3.5" Hard Drive on a laptop?

Punky · 01-10-2007, 01:09 PM

My carpc is currently running on a Fujitsu lifebook s2000 laptop, being powered by an inverter.
I live in calgary, so it gets quite cold. down to -20*C very frequently.
My laptop's hard drive cuts out at about -5*C and been crashing for no reasons lately.
So, I'd like to try to run a 3.5" HD instead of the 2.5".
It looks like someone has already tried this, according to this website.
http://www.applefritter.com/node/10859
My question is, could this work if i use this method with a opus/atx or any car pc power supply to give the hard drive the 12V.
Why I want to do this:
1) So i can use it when it's cold.
2) It's cheaper than scrapping my whole setup and get a new computer setup.

gsd_racing · 01-10-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

My carpc is currently running on a Fujitsu lifebook s2000 laptop, being powered by an inverter.
I live in calgary, so it gets quite cold. down to -20*C very frequently.
My laptop's hard drive cuts out at about -5*C and been crashing for no reasons lately.
So, I'd like to try to run a 3.5" HD instead of the 2.5".
It looks like someone has already tried this, according to this website.
http://www.applefritter.com/node/10859
My question is, could this work if i use this method with a opus/atx or any car pc power supply to give the hard drive the 12V.
Why I want to do this:
1) So i can use it when it's cold.
2) It's cheaper than scrapping my whole setup and get a new computer setup.

I am interested in this as well. A solution to that cold problem is to make a removable tray for the HDD. This may or may not be applicable, but its worth a shot.

treetop777 · 01-10-2007, 05:42 PM

Why not a usb enclosure??

2k1Toaster · 01-10-2007, 06:01 PM

Just so you know, 3.5" drives are usually worse in the cold than 2.5" drives. THe only advantage I see to using 3.5" drive would be lots of storage space for cheaper as compared to a 2.5" drive. So if you took the drive with you inside to keep in in liveable temperatures and then just plugged it in before you left, that should be fine.

To adapt a 3.5" to 2.5", you just need a laptop to desktop IDE converter cable, and a good power source. If you get a USB enclosure, you can take the circuit of that and plug into the USB port and just use the power from it as long as your USB ports' power is initialized upon startup that way you don't have to buy a whole different PSU just for the HD!

Also if you get a M2 or Opus or something, there is a startup delay before it gives power and by the time your HD gets power and spins up, the mobo's POST scan is done, and you will get a boot failure.

And if you can live with a slower bootup, then just use the 3.5" enclosure and be done with it.

shotgunefx · 01-10-2007, 06:24 PM

I'm wondering how I'll fair myself with my 2.5 drive as it gets colder. I have some Hitachi Endurostar automotive drives, but I'm not using them at the moment (as they are a little slow and only 20gb).

Originally, my idea was to just have the important stuff on the 20gb, and all my media in a 3.5 with usb enclosure and only power it up after it came up to an acceptable temp range.

Punky · 01-10-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by gsd_racing

I am interested in this as well. A solution to that cold problem is to make a removable tray for the HDD. This may or may not be applicable, but its worth a shot.

From the way it sound, I might be the pioneer of this field.

Quote: Originally Posted by treetop777

Why not a usb enclosure??

Never thought of it. Will see what i can dig up.

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

Just so you know, 3.5" drives are usually worse in the cold than 2.5" drives. THe only advantage I see to using 3.5" drive would be lots of storage space for cheaper as compared to a 2.5" drive. So if you took the drive with you inside to keep in in liveable temperatures and then just plugged it in before you left, that should be fine.

To adapt a 3.5" to 2.5", you just need a laptop to desktop IDE converter cable, and a good power source. If you get a USB enclosure, you can take the circuit of that and plug into the USB port and just use the power from it as long as your USB ports' power is initialized upon startup that way you don't have to buy a whole different PSU just for the HD!

.

Also if you get a M2 or Opus or something, there is a startup delay before it gives power and by the time your HD gets power and spins up, the mobo's POST scan is done, and you will get a boot failure.

And if you can live with a slower bootup, then just use the 3.5" enclosure and be done with it.

From what i can understand, 3.5" arent fluid bearing, and said to be better at dealing with colder conditions. I'd been told some people can start them at -20*C no problem.
Your USB idea sounds brilliant. I will surely look further into this.
Isnt the delay adjustable at all? I've never use these myself.

Quote: Originally Posted by shotgunefx

I'm wondering how I'll fair myself with my 2.5 drive as it gets colder. I have some Hitachi Endurostar automotive drives, but I'm not using them at the moment (as they are a little slow and only 20gb).

Originally, my idea was to just have the important stuff on the 20gb, and all my media in a 3.5 with usb enclosure and only power it up after it came up to an acceptable temp range.

I dont have a problem with speed. I'm running at 1.6ghz and i cant imagine how much the hard drive could slow me down. Where did you get those? they seem to be very limited, if you could resale them back to me, i'd like to give them a shot.

gsd_racing · 01-10-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

From the way it sound, I might be the pioneer of this field.

I made one....all it is is a shell from a usb enclosure, along with a notebook IDE extension cable running to the from of whatever case you're using...that way, just pull the enclosure out and there's your drive. I don't have it anymore, but it was a good solution.

Punky · 01-10-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by gsd_racing

I made one....all it is is a shell from a usb enclosure, along with a notebook IDE extension cable running to the from of whatever case you're using...that way, just pull the enclosure out and there's your drive. I don't have it anymore, but it was a good solution.

How did you make the 2.5" to the 3.5" cable? or just bought the other one and it's backward capatible?

gsd_racing · 01-11-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

How did you make the 2.5" to the 3.5" cable? or just bought the other one and it's backward capatible?

It was on a laptop, but it would work the same on a desktop....Ebay has ($4 shipped) a converter which lets you use a laptop drive on a desktop, then all you need is an extension cable for the laptop drive, off of the converter, and you're in business