HDD Coolers

[AceX]

I was wondering if gettign a HDD cooler is worth it. Does it really improve performance at all? If so, is it really even noticeable? Also, if you think I should get a HDD cooler, should I go with a fanless one?

[dgrmkrp]

I had lots of hdds before.. They kept dying on me :) So i bought a hdd cooler... Then i dropped my hdd on the ground to break it.. after 2 years of perfect/flawless functioning :)

A hdd won't work better, but, like RAM (and latencies), it can work worse.. by keeping it cooler, u are just making its life nicer :) So, keep it cool :)

[DaveW]

Your HDD is a mechanical device, unlike the Mobo and Processor, etc. So it has moving parts, which wear out over time. When they get warm they expand: and when they cool down, they shrink. This makes them wear out at a much faster rate; keeping the HD at a constant temperature will reduce the wear and tear over time, not by a lot, but apparently you can extend the life of your HD by about 20%.

Don't know about fanless coolers, only know about the Zalman one, supposedly pretty effecive.

-Dave