I have an external harddrive (http://origominds.com/imagenes%20lis...%20Premium.jpg) that gets REAL hot (the metal USB port gets to ~65C estimated by touch - cannot touch for more than 1/4 second, so the interior is probably at least 80C), and I am trying to find a cheap way to cool it down.
The room temperature is about 28C (will get hotter later into the summer), with almost no air flow. The computer (and harddrive) is on 24/7. The harddrive rests on a wooden desk, which doesn't help. This is my ghetto "server room".
Turning on the AC is not an option (too expensive to run an AC 24/7 just to cool a harddrive), and opening the window MAY be (but in summer time, it gets to about 32C outside, too).
So what can I do to cool it down?
I am thinking about something like a home-made heatsink (just a sheet of metal), but that doesn't increase the surface area significantly. Will adding a fan help? (I have 2 of those USB powered ones, that don't push much air at all)
A battle of water? (high heat capacity, but I guess it will eventually reach thermal equilibrium)
Suggestions?
