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    External HDD. Should it spin down when not in use?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by copytekk, Apr 9, 2007.

  1. copytekk

    copytekk Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a 400 GB Seagate HDD in a USB/Firewire encloseure. When I have it turned on the HD spins at full speed all the time. A friend told me that it should spin down when not in use and that if it doesn't it will decrease the life of the drive.

    Any opinions? Should I shut it off after I access what I need on it? Thanks :cool:
     
    copytekk, Apr 9, 2007
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  2. Circa69

    Circa69 Notebook Evangelist

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    I would think that it will decrease the HDs life if it is running constantly.

    My WDs spin down after a few minutes. I am not sure if my seagate does, it is at home. I will be home in a couple weeks and will check if you don't get more info by then.
     
    Circa69, Apr 9, 2007
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  3. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

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    My maxtor definitely slows down but it is in a Nexstar 3 case, and not controlled by maxtor hardware. I'd perhaps contact seagate and ask them.
     
    Cheffy, Apr 10, 2007
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  4. TedJ

    TedJ Asus fan in a can!

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    Well, an external drive should spin down when idle, but unfortunately most do not.

    Windows is unable to power manage an external USB/Firewire drive, which means the enclosure's chipset must handle that task itself. Most don't bother.
     
    TedJ, Apr 10, 2007
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  5. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    A desktop 3.5" drive is typically rated for 20-30,000 spin-ups/spin-downs. So you don't want to do it wantonly, you should make spin-ups and spin-downs as minimal as possible to prolong the life of the drive. They're designed to run. If you're on power, it won't hurt it to keep running. If it's a 2.5" type drive, it will save power if it spins down, and they're rated around 300,000 spin-ups/spin-downs, so it's much less of an issue.
     
    Pitabred, Apr 11, 2007
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  6. copytekk

    copytekk Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks. Definitely good info! You seem to know your stuff. :cool:

     
    copytekk, Apr 11, 2007
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