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    Possible danger of a 7200rpm laptop HDD in a external?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Rorschach, Jul 4, 2008.

  1. Rorschach

    Rorschach Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Decided today I wanted more space on my laptop and wanted it to run cooler, so I pulled my 250 gb external WD passport drive and put it in the laptop. I then put my 100gb 7200rpm drive into the external case and to my suprise, it works just fine. It doesn't even get any warmer than the 5200rpm drive. My question is though, is there any danger to the Motherboard or other internal components if I try to run the drive while on the batter? I know the system can handle it while plugged in, but wat has me worried is if the usb ports can handle it?
    Would really just like input from resellers on this or someone else who has done the same mod.
     
    Rorschach, Jul 4, 2008
    #1
  2. sujinge9

    sujinge9 Notebook Evangelist

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    nah, theres plenty of external HDDs that run at 7200rpm. As long as your enclosure isn't moving or something, there shouldn't be any internal problems.
     
    sujinge9, Jul 4, 2008
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  3. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Are you worried of the USB's power draw limitation? Find out the HD's power consumption figures. USB can supply 5v 500ma

    or Use firewire!
     
    flipfire, Jul 4, 2008
    #3
  4. zfactor

    zfactor Mastershake

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    i think you will be fine..
     
    zfactor, Jul 5, 2008
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  5. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

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    Should be okay IMHO.
     
    The_Observer, Jul 5, 2008
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  6. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    I`ve used it before, and there`s no hickups whatsoever.
     
    eleron911, Jul 5, 2008
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  7. Audigy

    Audigy Notebook Evangelist

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    I will work if the capacitors inside the circuit of your external case can hold it...

    As someone said before, the USB 2.0 specification have an power spec of 500mA 5V.

    The most power demanding task in your disk will be the startup(mostly because of spin up from 0 to 7200RPM).
    So the problem here is that when you plug in your external disk, it will consume about 900/1100mA, something that an USB can´t provide.

    So how can he fix this? Simple, the circuit of your external disk case have various capacitors that will charge electricity and then release it in a short period of time. Something like 500mA from the USB port, plus 400mA from the precharge capacitors. If those capacitors can handle the spin up consumption, and if your disk does not consume more than 500mA for large periods of time during seek activities, then your disk will work like butter. :D

    Finally, the problem here is how much charge your external circuit case capacitors can handle, and if it´s enough for an 7200RPM disk spin up.

    ;)
     
    Audigy, Jul 5, 2008
    #7