New WD Scorpio Black is Hott

I just added a second hard drive to my G51 last night. I got a good deal on a 320gig 7200 WD Scorpio Black drive from best buy, and have been in need of additional space for some time.

My issue is that it is getting really warm compared to the Seagate drive that came with the laptop. I installed it without any mounting brackets ( I read on other posts that this was ok?) and it seemed secure just using the foam.

Right now sitting on my lap, the Seagate drive is idling at 38C, the WD is idling at 49C. Now 50C, and seems to be climbing! I know this can't be good because I've never seen my Seagate drive ever get that hot, even under load!

Anyone have any ideas?

I should note that all other temps seem normal idle, maybe 2C higher because I'm not on my cooling pad and its on my lap on pillow.

GPU 52C
CPU 38C
THRM 48C

 

The foam may partly be responsible for not allowing heat to dissipate properly from the hard drive. Also, WD hard drives do run hot. But, your idle/load temps are dangerously high.

I'd exchange it and see if the replacement exhibits the same characteristics. It could be just a defective hard drive.

 

Thanks Jester, I did notice that even on a fresh boot the idle temp before climbing is still about 4-5C higher than the Seagate drive. I guess that accounts for it running a bit hotter.

I just got it last night and I haven't even put anything on it yet so I will return it later today or maybe tomorrow when I get some time. Hopefully the temps will improve.

Before I take it back, anyone have any other suggestions?

Anyone with a G51 just using the foam to mount the HD and getting normal temps?

 

isnt the new HD sitting right next to the gtx 260? could account for the higher temps.

 

I never did think of that, I guess that would make sense. I'm still wondering if maybe I should go ahead and order the mounting bracket to help spread the heat.

 

I have a friend with a G50vt, whom I gave my stock G51 HDD to. He mounts it wirh foam and it's mid thirties under load.

 

If that is the case, it's more than likely a defective hard drive.

By the way, you're welcome TalonUIUC. Let us know how the new hard drive works out.

 

How did you place your foam? I have foam for my drive because I'm too cheap for a bracket. I use it on the side opposite the SATA connector to wedge the drive into place, I don't surround it with the stuff. My temps are similar to my stock drive.

 

Thanks for the help guys, but at what temp do you think the hard drive will fail? I've never suffered a HD overheating.

 

Sounds like a bad drive or something odd.... I ran a 500GB WD drive using foam in my G51 for a few months and it ran very similar temps to the stock drive. Looks like either that drive is defective, or that model runs WAY hotter than stock. I don't recall ever passing the upper 30'sC for either drive in my G51.

 

My WD BKJT 3200 whatever (scorpio black 320 7200rpm) runs about this hot, and has been doing so for the last 18 months. Since it's got a 5 year warranty and holds non-critical data, I never even thought to check to see if the temps were too high. And so far, nope. 18 months with no problems, just fast access speeds and the abuse that comes from being in a netbook.