Robert_Bell@mindlink.bc.ca (Robert Bell) (04/23/91)
I've been using a desktop AT on its side for the last couple of months and have had no adverse effects so far.Just make sure it has adaquate cooling and is well supported and not liable to fall over. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Bell uunet!van_bc!rsoft!mindlink!a1076 Benndorf-Verster a1076@mindlink.uucp Vancouver Canada voice 604-853-5870 -------------------------------------------------------------------
dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Daniel Schneider) (04/23/91)
Due to desk space constraints, I am playing with the idea of putting my desktop style AT-size computer on its side, vertically, like a tower case. I have seen this done before, but I am hesitant to take a computer designed to function horizontally and ask it to function vertically. Problems that come to mind are: 1) Proper Cooling 2) Proper Functioning of Hard Disk and Floppy Disk Drives I am concerned about long-term reliability. Does anyone out there have any advice on this subject? Any personal experience and observations? Thank you, Dan dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
al@atc.SP.Unisys.COM (Al Womelsdorf) (04/23/91)
From article <47696@ut-emx.uucp>, by dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Daniel Schneider): > Due to desk space constraints, I am playing with the idea of putting my > desktop style AT-size computer on its side, vertically, like a tower case. > I have done this at home and almost all the PC's here at work are setting this way. The only possible problem I have even heard of (but never experienced) is that you might want to reformat the disk with the machine on its side. One of the newer disk utilities could do a low level reformat and data rewrite with no problem. We have not even done that much. No problems in over 50 PC's. Good luck. :-} -- Al Womelsdorf | usual disclaimer....... UNISYS Defense Systems Corp. | ......ain't nobody's business internet: al@atc.sp.unisys.com | but my own.
c60b-1eq@e260-1g.berkeley.edu (Noam Mendelson) (04/24/91)
In article <47696@ut-emx.uucp> dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Daniel Schneider) writes: >Due to desk space constraints, I am playing with the idea of putting my >desktop style AT-size computer on its side, vertically, like a tower case. >I have seen this done before, but I am hesitant to take a computer designed >to function horizontally and ask it to function vertically. Problems that >come to mind are: >1) Proper Cooling The difference in air flow is negligible. >2) Proper Functioning of Hard Disk and Floppy Disk Drives You can put your computer upside-down and the hard disk should still function perfectly (assuming it did before, that is). Floppy drives are much less sensitive to shock than hard drives. You should not worry about them. >I am concerned about long-term reliability. Your computer hardware basically doesn't really care how it's rotated in space. It does care if it's being kicked, though, so if you opt to mount it vertically on the floor be sure it's safe from abuse. -- +==========================================================================+ | Noam Mendelson ..!ucbvax!web!c60b-1eq | "I haven't lost my mind, | | c60b-1eq@web.Berkeley.EDU | it's backed up on tape | | University of California at Berkeley | somewhere." |
henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch) (04/24/91)
dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Daniel Schneider) wrote: ->I have seen this done before, but I am hesitant to take a computer designed ->to function horizontally and ask it to function vertically. it's not clear you can *assume* these PCs were designed to function *only* when placed horizontally. i have an original IBM PC/AT which is oriented (like most) to sit on your desktop. a little-known feature was a floor-stand for the PC/AT which makes it stand on the floor just fine. -- # Henry Mensch / Advanced Decision Systems / <henry@ads.com>
ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) (04/24/91)
From article <5594@mindlink.bc.ca>, by Robert_Bell@mindlink.bc.ca (Robert Bell): > I've been using a desktop AT on its side for the last couple of months and have > had no adverse effects so far.Just make sure it has adaquate cooling and is > well supported and not liable to fall over. I have several PC's in my department sit on their side for years and has no problem so far...
kens@hplsla.HP.COM (Ken Snyder) (04/25/91)
/ c60b-1eq@e260-1g.berkeley.edu (Noam Mendelson) writes: > You can put your computer upside-down and the hard disk should still > function perfectly (assuming it did before, that is). Time out! Irregardless of your experiences, most hard drive manufacturers specify that the drives will function at any angle UP TO 90 degrees. Upside down is a no-no. As to computers on their sides, I asked the Gateway techs about this when I got my desktop AT. The answer I got was that all the techs their have their computers on their sides beside their desks with no apparent harm. Ken
pisor@edison.seas.ucla.edu (Robert D. Pisor) (04/25/91)
In article <1991Apr24.033540.19229@agate.berkeley.edu> c60b-1eq@e260-1g.berkeley.edu (Noam Mendelson) writes: >In article <47696@ut-emx.uucp> dana@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Daniel Schneider) writes: > >>2) Proper Functioning of Hard Disk and Floppy Disk Drives > >You can put your computer upside-down and the hard disk should still >function perfectly (assuming it did before, that is). >Floppy drives are much less sensitive to shock than hard drives. You >should not worry about them. > >>I am concerned about long-term reliability. > >Your computer hardware basically doesn't really care how it's rotated in >space. It does care if it's being kicked, though, so if you opt to mount >it vertically on the floor be sure it's safe from abuse. Actually, the orientation of the hard drive is important. According to my Seagate manual, it is OK to have the drive mounted horizontally on either side, or with the circuit board down. Mounting the drive vertically on either end or with the PCB facing up, are 'prohibited' orientations and operating the drive in these positions will void the warranty. Some computer manufacturers place the hard drives on their sides in the case to save space. I recommend checking the orientation of your drive before turning the computer on its side. -Robert Pisor pisor@seas.ucla.edu
edm@hpfcmdd.hp.com (Ed Moore) (04/25/91)
I've had a desktop computer sitting on its side on the floor for almost three years. Every slot is filled (near-maximum heat generation). This machine is four years old and has never had a hardware problem. Long after I made the position change I read something in PC Magazine that makes sense. All bearings have some clearance. If you take a hard disk that was low-level formatted in a horizontal position and rotate it to a vertical position, the position of the heads relative to the bits on the platters will change slightly. It may be a good idea to do a new low-level format after changing position. I run Gibson SpinRite periodically to do a low-level format anyway, so my experience doesn't confirm or disprove this concept.
Arne.Gehlhaar@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de (Arne Gehlhaar) (04/26/91)
Robert_Bell@mindlink.bc.ca (Robert Bell) writes: >I've been using a desktop AT on its side for the last couple of months and have >had no adverse effects so far.Just make sure it has adaquate cooling and is >well supported and not liable to fall over. Well, I just don't have enough space on my desk, so I had to put my PC on it's side too. I haven't noticed any problem either. Actually, I think position is even advantagous (sp?). I have a hard disk in one of my ext. slots, so in the ''normal`` position, it would turn vertically. Now that I have the computer standing on it's side, it turns horizontally (the hard disk, I mean), which, I was told once, is better for the drive. One problem is, though, that my 5.25` drives are now in vertical postion, but since I do not use them as frequently, I think it does not do any harm. And fall over it won't either, I have it standing between the table and a shelf :) Greetings, Arne
bill@unixland.uucp (Bill Heiser) (04/28/91)
In article <13000008@hplsla.HP.COM> kens@hplsla.HP.COM (Ken Snyder) writes: > > Time out! Irregardless of your experiences, most hard drive >manufacturers specify that the drives will function at any angle >UP TO 90 degrees. Upside down is a no-no. > I've seen at least one disk drive manual that said something to the effect that you could place the drive at 90 degrees, but flat and upright was the most preferred position. I can probably dig up the reference if necessary. -Bill -- bill@unixland.uucp The Think_Tank BBS & Public Access Unix ...!uunet!think!unixland!bill ...!{uunet,bloom-beacon,esegue}!world!unixland!bill 508-655-3848 (2400) 508-651-8723 (9600-HST) 508-651-8733 (9600-PEP-V32)
grs@rand.mel.cocam.oz.au (Gary Raymond Schmidt) (05/01/91)
About the only problem I've had with standing a PC on it's side is the danger of static damage if it's not in a stand of some sort - very likely if you are trying to put it on Nylon carpet. (Don't flame me, I didn't do it, I had to fix it). -- | Gary R. Schmidt || MHSnet: grs@rand.mel.cocam.oz.au | Co-Cam Computer Group, || I sees it, but I don' believes it !! | Melbourne, OZ || VOX +61 3 412 3431 FAX +61 3 412 7857
s872607@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (George Tzanatos) (05/05/91)
grs@rand.mel.cocam.oz.au (Gary Raymond Schmidt) writes: > About the only problem I've had with standing a PC on it's side is >the danger of static damage if it's not in a stand of some sort - very >likely if you are trying to put it on Nylon carpet. (Don't flame me, >I didn't do it, I had to fix it). Wasn't the case EARTHED? And most stands sold are PLASTIC, making the inclusion of one irrelevant. (Ive had my pc sideways for 2.5 years with no hardware probs - oh yeah, my carpet isn't what i'd call "static free" either). George