I just finished upgrading my computer, replacing a 300GB hard drive with a 1 TB hard drive (WD1001FALS Caviar Black), and adding a second 1 TB hard drive in an external enclosure to use for backing up the internal drive.

I am concerned about how hot the drive in the external enclosure gets.

The one in the computer case has a big fan blowing air across it all the time, so it probably stays cooler than the external one that just sits out in the open. The drive gets hot enough when it is working continuously (as in formatting the drive, or copying 200 GB of files onto it) that it is very uncomfortable for me to hold my fingers on the top of it. I would guess the temperature at the top of the outer case is approaching 130--140 degrees F.

Is this a matter for concern?

tanstaafl.