Silencing a Terabyte array of 11 drives.
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
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Silencing a Terabyte array of 11 drives.
I run 11 mixed 120 and 100 gig drives using the built in IDE and two ULTRA 133 cards. This is non raid system.
I use a large server case that mounts the drives in metal frames.
After adding the last two drives, the system began to vibrate like you
wouldn't belive.
Some interesting things about a Terabyte system or a system with a LOT of drives. One hard disk hums, but ten + RESONATE. I mean hum in sequence if they are identical. The case will vibrate so bad, it can move.
So I decided to do the suspension mod.
Using bungees from home despot ($4.99 for 10)
I ran suspension sets for all the drives, including the DVD writer and CD-writer.
What a difference.
When I turned on the machine, I thought I had forgotten to plug the drives in.
Replaced the two blowers on top with panaflows, and it's near silent.
I keep my drives cool with less fans by spot epoxying heat sinks to the tops of the drives. JB weld snaps off easy and clean if you need to send a drive out for warranty RMA.
Some tips.
Drilling holes, make sure you don't leave jagged edges. This is VERY important.
Two Bungee lengths per hole if you're doing a multi drive setup.
Don't knot the two bungees together. Do two individual knots. They stay put longer and make a tighter knot. I then JB welded the knots so they won't slip.
Make sure you get relatively similar tension on the lengths as if one side is tighter than the other (way tighter) it will make the drive lopsided.
If you ever thought of doing the suspension mod, it's incredible.
I use a large server case that mounts the drives in metal frames.
After adding the last two drives, the system began to vibrate like you
wouldn't belive.
Some interesting things about a Terabyte system or a system with a LOT of drives. One hard disk hums, but ten + RESONATE. I mean hum in sequence if they are identical. The case will vibrate so bad, it can move.
So I decided to do the suspension mod.
Using bungees from home despot ($4.99 for 10)
I ran suspension sets for all the drives, including the DVD writer and CD-writer.
What a difference.
When I turned on the machine, I thought I had forgotten to plug the drives in.
Replaced the two blowers on top with panaflows, and it's near silent.
I keep my drives cool with less fans by spot epoxying heat sinks to the tops of the drives. JB weld snaps off easy and clean if you need to send a drive out for warranty RMA.
Some tips.
Drilling holes, make sure you don't leave jagged edges. This is VERY important.
Two Bungee lengths per hole if you're doing a multi drive setup.
Don't knot the two bungees together. Do two individual knots. They stay put longer and make a tighter knot. I then JB welded the knots so they won't slip.
Make sure you get relatively similar tension on the lengths as if one side is tighter than the other (way tighter) it will make the drive lopsided.
If you ever thought of doing the suspension mod, it's incredible.
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue May 20, 2003 3:15 pm
Pics
What I do is take the sink and place it on the bare metal. I thermal paste only the bare metal area. I don't cover the labels etc, no point unless it's bare metal. I lay the sink on, and then tack it to the disk with dabs of JB weld, like weld points. It hardens in 4 mins. Then I can screw a fan on the top if I like. I usually scavenge socket 7 sinks and use four. Two side by side in a 4 sink array that juts out maybe 1/4 inch on each side. I use lager gap sinks, so the bungies sink into them and level.
My machine is on 24/7 and the temps are great, the drives are cool to the touch under 24/7 and heavy load.
I'll get the cam out and take some pics.
I use it all to store video.
My case has the entire hard disk system removable, the bungies are strong enough to warp the frame, so I had to out it back in while countering the force with a "push stick"
My machine is on 24/7 and the temps are great, the drives are cool to the touch under 24/7 and heavy load.
I'll get the cam out and take some pics.
I use it all to store video.
My case has the entire hard disk system removable, the bungies are strong enough to warp the frame, so I had to out it back in while countering the force with a "push stick"
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Defrag and heat
Well I can leave the system on (all drives on) and it will slowly over the period of a day , day 1/2 warm the room if all windows and door is closed.
However, as it's nbulk storage, I set the drives to shut off after 5 minutes of inactivity, and that keeps the heat and noise down.
Defragging in xp is easy, I can do the drives in sequence while I am sleeping.
However, as it's nbulk storage, I set the drives to shut off after 5 minutes of inactivity, and that keeps the heat and noise down.
Defragging in xp is easy, I can do the drives in sequence while I am sleeping.
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OK, I shoulda done my homework before asking. I guess I wasn't sure if it was a "real product" or part of an argot. The product sheets look very nice; I'll check out Home Depot for a sample. On the web pages, I couldn't find whether/how the stuff conducts heat/electricity, however.aphonos wrote:Google JB Weld.
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I have an external RAID array with 8 IBM drives. Never ever had the problems that you incountered, but then it is a manufacturer made unit (then you put the drives in).
But I wouldn't recommend it for a silent system as it has about 10 60mm fans on the back - its on my work workstation.
Less moving parts are the way to go from what I have read!
But I wouldn't recommend it for a silent system as it has about 10 60mm fans on the back - its on my work workstation.
Less moving parts are the way to go from what I have read!
Lol, we have 80terrabytes at work (the hospital) . Isotope, CAT, MRI and x-ray scans (as well as ultrasounds and lots of other thins) tend to eat away some of precious disk space. . It's far from quiet though. Then again, I don't care about the noise there. The room is completely sealed off, which makes my office 100% silent.
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plumbers places
maybe www.screwfix.com at a guess
maybe www.screwfix.com at a guess