HD Temperature issues?

[jtsnow]

I put a WD1200 7200rpm in a USB external case in a home office and I would
like to leave it on 24/7 to backup up 4 PCs over LAN. (If I have to remember
to turn it on each day, I wont get consistent backups)
The case has no fan but good space around it and vents for convection air
flow. Nothing sits on top of it and feet elevate so air can get underneath.

Is this going to be a heat issue for the unit in this configuration that
could push it to operate over max temp or accellerate a failure. If I leave
it on 24/7, how long should it theoritcally last?

thanks for any insight

 

[RS]

You wish to do a daily backup? That sounds like quite an expensive process.
It might be more adventagous to perform a weekly backup, requiring you to
only have the unit on one day out of the week. There shouldn't be a heat
issue for an external drive... I didn't really think they generated much
heat...

-RS

 

[jtsnow]

yea your right. its 3 year old USB Lacie chassis Im using where I replaced
a 50 with a 120gb. It has a small fan, but I disconnected it becuase its
kind of loud. its easy enough to hook back up.
I also have a 2nd Acomdata 250gb case I just bought and it does not have a
fan. Its nice an quiet and doesnt seem to get too warm to touch. thats why
I thought may the WD in the LACIE case might be ok.