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Note: Numerous studies have determined that Hard Drive life is directly proportional to the average operating temperature. Per one manufacturer: The condition that has the biggest impact on the life of a hard drive is temperature. Heat decreases the life of the hard drive head. A 5 °C increase in temperature could reduce the life of a hard drive by as much as two years (25%).
That being established, I like to keep my NAS HDDs at 90-95°F (32-35°C) or no more than 10-15°F above an ambient 78-80°F (25-28°C). I achieve this temperature by having my 3 Synology NASs-Fan Speed Full (and Switches etc.) in a self-made 4 foot high (25U) 19-inch rack (with a Homasote noise insulation outside layer) and having the NAS/other heat ported to the outside (cost $50 - parts list/pictures coming soon - versus commercial open rack $250 w/no hardware/shelves or noise insulation).
I was amazed when I installed a DX517 (added to my DS1821+) that temperatures of the 5 HDDs (after running for only 10 minutes) was 105-115°F (40-46°C). With no way to change the fan speed.
Note for Synology: $500 for a DX517 is a ridiculous price for a product with this MAJOR DESIGN FLAW - making the buyer jury rig a fix for the issue is inexcusable.
That being said, I went about figuring out a way to lower the HDD temps in the DX517 without physically altering the DX517.
My solution was to make a way to have additional fans at the rear of the DX517 draw air through the DX517 and out via the outside exhaust vent.
Two 120mm fans side-by-side are almost exactly the same width as the DX517 (see pictures below). I made an open-ended box out of semi-hard foam sheets hot glued together. The 2x120mm fans can also be hot glued together (hot glue can easily be removed for fan replacement). The foam sides/top/bottom sheets surround/hold the 2x120mm fans in place (directed so air blows outward). The box fits/seals around the rear outside of the DX517. The foam box is long enough to create a space between the rear of the DX517 and the fans to allow for cable routing - small holes/slats can be made in the foam sides (during construction) for cables.
RESULTS - 5 hours after boot/constant usage:
That being established, I like to keep my NAS HDDs at 90-95°F (32-35°C) or no more than 10-15°F above an ambient 78-80°F (25-28°C). I achieve this temperature by having my 3 Synology NASs-Fan Speed Full (and Switches etc.) in a self-made 4 foot high (25U) 19-inch rack (with a Homasote noise insulation outside layer) and having the NAS/other heat ported to the outside (cost $50 - parts list/pictures coming soon - versus commercial open rack $250 w/no hardware/shelves or noise insulation).
I was amazed when I installed a DX517 (added to my DS1821+) that temperatures of the 5 HDDs (after running for only 10 minutes) was 105-115°F (40-46°C). With no way to change the fan speed.
Note for Synology: $500 for a DX517 is a ridiculous price for a product with this MAJOR DESIGN FLAW - making the buyer jury rig a fix for the issue is inexcusable.
That being said, I went about figuring out a way to lower the HDD temps in the DX517 without physically altering the DX517.
My solution was to make a way to have additional fans at the rear of the DX517 draw air through the DX517 and out via the outside exhaust vent.
Two 120mm fans side-by-side are almost exactly the same width as the DX517 (see pictures below). I made an open-ended box out of semi-hard foam sheets hot glued together. The 2x120mm fans can also be hot glued together (hot glue can easily be removed for fan replacement). The foam sides/top/bottom sheets surround/hold the 2x120mm fans in place (directed so air blows outward). The box fits/seals around the rear outside of the DX517. The foam box is long enough to create a space between the rear of the DX517 and the fans to allow for cable routing - small holes/slats can be made in the foam sides (during construction) for cables.
RESULTS - 5 hours after boot/constant usage:
