Maxtor D740x : How quiet is "quiet"?

[shyguy74]

For the past year, I've been using a Maxtor Diamondmax VL40, which has been nothing short of outstanding in terms of sound. This drive is the true definition of whisper-quiet... usually the only way I can tell it's working really hard is by the flashing LED on my case.

Anyway, I wanted to upgrade the drive for space and speed issues, so I figured I'd stick with Maxtor and get the 60GB D740x with fluid ball bearings (M/N: 6L060L3). Even though it's a higher capacity drive and has faster RPM, I thought it'd be almost as quiet as the Diamondmax. Sadly, this isn't the case. When idle, both drives sound the same -- ie, they don't make any noise at all. However, when active, the D740x is very audible. Now, it's still relatively quieter than a lot of other harddrives I've used, but the drive has gone from the quietest component of my setup (Enermax Whisper PSU and several Panaflo fans) to by far the loudest, which is, to say the least, disappointing.

So my question: is the D740x really this "loud"? I know loud is subjective, but I'm used to complete silence, so maybe I'm a bit biased. Is it possible the drive is defective (it was shipped from newegg.com in lots of bubblewrap)? Or is it possible it was shipped in "fast" mode and would require using Maxtor's Acoustic Management software to switch it? I'd try it right now, but unfortunately, my floppy drive is kaput, so I have no way of starting off a bootdisk.

 

[shyguy74]

*bump*

anyone?

 

[pay]

I have one and I have never heard any noise from it. Infact my PC sounds silent. Im running two sunon fans and a coolermaster HSF

 

[Texun]

I am surprised and sorry to hear that it isn't dead silent. I thought about getting one for my backup PC but went with the "standard" CompUSA boxed 5400RPM drive instead (They are close and I don't have a lot of patience). I loaded W2k yesterday and I couldn't even hear the drive and it was sitting right next to me. It is near dead silent. I had hoped Maxtor's FBB drives would be perfect silence, as I have been considering one for my main PC.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Damn. I was just about to order the 80GB version of this drive. Noise has never been an issue to me though...always have very loud drum&bass pumpin outta my speakers so i cant hear the computer. But if its really THAT noisy as you say...maybe I should not order it. How's the performance though? Thats really my first concern...

 

[Heretik]

I have the 60GB D740x (the "L" version with fluid bearings). I noticed the same thing myself. The drive is pretty quiet, but you can definitely hear it when it's seeking. I ran Maxtor's acoustic management utility on it and found it was shipped in "Fast" mode as default. I just left it like that since the noise doesn't reallly bother me at all, and I can rarely hear it with all the other noise around me anyway.

I was going to pick up another, but Newegg was out of stock, so I just went with a regular ball bearing type D740x (60GB) to use as a backup drive. Be interesting to see what the real difference is.