As to vertical vs horizontal placement. I've almost always used horizontal. Now a days I'm using vertical too.

I remember reading that manufactures usually say vertical or horizontal does not matter but anything mounted other then 90 degrees (veritical or horizontal) is prone to an earlier failure.

...anything mounted other then 90 degrees (veritical or horizontal) is prone to an earlier failure.

 

Damn, guess I'll have to bin my spinning gyroscope server design then

First you have the power requirements, but the other part of this is.. The sound vibrations of the cabinet reach the head and subsequently the tube, which then alters the flow of electricity as it jumps across the cathode/anode... thus adding to the harmonic distortions.

 

Microphonics in tube amps are very different.  The grid vibrates, moving it within the electric field between anode and cathode and thus modulating the current flow significantly. The servo mechanisms in hard drives deal with very many locally produced and external vibrations.  As noted above, its extreme G forces that are the issue.  Large amplitude vibrations but without very high G forces are less of an issue to hard drives.  For what it's worth, I have a 160GB hard drive in a Phatbox in the trunk of my Volvo.  88,000 miles and still going strong.

You said picking it up and droping it back? As in litterally dropping it or placing it on the table?

Not to argue, but I've had several laptops over the years and yet to ever have a drive problem. I've had countless battery and monitor issues for one reason or another, but never drives.

 

Then again I don't work in a shop and don't see users that treat their stuff like its a purse or set of car keys you toss on the table when you walk in the door.

 

It was dropped (accidentally) -- only the front of the machine was lifted, but it fell back with a thud on to a glass table.

 

I've never had a laptop hard drive fail (plenty of desktop drives have). Laptop drives are built for rough treatment, but some users treat them too roughly -- I rarely move mine around.

Hey, if there is a proof drives survive or last longer the other way, then I'll just slap the case on the side. Done deal!

 

This sounds a lot like the arguments ( I mean discussions) on what oil and oil filter to use for your cars and trucks. In all the reading that I have done I haven't seen any data that directly contributes the drive failure to its installed orientation. Bottom line lay or stand the drives how you like or need to build the server and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

This sounds a lot like the arguments ( I mean discussions) on what oil and oil filter to use for your cars and trucks. In all the reading that I have done I haven't seen any data that directly contributes the drive failure to its installed orientation. Bottom line lay or stand the drives how you like or need to build the server and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

 

The vendors publish that drives should be mounted level or 90 degrees from level for a reason.

Level can be right side up or upside down.

The servo mechanisms in hard drives deal with very many locally produced and external vibrations.  As noted above, its extreme G forces that are the issue.  Large amplitude vibrations but without very high G forces are less of an issue to hard drives.  For what it's worth, I have a 160GB hard drive in a Phatbox in the trunk of my Volvo.  88,000 miles and still going strong.

 

160GB drives have less density and may have less issues, where as a 2TB drive may exhibit other issues with subsonic vibrations.

The servo mechanisms in hard drives deal with very many locally produced and external vibrations.  As noted above, its extreme G forces that are the issue.  Large amplitude vibrations but without very high G forces are less of an issue to hard drives.  For what it's worth, I have a 160GB hard drive in a Phatbox in the trunk of my Volvo.  88,000 miles and still going strong.

 

160GB drives have less density and may have less issues, where as a 2TB drive may exhibit other issues with subsonic vibrations.

 

True - drives that don't "push the boundaries" are likely to be more reliable in adverse environments I would think.

I'm currently running horizontally without backplanes.  But my CM590 is filling up, and I'll need to consider 5-in-3's or a Norco.  I've heard that switching a HD's orientation after months or years of bearing wear is an invitation to premature failure.  Any feelings?

This sounds a lot like the arguments ( I mean discussions) on what oil and oil filter to use for your cars and trucks. In all the reading that I have done I haven't seen any data that directly contributes the drive failure to its installed orientation. Bottom line lay or stand the drives how you like or need to build the server and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

 

The vendors publish that drives should be mounted level or 90 degrees from level for a reason.

Level can be right side up or upside down.

Should doesn't mean shall, and if it was a big issue that they thought needed to be addressed don't you think they would state that placing in a vertical position will void warranty?