How cool should my room be to avoid a hard disk crash?
Please remember that latest hard disk drives have high capacity and very high rotational speed (typically 7200 RPM). At this speed, depending upon your usage, a hard disk generates lot of heat. This heat will be dissipated effectively only if your room temperature is cool enough and if the PC is placed in a well ventilated area. The recommended temperature range for such devices is around 18 – 20 deg. C. Our Server room is always maintained at 20 deg. C. At higher temperatures the hard disk will function, but its “Mean Time Between Failure” (MTBF) will decrease – i.e., it has a tendency to fail often. So, keep your room temperature as cool as possible and do not reduce the cool air flow. If you feel uncomfortable with cooler temperatures, use warm clothing inside the office. But, don’t sacrifice your hard disk for the sake of your comfort.
