mounted. It worked fine but was very noisy. I removed it from the Dell and it is now horizontally mounted in a Compaq Deskpro EN where it makes virtually no noise at all. As it sounds healthier now I'm guessing it actually IS healthier.
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All my drives are mounted on their sides, and I have no problems.... My case was designed that way...
Ant
I used to mount all my drives upside down just to freak people out. Then I'd run my case upside down so all the drives would actually be rightside up.
Now I usually mount them diagonally on the X, Y and Z planes. Best of both worlds!
Last edited by StormPC; 16-03-2005 at 12:58 AM.
well, if it was damaging to hdds, the hdd manufacturers would probably send out warnings to '...not use this HDD with lianli casings', u have to mount hdds to lianli cages on their sides...
I liken it to say the PS2 cd drive. you can have it side ways but when things start going wrong it seems to be cured by having it horizontal.
Having it on its side would have it pulling down on the bearing a bit in an un even way.
I have never come across problems with HDD's because they were vertically mounted.
It doesn't matter. I'd be inclined to not bother upside down though
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ive had hdd's mounted in every concievable way... horizontal, vertical, upside down - even swinging by the power and IDE cable(i think i may have used blu-tac as well, but i can t remember - it was a long time ago while at uni)
i dont think i've ever had a HDD fail, performance hit or otherwise.
i think its fine to put the HDD however you want to (but try to avoid the last 2, just to be on the same side)
The Karl Pilkington of Hexus
I once had an IBM Deathstar oriented in an odd position, and the disk testing software thought it had experienced excessive shock. I laid it flat and ran the test again to find all was well.
Rather odd!
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In my shuttle I have both hard drives upsidown due to the wires being in the wrong location. I modded the psu to have an 80mm fan on the side and the hard drive wires were in the way, so they are now upsidown and I have had no problem yet.
Hence the pet name "Deathstar".Originally Posted by Kez
It used to matter donkey's years ago, but modern drives can handle it.
Most server hard drives (in external storage systems) are mounted vertically. They wouldn't do that unless it was equally safe.
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