Hard disk: this is the normal temperature
The normal temperature of hard drives has a large range, since hard drives are used very differently depending on your PC activities. We will tell you what temperature range your hard drive is comfortable in and will help you if your HDD is too warm.
Normal temperature of hard drives
You can read out the temperature of your hard disk with software such as HDD Thermometer or CrystalDiskInfo. The following temperature values are in the frame:
- In normal operation, a hard drive temperature of 40 ° C is ideal, 30 to 45 ° C are normal.
- The hard drive should only be 35 ° warm when not in use, 55 ° C is not uncommon with heavy use, even 70 ° C or more for a short time.
- Press the key combination [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] to see in Task Manager how much your hard disk is currently being used.
- Under "Processes" (a) you can see the total load on your hard drives and other connected data carriers.
- Under "Performance" you can see the utilization of each of your hard drives within the last 60 seconds.
- If your hard drive has been running for at least one minute, a temperature above 55 ° C is fine. Otherwise you should do something about the heat.
- Warning: Many analysis tools do not show the temperature of your hard disk, but the deviation of the temperature from 100 ° C. Then "70 ° C" means that your hard drive is 100 ° C - 70 ° C = 30 ° C warm.
Why do high temperatures damage your HDD?
- Heat can make lubricants too thin and evaporate into unwanted areas of the interior.
- At high temperatures, the density of the air decreases. As a result, less force acts against the read and write head, which brings it closer to the surface of the disk and increases the risk of contact, ie a "head crash".
- Greater heat means more movement of the electrons. This increases the risk that a bit "flips", ie a 1 becomes a 0 or vice versa.
What to do if the HDD is too hot?
If your hard drive is permanently too hot, you should find a solution before individual data is lost or even your entire hard drive gives up:
- If your hard drive gets too hot because a program is putting an unnecessary heavy load on your disk, you should uninstall this program.
- In the Task Manager you can see exactly under "Processes" which program uses your hard disk and how much.
- HDD Thermometer also warns you if your hard drive exceeds a critical temperature.
- In the short term, you can open your computer case to provide better waste heat.
- If you also point a fan or a vacuum cleaner towards the hard disk, there is an additional draft that transports even more heat.
- In the long term, however, this cooling causes a lot of dust in the computer, which can damage your hardware.
- For a few euros you can buy a passive or even an active hard drive cooler for long-term use.
- A case fan not only cools down your hard drive but the entire interior of your tower. We explain in a practical tip how to mount case fans.
- Mechanical friction can be a cause of too high a hard disk temperature. If your hard drive is not only remarkably hot, but also slow, you should mirror your hard drive according to our instructions, i.e. copy and replace it.
- CHIP Online offers extensive tests of SATA hard drives and external hard drives to help you make a decision to buy a new hard drive.
- In another practical tip, we will give you special tips if your SSD runs too hot.