[mythtv-users] warning for anyone with western digital green drives

[Kris B.]

On Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 02:57 PM, Michael T. Dean wrote:
> Note, also, the best fix for the issue is to fix your system to not 
> abuse the file system--i.e. configure your system to use it 
> appropriately.  After all, if you actually let the drive idle, rather 
> than waking it every 10-30s, it will spend a majority of its time at 
> idle 3 power usage (0.7W) versus 3.3W at idle and 5.3W for read/write.  
> (Numbers based of WD20EARS - 
> http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=120 ).

> So, it's quite possible that changing the idle 3 timeout will invalidate 
> your warranty.
> 
> That said, it /is/ important that anyone with a WD Green configure their 
> system to use the file system properly.  Again, see 
> http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5357 for some 
> suggestions, but there are a lot more out there when you search on "low 
> power linux" or "laptop mode linux" or similar.  Oh, and note, also, 
> that having only MythTV recordings on the drive may "solve" the issue 
> for you, too (assuming MythTV recording file writes are <8s apart, and, 
> IME, they seem to be).
> 
> Mike

Thanks for posting this, Mike.  My green drive is a mythtv or storage
drive, only - and I was concerned... looks like I don't have to worry :)

-- 
  Kris B.
  krisbee at krisbee.com