Safer to leave external HDD running 24/7 or turn off after each use? - GoFuckYourself.com

Jakez · 05-19-2010, 10:38 PM

I have an external HDD inside a Spire or something case with no fans. After running for a bit it gets pretty damn hot. I'm always scared of it overheating or something and corrupting my stuff.. but I've accidentally left it on for days before and all seems fine. I hadn't used it for like a month and I turned it on yesterday and it kind of scared me because it wasn't showing up on my computer right away. So the question is...?

TrainWreckContent · 05-19-2010, 10:42 PM

i am not sure if its bad or not but i never turn mine off unless i am rebooting..had 2 of them for over 1 yr never had any issues

rowan · 05-19-2010, 10:47 PM

You should buy another one as backup rather than wondering if your HD is going to fail... (there's a lot more than heat which can kill a HD!)

Jakez · 05-19-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

You should buy another one as backup rather than wondering if your HD is going to fail... (there's a lot more than heat which can kill a HD!)

Well I keep a few backups on my computer, and copy them to the external, also have them sitting on my host from downloading. I figure that's enough, hopefully all 3 don't fuck up at once, eh.

rowan · 05-19-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakez

Well I keep a few backups on my computer, and copy them to the external, also have them sitting on my host from downloading. I figure that's enough, hopefully all 3 don't fuck up at once, eh.

That's a very good start... now all you need is an extra external that gets rotated offsite regularly.

Jakez · 05-19-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

That's a very good start... now all you need is an extra external that gets rotated offsite regularly.

If all 3 goto shit at once I guess it was meant to be lol.

Anyone know for sure which way is best? BTW I've had this external for probably 5 years at least without a problem :crosses fingers:, even leaving it on for days in a house with no A/C and FL summer heat/humidity, talk about a stress test lol, I could've literally cooked an egg on the case alone, anyways I always try to shut it off if I'm not using it. So it seems to be leaning in that direction..

Major (Tom) · 05-19-2010, 11:25 PM

I leave mine running all day, and some have been online for 2+ years
Duke

rowan · 05-20-2010, 12:06 AM

Most drives I've checked have their "maximum" SMART temp set at 55C. Nothing horrible or magical happens when you hit 55.1C, but at that point you're technically overtemp.

In a room without air conditioning during summer an external without forced air flow could probably get near to or above this figure.

Don't forget it's not just ambient that matters, the heat of the drive itself has to be shed, without a fan it's just by thermal radiation through the shell of the enclosure (which often has a bad thermal connection to the drive itself... in effect it's insulating it!)

NaughtyRob · 05-20-2010, 12:19 AM

I have about 15 and have had very few issues leaving them on all the time.

Catalyst · 05-20-2010, 12:29 AM

i leave mine on all the time

paymeback · 05-20-2010, 12:55 AM

If its actually being used 24/7 and not idling maybe look into the western digital AV drives, they are designed for 24/7 use they are only $10ish more than the WD green drives fwiw

Adraco · 05-20-2010, 01:17 AM

Nothing wrong in turning it off when not using it. A drive that doesn't spin live longer. Most drives today have sleep functions, but unless it is really professional gear made to be used all the time, I suggest you simply turn it off when leaving your computer.

LoveSandra · 05-20-2010, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catalyst

i leave mine on all the time

Barefootsies · 05-20-2010, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riggo

i am not sure if its bad or not but i never turn mine off unless i am rebooting..had 2 of them for over 1 yr never had any issues

Same here.

I have many of them backing up content, and do not turn them off.

scarlettcontent · 05-20-2010, 07:18 AM

turn it off when not using and make a backup

rowan · 05-20-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paymeback

If its actually being used 24/7 and not idling maybe look into the western digital AV drives, they are designed for 24/7 use they are only $10ish more than the WD green drives fwiw

They're also designed to return an error very quickly when there's a problem reading a sector, so that streaming isn't interrupted. A few hundred corrupted bytes in a video stream will be almost imperceptable.

AV drives should NOT be used for general data...

Serge Litehead · 05-20-2010, 10:01 AM

my hdd is always on, but it doesn't spin when not being accessed, it goes to standby/sleep mode like after 5-15min.. i think in windows in power management there is an option for that

05-19-2010, 10:38 PM	#1
Jakez Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oddfuturewolfgangkillthemall!!!!!!! Posts: 5,656	Safer to leave external HDD running 24/7 or turn off after each use? I have an external HDD inside a Spire or something case with no fans. After running for a bit it gets pretty damn hot. I'm always scared of it overheating or something and corrupting my stuff.. but I've accidentally left it on for days before and all seems fine. I hadn't used it for like a month and I turned it on yesterday and it kind of scared me because it wasn't showing up on my computer right away. So the question is...? __________________ [email protected] - jakezdumb - 573689400 Killuminati

05-19-2010, 10:42 PM	#2
TrainWreckContent Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Under a Train Wreck Posts: 8,131	i am not sure if its bad or not but i never turn mine off unless i am rebooting..had 2 of them for over 1 yr never had any issues __________________ Train Wreck Content Telegram @DanTrainwreck / Whatsapp TrainWreck / Email [email protected]

05-19-2010, 11:25 PM	#7
Major (Tom) Noticing Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Null Posts: 29,900	I leave mine running all day, and some have been online for 2+ years Duke __________________ My mother said, to get things done You'd better not mess with Major Tom

05-20-2010, 12:19 AM	#9
NaughtyRob Two fresh affiliate progs Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Inside teen pussy Posts: 29,602	I have about 15 and have had very few issues leaving them on all the time. __________________ [email protected] Skype: 17026955414 Vacares Web Hosting - Protect Your Ass with Included Daily Backups

05-20-2010, 12:55 AM	#11
paymeback Confirmed User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,478	If its actually being used 24/7 and not idling maybe look into the western digital AV drives, they are designed for 24/7 use they are only $10ish more than the WD green drives fwiw __________________ ICQ:36-43-49-11

05-19-2010, 10:47 PM	#3
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	You should buy another one as backup rather than wondering if your HD is going to fail... (there's a lot more than heat which can kill a HD!)

05-20-2010, 12:06 AM	#8
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Most drives I've checked have their "maximum" SMART temp set at 55C. Nothing horrible or magical happens when you hit 55.1C, but at that point you're technically overtemp. In a room without air conditioning during summer an external without forced air flow could probably get near to or above this figure. Don't forget it's not just ambient that matters, the heat of the drive itself has to be shed, without a fan it's just by thermal radiation through the shell of the enclosure (which often has a bad thermal connection to the drive itself... in effect it's insulating it!)

05-20-2010, 12:29 AM	#10
Catalyst Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Vegas Posts: 3,243	i leave mine on all the time

05-20-2010, 01:17 AM	#12
Adraco Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2009 Location: Onboard an airplane around the globe Posts: 3,734	Nothing wrong in turning it off when not using it. A drive that doesn't spin live longer. Most drives today have sleep functions, but unless it is really professional gear made to be used all the time, I suggest you simply turn it off when leaving your computer. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The truth is not affected by the beliefs, or doubts, of the majority.

05-20-2010, 07:18 AM	#15
scarlettcontent www.scarlettcontent.net Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pleiades Posts: 6,031	turn it off when not using and make a backup __________________ Scarlett Content - Adult Content Provider - High Quality Adult Stock Content for your Websites, Mobile Media and Print. Over 3 Million Images (14,000 photo sets) over 5000 Videos - Many Niches, US-2257, Awesome Prices. Over 40 years in the adult industry. [email protected] Follow us on twitter.

05-20-2010, 10:01 AM	#17
Serge Litehead Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Behind the scenes Posts: 5,190	my hdd is always on, but it doesn't spin when not being accessed, it goes to standby/sleep mode like after 5-15min.. i think in windows in power management there is an option for that __________________ SilverCrocodile.com Adult web design since '05