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Hard Drive temp.

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A decent temp depends on the drive. For most consumer ATA/SATA units, look for normal operating temperatures to be perhaps 5-10C above ambient. Do not press past about 50-55C, as most units hit their specified max around 60C. SCSI units will typically tolerate higher temperatures, and older units will almost always run very hot. If you've got the first of a generation, say, the first 7200RPM SCSI unit of a given manufacturer, the thing will be hot to the touch but survive just fine. Same thing goes at 10K and 15K. Just keep some airspace around the drives and/or provide even minimal airflow and you'll be fine.
 
i have a lian li PC-70 case, and i have the HD's sitting up in the 5.25" bay areas, and they stay about 35C, they are rather cool to the touch, and i quite like them up there, cool, quiet and out of the way, leaves a direct path to my ultra from the intakes
 
None of my 3 drive are over 30°C right now. When I do heavy transfers, or defrag, they go up to about 38°C. I hate hot hard drives. :)
 
My Seagate drives sit around 8C above ambient and my WD's at about 10C above ambient.
 
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