HDD breathing hole

[ELITE1013]

does it matter if the HDD's breathing hole isn't directly facing a vent? i have a laptop and the HDD that i put in it has a breathing hole facing up and the vent is on the bottom. there is still about 3mm of space above it though.

also what is its breathing hole for?

 

[brian]

same question, but i think it is fine. i think it is to equalize the pressure so they say dont cover it just meaning dont put tape over it but i think it is fine resting against something

 

[PC eye]

The reason for the beathing holes is to equalized the air pressure inside and outside of the drive itself not for intake and exhaust like seen with case fans. It's important never to block those at any time. One good article about those and how to install laptop drives is seen at http://searchwincomputing.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid68_gci1212435,00.html

Hard drives themselves are hermetically sealed on the inside to prevent anything from getting onto the platters and ruining the drive itself. Even the slightest esd will ruin the magnetically charged platters. Dust, dirt, a drop of any liquid would destroy a drive.

 

[Cromewell]

That's fine, it just shouldn't be sealed up.

 

[PC eye]

Essentially an even amount of air pressure has to be maintained on the inside as well as the outside in order to insure a frictionless environment and not see any type of expansion and contraction that would bind a drive up. Some say 10mm but as long as nothing obstructs the holes you should all set. Laptops don't have room for larger gaps anyways since everything has to be compacted into tight spaces.