CD-ROM Overheating?

[Asz]

I don't know if this is normal or not and I bet it isn't too.... But whenever I use my CD-ROM drive for even 10mins the CD gets wayyyy toooo hot... Think of it as as hot as a plate after you microwave it for 30seconds then holding it in your hands 'till it cools.... SO, I was wondering if and one knew of any programs to cool this baby down, I don't want my CDs being melted.... Or if anyone knew of a good way to cool off my CD-ROM drive... BTW, I am using a 12x8x32 CD-RW

 

[cjtune]

It's normal for CD-ROMs to get heated up in their drives, esp. with the high speeds nowadays so no need to get worried unless some CD-ROMs have actually melted or warped permanently because of that (never seen those)...

BUT as silly as this may sound CD-ROMs can actually get too hot -not to the point of permanent damage- but to the point where the CD-ROM deforms enough (warp temporarily due to the heating) that the drive has trouble reading the disc. I've got a friend whose P3-450 computer's case is seriously lacking ventilation (only has PSU fan) and everytime, without fail, when we would watch a movie, Xing or MPlayer would hang by the time we reach the 2nd or 3rd video CD.

 

[Bad Maniac]

Yeah, a friend of mine has that problem only worse. When he tries to watch a movie CD, he can get to about half the cd, then it overheats and warps so the comp can´t read the CD.
I guess one solution would be hanging a fan somewhere behind the cd(s) blowing towards and between them. to give them better air circulation. OR peltier cool your CD

 

[cjtune]

...or just take off the casing side panel/cover as a temporary measure till you have the time to mod your case.

 

[Asz]

Yeah, I was thinking of putting a fan there but seeing as the entire drive gets hot, should I just use a Fan and Heatsink instead?

 

[samuknow]

Check around. there are bay coolers that fit into the empty (cd Bay) bay.
You can install one right above the cd rom to remove the heat.

 

[cjtune]

Asz (Jul 02, 2001 01:39 p.m.):
Yeah, I was thinking of putting a fan there but seeing as the entire drive gets hot, should I just use a Fan and Heatsink instead?

Whooa, no need to get too extreme about this. Simple case ventilation will be good enough. Besides, with a HSF, you'll only cool the casing of your CD-ROM drive and not really the parts and circuitry inside.