Toughbook HD for winter?

Jahntassa · 12-19-2005, 07:40 PM

Okay, so I saw the most recent crop of toughbooks work to like...rediculously cold conditions. What HD are they using?!

Even if it's a laptop HD, it could still be adapted to IDE and work in a CarPC. So far as I can tell, the lowest temperature spec for operating is Seagates with 0 degrees C.

semovodka · 12-20-2005, 11:09 AM

Honestly, I have no idea what the "recent toughbooks" are using, however, I do know that they are way too pricey. I originally looked at one when I was worried about the cold, however, where I live it doesn't get too unreasonable and most people I talk to don't have any serious issues with the cold. So I eventually decided against it. But you being in Georgia, how cold does it get there to warrant the need of a toughbook hd?

Tranman · 12-20-2005, 11:44 AM

I've been running a normal 3.5" 7200 RPM Western Digital 250GB in my car's Xbox for 6 months...and been using it in this cold winter...so far 10 degree F temperatures and its fine.

nrls2000 · 12-20-2005, 06:47 PM

Itronix and datalux toughbooks have an optional hdd heater. One place I saw you could order it bundled in for $490 extra. Could not find the heater or hard drive available stand alone.

Jahntassa · 12-21-2005, 06:56 AM

Well, I think my Seagate spindle is freezing up, or not spinning up, and looking around at the specs on most drives, the seagates 'supposedly' operate down to 32 F. Everything else is rated around 40 F. Now, I know ratings don't neccarily mean jack.. But I just want to try to buy a drive that I won't have to worry about, say..if I visit my Mother up in Jersey.

Last trip the thermometer barely hit 5 F. It was just a thought, I want to try to avoid going the dedicated heater route. It could just be the drive is old (I have NO idea where it came from), and I need to upgrade.

Hearing Tranman makes me think i'll just get a newer drive and see how it fares.

And as mentioned, I just bring this up because of all the harddrive heater talk, and looking around online, I couldn't find any below-zero operating specs.

Thanks for the info (and yes, those Toughbooks are expensive!)

supergudgrll · 12-21-2005, 12:41 PM

I would be very interested in knowing how this is handled.. I'm in NJ and that is a major concern of mine.

Blue ZX3 · 12-21-2005, 12:52 PM

This is basically what i built for my hard drive, in an enclosure and temperature stable at 43F below that. I had the same worries while I was doing my testing and had a couple of really cold days and no music till I was like almost at work...So I started to work on my idea for a HD heater cause I didn't want to deal with trying the whole OS on a flash card thing. Hopefully in a couple of days I can get around to posting info and pics about it.

bd3521 · 02-14-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by supergudgrll

I would be very interested in knowing how this is handled.. I'm in NJ and that is a major concern of mine.

another NJer would like to know the same
anyone?