Computer cooling problem

[HexOnxOnx]

Hi all

I have a three year old HP computer that has been so dependable in all this time. Over the past week, I have added a second hard drive and all works good with that...untill heat builds up in the case and I get an error message saying something like the second drive has had an error which can be caused by a drive failing. I restart the computer and the drive reapears untill several hours. I also tried this same drive in another HP computer. In this computer, after a few hours the screen will just turn a weird color and I will have to reboot. If I feel this drive, it seems very hot to the touch.

When I had this drive as the main drive and the only drive in the first computer, it worked perfectly. Are cooling fans very easy to change and how would find out what fan will cool more than the two that are in there now? One fan is on the processor and the other is on the back where ther case opening is.

Thanks for any help!

[Mainer82]

Drives can get pretty hot. First, I would neaten up the inside of your case. Tie cables back, to ensure good airflow. Then dust out the case if you have dust inside. Depending on your HP case, you can get some internal fans, one for intake or exhaust. Both would be good.

It really depends on your case, what is the model of your PC?

[HexOnxOnx]

The model number is a 7970. Right behind the drives, there is not alot of room, the fan shroud takes up some room and then the cables from the drives take up whatever little room there is between the drive and the fan shroud. For now, I have the power settings to turn off the drives after 5 minutes, hopefully this will help with the heat.

[Wayne Luke]

If you have another 5.25" bay, get a hard drive cooler and place it in that bay. Should be able to redirect some of the heat.

http://www.xoxide.com/hardrivcool1.html

Also replace your flat ribbon cables with the newer rounded IDE and Floppy cables. That will let air flow properly. You can also install a new fan in the back of the case with its flow directed out of the case. This will draw additional air in from the front which will cool your system better.

[Marco]

Rounded IDE cables are a very bad idea.

[Wayne Luke]

I don't see why... Have been using them for two years in all of my computers without problems.

[Marco]

I'd explain it, but this man does a much better job at it than I ever could

[Wayne Luke]

So 24" unshielded round cables are bad... Good thing I don't have those. Mine are actually only 16 inches from end to end and shielded. Costs a little more than a dollar each but I am happy with my throughput which is 54 Mb per second on each IDE drive.

Guess it depends on the quality you use.

[HexOnxOnx]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I will look into some of them.