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I know this question seems ridiculous, but my server (actually a Mini-ITX computer) has a 2.5" hard drive bay and an empty CD-ROM bay underneath it. If I removed the hard drive bay, I could probably mount a 3.5" hard drive in the CD-ROM bay which is unused...

I know it's a big of a kludgy way to do things but it does mean upgrading the hard drive to 2TB is much cheaper.

My question is: are the power requirements of a 3.5" disk the same as 2.5" one? I know the connectors physically will still fit, but I don't want to destroy my server!

Hennes
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Javawag
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3 Answers3

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3.5 inch drives rotating at 5400rpm (all eco green drives etc) compared to 2.5" drives use about twice the power when seeking (as in 6 watts to 3 watts) and four times when idle (4 watts to 1 watt).

The thing to watch out for is the spin-up power use. 3.5" drives can use as much as 2.5 amps on the 12V line (30 watts) for the first second when booting.

It usually is not a problem except when you use low power picoPSU or integrated DC-DC converter - then you should check your 12v line peak rating.

Halik
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No, the power requirements aren't the same, but the extra power needed shouldn't pose a problem for the power supply. I would find it hard to believe that your PSU wouldn't support a 3.5" HDD when it probably supports an optical drive. Get yourself a 5.25" to 3.5" adapter kit to mount your new HDD, and everything should be fine.

MBraedley
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I think the power requirements of a hard drive has more to do with the features than the form factor. So 10,000 RPM drives may pull more juice than 7,200 RPM drives, but a 7,200 RPM drive in either form factor I would think would be the name or nearly the same. On the flip side there are some "green" hard drives out there that take less electricity (although at full use probably still take the same amount as others).

As to where you are mounting the hard drive, I would urge caution. The hard drive is the only moving part in the computer. Hard drives in desktops are not engineered to handle changes in orientation the way the laptop manufacturers include.

So you won't hurt your server, you just need to be careful to securely fit your hard drive. I hear duct tape is fantastic ;-)

Justin C
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