[Pc_Support] Western Digital 500GB (WD5000) "KS" (SE16/consumer) and "YS" (RE2/enterprise) ...

[Bryan J. Smith]

Damien McKenna wrote:
> The NewEgg comments give it 4/5 average, with several comments saying
> the drives were dying very quickly.

And there are similar ratings/comments on not only the WD3200JD/SD
(Caviar SE/RE) that I've installed over 2 dozen times with 0 failures
in 18 months, but even some of the Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 models, of
which I personally own over a dozen (and have installed countless
others) in over 2+ years with 0 failures.

Failures will happen.  People are stupid and don't adequate cool hard
drives.  Active cooling is NOT OPTIONAL today.

In fact, one of the WD5000YS comments was someone who used 4 in a
RAID-10 configuration.  It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't
adequately cooled, let alone the guy probably fit them in a cramped, 4
atop one another, configuration.

I recently used just 2 Samsung "consumer" 160GB drives in a temporary
enclosure for my wife when I was moving data without any cooling.
Sitting directly atop of each other, I BURNT MY FINGER BY MERELY
TOUCHING THE DRIVES AFTER 15 MINUTES OF USE!  Using a thermaresitor, I
MEASURED A TEMPERATURE OF ALMOST 70C!  (OUCH!)

When placed in the MicroATX cube, right next to each other with the
thermaresistor in-bteween, they didn't break 30C.  It has side vents
and the 120mm fan 6" behind them is pulling air over them.

You need to cool drives today.  Otherwise, I don't care what you buy,
THEY WILL FAIL VERY QUICKLY as they break 50C or even 60C.