Mounting Hard Drives Vertically...

[LandRover]

To be able to use my new DDR in dual-channel mode, I would have to mount both my hard drives vertically, as they overlap one of my dual-channel slots.

When I say vertically, picture the back of the drive with the connections aiming straight down... Would such a configuration shorten the life-span of the drives or anything? One is a Seagate ST3120026A, the other is a WD400BB.

Appreciate any input.

 

[phisrow]

So far as I know, modern drives don't much care. You should be alright.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I've seen several manufacturers like Dell and Micron that have been using vertical HD's in some of their systems for a while now. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[jackschmittusa]

For reference, they don't even need to be "modern". I had a 106mb Toshiba drive mounted that way. Even notebook drives can be mounted like that.

 

[Zugzwang152]

AFAIK, they run fine as long as one of the flat edges is parallel to the ground.

 

[Zepper]

Yes, most drive mfrs state that their drives can be mounted in any orientation other than more than 5 deg. off from horizontal or vertical (IOW, no tilting). My main SCSI hard drive is mounted nose down and it seems to be happy that way... But I have a taboo against mounting drives upside-down (upside-down=PCB up). If I ever find one that way, I FIX IT! And horizontal is still the best for equalizing stresses on the drive.

.bh.

 

[LandRover]

Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[vegetation]

Makes no difference. Been doing this for over a decade without any issue.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I've heard that as long as you format it in the verticle or horizontal position you orient it in, you should be fine.

I've always done horizontal mounting so I'm not sure on verticle.

I don't know if this format thing is a myth, but I guess it could be true as gravity could have a slight affect on the moving drive parts that you'd want to keep constant throught the drive's use.

 

[Zepper]

The reformatting when changing orientation only applies to drives with mechanical stepper head positoners rather than voice coil servo positioning. You have to go back a long ways to find stepper motor drives.

.bh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Zepper
The reformatting when changing orientation only applies to drives with mechanical stepper head positoners rather than voice coil servo positioning. You have to go back a long ways to find stepper motor drives.

.bh.

Well, I'm happy to hear I didn't make it up entirely

 

[Slogun]

Well, I never change my orientation and I like to mount her from.....oh wait, sorry, wrong forum...

 

[Googer]

It's been done that way for a long time. Drives can be mounted in either direction Verticly or horizontaly. As long as your case permits, it's ok.

 

[corkyg]

Many commercial external HDDs now come in vertical cases.

 

[trickytraka]

it doesn't make any different AT ALL...

 

[WildHorse]

I've had HDDs mounted vertically for at least 8 years---no problem-O.
The "tops" face the side of the tower case that opens, and the circuit board side of the HDDs face the same side of the case that the mobo is mounted to.

Actually, maybe this orientation HELPS the drives very slightly, since gravity doesn't pull the flying read-write heads down toward the platter surfaces when power is off.