Maxtor vs. Barracuda (HDD recommendation)

[CraigRT]

I love my 800JB, it's fast, and it's really quiet.

the only thing that rate higher in DB is when it's actually just on... spinning... not actual disk activity.
i've had drives that are quiet when they are on, but loud when there is activity. this drive is quiet when there is activity which is more important.
between your 2 choices, i'd go seagate. but i actually own a maxtor D740X-6L and i really like the drive.. but i think seagate might have the edge.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Yield
I love my 800JB, it's fast, and it's really quiet.

the only thing that rate higher in DB is when it's actually just on... spinning... not actual disk activity.
i've had drives that are quiet when they are on, but loud when there is activity. this drive is quiet when there is activity which is more important.
between your 2 choices, i'd go seagate. but i actually own a maxtor D740X-6L and i really like the drive.. but i think seagate might have the edge.

This brings me to the question of whether or not it makes sense to use Power Management facilities in Windows 2000 and my mainboard BIOS (Epox 8K7A and MSI KT3 Ultra2) to spin down HDs, at least the 2nd HD when there hasn't been activity for, say, 5 to 10minutes. Does anyone do that?

Do you think it's worth the "performance hit" for the noise reduction Barracuda IV vs. 800JB? I know, it's subjective, personal, depends on how you use your system, but I've never used either of these HDs so I have to depend on feedback from people and my own intuition, I guess, afterwards. Thanks.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: modempower
Cancel your order muse if you can. Go to CC and get them for $74 each. Also, the rebate did end on 10/5, but another one just started at COmpusa For the 80gb JB which is $40. Started 10/6. So you can get the drive at CC for $74 after pricematch to compusa or go to Crapusa and get them for $80 after rebate.

I cancelled my order! No charge, I think. I have rifled through my Sunday paper several times but can't find the CompUSA ad!! I think I can print their online ad that documents the In Store offer. I will go to CUSA and they probably have the mailer there, anyway. I can take that to CC or buy at CUSA if they have them. Getting 2, hopefully.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: modempower
Cancel your order muse if you can. Go to CC and get them for $74 each. Also, the rebate did end on 10/5, but another one just started at COmpusa For the 80gb JB which is $40. Started 10/6. So you can get the drive at CC for $74 after pricematch to compusa or go to Crapusa and get them for $80 after rebate.

I cancelled my order and went over to CC but they were closed - remodeling! I went over to CUSA and say a Best Buy on the way - new! Went in - never bought anything from or even been in a BB. They didn't have the 800JB. Continued on the CUSA and they were on the shelf. I grabbed 3 and went to the register. Showed the checkout girl the online ad and she rung me up - $80 apiece. Great deal. And it went as smooth as a James Bond movie.

 

[BFG10K]

You should definitely go with the Barracuda. Those drives are some of the quietest and most reliable you can get.

 

[ame540]

yes.. the seagates are very quiet.
ive had a maxtor 60 gig go bad on me before..... they were really good about the RMA, but still it sucked losing all that data.
ive had no problems with the 'gate

 

[Fallengod]

Muse, You got the drives for $80 a piece at the register? Or is that counting their rebate? You didnt get them for $80 X 3 - $40 x 3 = $120 after MIR did you? If you did, I hate you.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: modempower
Muse, You got the drives for $80 a piece at the register? Or is that counting their rebate? You didnt get them for $80 X 3 - $40 x 3 = $120 after MIR did you? If you did, I hate you.

Modempower - No, I wasn't THAT lucky but there was no rebate involved. They were $80 straight up, no rebate involved.

I read in a huge thread in these forums (over 155 posts) that people were reluctant to do the rebate thing. I don't know if they don't trust the 3rd party rebate company to send them the money or they just don't want to wait. Someone said there's a possible stipulation that you can only get one rebate, so I was prepared to get only one drive and try to score another one or two at CC. I hoped for the best, though, and brought three to the register. My total with tax was under $240 and I got 3 drives. Very happy with this.

 

[Fallengod]

Uh muse, that means you can get the rebate!!!!!!!!!! Lucky bastard. If you got them for $80 at the register, just download the rebate from their website and send it in for another $40 off! Unfortunatly you can only get 1 rebate for all 3 drives since you bought all 3 at the same time with the same card.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: modempower
Uh muse, that means you can get the rebate!!!!!!!!!! Lucky bastard. If you got them for $80 at the register, just download the rebate from their website and send it in for another $40 off! Unfortunatly you can only get 1 rebate for all 3 drives since you bought all 3 at the same time with the same card.

Great. My actual cost at the register was $259.77, including tax (not < $240). But with $40 rebate it'll come out less than $74/drive. That is under $1/GB. I printed the rebate coupon and am scanning my receipt now... Thanks!

 

[Muse]

Installed one of my new WD800JB's today in my new machine and it's way quieter than the former boot drive, an IBM Deskstar 8.4 GB that was driving me up the wall with noise besides being really slow in comparison to the WD. Win2000 boots in 1 min. instead of 1:30. I'd say the 8.4 is at least 5 times as loud. It's a very quiet machine compared to my other system, probably 1/5 as loud, likely quieter. I'm going to quiet down the other system by replacing every noise maker in there except the the video card chip fan and NB fan, which aren't very noisy at all. I have all the parts, just have to get on with the installation. Right now I can't hear anything but my machine. Soon will be hearing dogs, cars, planes ... etc.