Maxtor D740X "L" Fluid Bearing Vs. regular D740X

[DDDavey]

Price difference on a 60GB drive is like $10. Just wondering what the main effect was, less noise? Does it supposedly make the drive last longer?

 

[Biggs]

AFAIK, it's only less noiser but the performance is the same. Get a 'Cuda IV if you want a very quiet drive.

 

[CraigRT]

I have a D740X-6L and no matter what it is doing, I can't hear the drive.. I recommend it if you want a fast quiet drive for sure..

- they are an exceptional value!

 

[Davegod75]

i have the 80 gb drives and it clicks a lot whenever it accesses the drive. Not a bad click like the 75gxps do when they go bad but more like an accessing the drive click. I bought this drive because it's supposed to be quiet bug it's much louder than any drive i've ever had.

Seems like i'm the minority. Does newegg do advanced shipments?

 

[Mem]

I`ve the non fluid bearing version of the Maxtor D740X,it`s real quiet especially after month or so of use,yes the main effect of fliud bearing version is to reduce noise which there`s really not much of on the normal version.

 

[Vegito]

i have several fluid ones.. i dont really hear a difference... unless your in a padded room, i doubt the sound would bug you that much

 

[308nato]

I had the same dilemna. I shelled out the extra $10 and got the "L". I have never used the standard version so I can't compare them. The drive is fast and very quiet. The only time I can really "hear" it working is when doing a defrag. My intake fans are louder and they are quiet as well.

 

[herbage11]

Glad you aksed this also. I was looking at getting the Maxtor w/ fluid bearings also but was unclear on what the actual benifits were. Yes sound will be less but is it more reliable? Or faster? Maybe runs cooler? thanks all.

 

[Viper GTS]

While I don't have a Maxtor, I do have a Seagate 'Cuda IV, which is most famous for it's near-silent operation, courtesy of fluid bearings. I've been very happy with it, & I'm glad to see other manufacturers following suit.

Viper GTS

 

[RalfHutter]

I have both the regular bearing and the fuild bearing versions. They are in mobile racks so I can swap them. I can hear absolutely no difference between them. The only noise I can hear is the slight clicking/crackling during seeks.

My system is a very quiet P4 rig with the stock HSF and some Panaflo L1A's as case fans.

I'd vote for saving the $10 unless someone can show that the fluid bearing models are more reliable.