passive cooled HDD housing

8th March 2004, 21:33

on #1 of my priority list: get my backup/linux machine up & running again. I'm using a 20GB HDD in it and it's pretty loud.

JMke hinted me he put an HDD of him in a CD rom drive, and so I've placed the HDD in a CDrom housing, stuffed with isolating mats. the HDD got isolated and the temps were high.

I'm building it in the drive now. not only it will be mounted inside with screws, it'll get some proper cooling too. I'll use aluminium profiles to conduct the heat of the sides (there the HDD creates most heat) to the top of the CD rom drive. I'll get another profile tomorrow and put those U profiles on top of the housing

I'm wondering, what thermal interface material should I use to improve the heat transfer? thermal paste is too expensive for this, because I'll have to cover about 120cm² for the Alu profile (connecting the external case and the HDD) plus about 200cm² for the heatsinks on top of the drive

so eh... what stuff would I need to improve the contact between the metal parts? it may only cost less then 5€ as this is a ghetto mod. it would be nice if the thermal interface material can fill pretty big gaps, because the side of the HDD is not flat and there are pretty big gaps in the side of about 1mm deep.

attach: scheme

jmke · 8th March 2004, 21:43

get some "white thermal goop" in your local hardware store, that should suffice for sure

8th March 2004, 21:47

Quote:

Originally posted by jmke
get some "white thermal goop" in your local hardware store, that should suffice for sure

i've got an industrial tube here and it's still too expensive in my humble opinion. it's not the best solution, each time I change the drive it's a mess and I'll spill an entire tube on it

jmke · 8th March 2004, 21:50

there's tape out there that does almost the same, used between HS&memchips on videocards

but I don't know where you could get it though, maybe @ that same store?

10th March 2004, 06:53

yeah, the black phase change TIM would work between the bracket and the hd, but do you think just having it attach to the sides will transfer enough heat out?

10th March 2004, 07:10

Quote:

Originally posted by IKilledMyAGOIA
yeah, the black phase change TIM would work between the bracket and the hd, but do you think just having it attach to the sides will transfer enough heat out?

good question!

the HDD is only 20GB and is thin, so it doesn't generate very much heat. when the HDD was in the CD-rom drive, it was isolated and the heat couldn't get away. the HDD was over 50° after a while, and the CD-rom drive housing was feeling warm too.

with this system I want to give heat at least a chance to get away, so it does not stay inside the housing creating a nice glasshouse effect

10th March 2004, 09:15

greenhouse effect.

I also think ordinairy white goop is the best option.
If you're really planning on removing the drive that often, get a seagate.

10th March 2004, 11:16

Quote:

Originally posted by FreeStyler
If you're really planning on removing the drive that often, get a seagate.

that's against my principles!

jmke · 10th March 2004, 11:30

removing drives is against your principles? :wtf:

10th March 2004, 11:38

Quote:

Originally posted by jmke
removing drives is against your principles? :wtf:

it's against my principles, for example: I buy a new harddrive because another hard drive I've bought is too loud

8th March 2004, 21:43	#2
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,022	get some "white thermal goop" in your local hardware store, that should suffice for sure __________________

8th March 2004, 21:50	#4
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,022	there's tape out there that does almost the same, used between HS&memchips on videocards but I don't know where you could get it though, maybe @ that same store? __________________

10th March 2004, 11:30	#9
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,022	removing drives is against your principles? :wtf: __________________

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8th March 2004, 21:33	#1
TeuS Posts: n/a	passive cooled HDD housing on #1 of my priority list: get my backup/linux machine up & running again. I'm using a 20GB HDD in it and it's pretty loud. JMke hinted me he put an HDD of him in a CD rom drive, and so I've placed the HDD in a CDrom housing, stuffed with isolating mats. the HDD got isolated and the temps were high. I'm building it in the drive now. not only it will be mounted inside with screws, it'll get some proper cooling too. I'll use aluminium profiles to conduct the heat of the sides (there the HDD creates most heat) to the top of the CD rom drive. I'll get another profile tomorrow and put those U profiles on top of the housing I'm wondering, what thermal interface material should I use to improve the heat transfer? thermal paste is too expensive for this, because I'll have to cover about 120cm² for the Alu profile (connecting the external case and the HDD) plus about 200cm² for the heatsinks on top of the drive so eh... what stuff would I need to improve the contact between the metal parts? it may only cost less then 5€ as this is a ghetto mod. it would be nice if the thermal interface material can fill pretty big gaps, because the side of the HDD is not flat and there are pretty big gaps in the side of about 1mm deep. attach: scheme

10th March 2004, 06:53	#5
IKilledMyAGOIA Posts: n/a	yeah, the black phase change TIM would work between the bracket and the hd, but do you think just having it attach to the sides will transfer enough heat out?

10th March 2004, 09:15	#7
FreeStyler Posts: n/a	greenhouse effect. I also think ordinairy white goop is the best option. If you're really planning on removing the drive that often, get a seagate.