Raptor 74gb noise review from a home user's point

[mlie]

Hi all.

I installed the new 74gb raptor last weekend. Firstly I was amazed at its lighting fast speed. Everything installed in one quick shot, wow! However, I also noticed that it is noisy when writing to disk - as loud as maxtor - like gunshot, clear and crisp, but not the annoying high pitched whine. From a home user's point of view, it is ok for gamers, but may be a little bit louder for programming (if you like to hear your baby working, ok) or net surfacing and reading. Definitely much louder than my wd 160gb JB which is truely quiet.

Just want to remind you that if you want speed, you have to sacrifice you ears a little bit. I wrote this because I don't think many reviews revealed the true feeling of noise from a home user's point, but not a complain. Anyway nothing is perfect, right?

 

[mflacy]

You need to try AKASA Pax Mate. It's not much for damping fan noise, but it will knock out the high pitched whine of the raptor if used correctly.

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: mflacy
You need to try AKASA Pax Mate. It's not much for damping fan noise, but it will knock out the high pitched whine of the raptor if used correctly.

I also noticed that it is noisy when writing to disk - as loud as maxtor - like gunshot, clear and crisp, but not the annoying high pitched whine.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: mflacy
You need to try AKASA Pax Mate. It's not much for damping fan noise, but it will knock out the high pitched whine of the raptor if used correctly.

The 74gb raptors do not whine

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU

Originally posted by: mflacy
You need to try AKASA Pax Mate. It's not much for damping fan noise, but it will knock out the high pitched whine of the raptor if used correctly.

The 74gb raptors do not whine

 

[jdogg707]

My 74GB Raptor does not seem any louder to me than my 160GB Hitachi 7200RPM drive. I love it!

 

[oldfart]

I just got one to go with my WD1200JB. Neither of them has any noticeable rotational whine. The 740GD is louder when seeking that the 1200JB. What is odd is I can hear the 740GD spinning. Not a rotational whine sound, but almost like the low hum of a CD spinning. I think I need to move the drive to a different location, maybe use some rubber grommets and it will be better.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Some people need to get back to 1st grade reading...lol

I too just got a RAID 0 setup with the 74GB Raptors and yes, they do make chattering noises but the whine isn't that bad or maybe it's just very high pitched that my ears can't hear the frequency range it's emitting at.

 

[zodder]

My 36GB Raptor makes that same "SCSI-like" chatter, too.

 

[Venomous]

Best way to curb the noise is to throw it into a HD cooler. You sort of knock out 2 birds with one stone. If you have a Lian Li/Coolermaster case, get one of the fancy hd cooling racks.

If you have a beige or black case from another company, there many HD cooler enclosures you can choose from that will do the same thing.

I have 2 74Gb raptors myself, however i cant hear them over my psu and fans on my radiator.

 

[Scott66]

I use the vantec vortex HD coolers and I have to admit I hear the fans more often than the raptor 36. I like the vortex as you can leave the fans off, low or high and I really only hear the fans on high. the aluminum casing keeps the drive's noise down. Best of all they lower the temps down 4 to 6 degrees when I putting the drives through their paces.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I have a raptor 74 gig and I don't have any whine but the seek is audiable. hardly anything worth noting. I sleep right next to my computer and it's not enough to bother me.

 

[0effect]

I've got two 74gb Raptors in a Kingwin case that has a lovely set of rubber grommet mounts for the HDs... I can't hear anything but the drives accessing, and even that is more quiet than any brand of drive that I've owned. Perhaps case vibration is lending to some of the noise in certain setups?

0effect

 

[JBT]

I have NO whine from my 74Gig Raptor yeah it does make noise on seeks but nothing to write home about I actually like the noises it makes. When I first start it up it does make a buzzing noise for a second and I like that too!!!

 

[pelikan]

I sit my 36gb raptor on a little bed of foam (with some air flow over it). I can't hear it with my case closed.