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WD Raptors noise questions. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK!

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Originally posted by: weirdologist
Those drives cost WAY too much for me. I have looked into them before.

I am talking about the seek head, which drive has a quieter seek movement.
Click to expand...


A company called HyperDrive make a 16GB model that connects through ATA100, can be scaled in a raid0 configuration, and has an emergency HDD for power failure when connected to a ups.

To the best of my understanding a Hyperdrive III 16gb costs less than $700.
But register here for the Forum and ask them all of the questions you want. I would Recomend connecting these to an LSI Logic Mega Raid i4 IDE Controller RAID
Card they are the best on the market.
 
Thanks but anything above $300 for a HD is too much for me. Maybe when I really really want one. 16GB is also not enough for what I do.
 
Found this on the SILENT PC REVIEW FORUM:
In anycase I picked up two Samsung 160G SATAs (hey afterall it's Christmas). I originally thought to get the 80G version, being less expensive and single-platter, however upon checking the ones at my local store had the JVC motors unlike the 160G which had NIDEC motors. Just some impressions on these drives compared to the Hitachi 7k250s
- in terms of drive whir, the Samsungs have a quieter, medium pitched sound (more like a fan) than the Hitachi's which have a higher pitched, louder sound
- my percieved volume of one Samsung is less than the Hitachi, however two Samsungs are louder than one Hitachi
- the vibration on the Samsungs seemed quite similar to most of the Hitachis, but my original Hitachi drive definitely had less vibrations than both Samsungs (guess I lucked out on a well balanced Hitachi)
- performance wise in RAID0, according to Sandra2005 burst/average read speeds are similar (250/110 mb/s), but Samsung is 40% slower in random reads; however on write performance seems Samsung scores higher by 10-20% than the Hitachis
Click to expand...

Seems like the Hitachi drive has less vibrations but more whinning noise.
 
Originally posted by: weirdologist
Found this on the SILENT PC REVIEW FORUM:
In anycase I picked up two Samsung 160G SATAs (hey afterall it's Christmas). I originally thought to get the 80G version, being less expensive and single-platter, however upon checking the ones at my local store had the JVC motors unlike the 160G which had NIDEC motors. Just some impressions on these drives compared to the Hitachi 7k250s
- in terms of drive whir, the Samsungs have a quieter, medium pitched sound (more like a fan) than the Hitachi's which have a higher pitched, louder sound
- my percieved volume of one Samsung is less than the Hitachi, however two Samsungs are louder than one Hitachi
- the vibration on the Samsungs seemed quite similar to most of the Hitachis, but my original Hitachi drive definitely had less vibrations than both Samsungs (guess I lucked out on a well balanced Hitachi)
- performance wise in RAID0, according to Sandra2005 burst/average read speeds are similar (250/110 mb/s), but Samsung is 40% slower in random reads; however on write performance seems Samsung scores higher by 10-20% than the Hitachis
Click to expand...

Seems like the Hitachi drive has less vibrations but more whinning noise.
Click to expand...

Well, after poking around the SPCR forums for a bit, it seems like it depends more on what motor your drive has - JVC, NIDEC, or something else. it appears like both samsung + seagate use JVC+NIDEC interchangeably, and, the quiet drives use NIDEC, the louder ones, JVC.

However, it also seems like the samsung's have had a higher percentatge of quiet drivest, as opposed to the seagates. One thing I feel the need to point out is that seagate has a 5 year warranty, samsung's, 1 year. IMHO, that says something about reliability.

Further reading @ SPCR seems to imply that those that really want to be sure about noise level go with a seagate from the barracuda IV series.

BTW, many of the WD 7200rpm drives without FDB motors tend to get whiny after awhile, especially after getting mishandled. While I have not had a problem with my WD, but, it seems, by reading newegg reviews, that it is a prominent problem.


AARGH! All this talk about quiet is reminding me about that squeaky case fan I need to replace...:laugh:
 
All the things you have said I agree!

I listened to my computer a lot today and I've decided to stick with my Raptors for the performance. I think I will just get used to the drive chatter noise for now.

Samsung Spinpoint woud have been the HD to buy if I decided to switch.

I also plowed though that forum and have decided to get a notebook HD to play around with. Seems like they are in many ways better then a normal desktop drive. I think I will get the 7200rpm Hitachi drive.

Like you said about that fan, I wish I can get rid of the single 120mm fan I HAVE to use, but it's just not possible.

Thanks for the replies!
 
Originally posted by: weirdologist
Thanks but anything above $300 for a HD is too much for me. Maybe when I really really want one. 16GB is also not enough for what I do.
Click to expand...

I can understand that, but when you hit the lottery or can one day afford them, they work best in a raid 0 array with a HBA that has its own processor and ram.
 
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: weirdologist
Thanks but anything above $300 for a HD is too much for me. Maybe when I really really want one. 16GB is also not enough for what I do.
Click to expand...

I can understand that, but when you hit the lottery or can one day afford them, they work best in a raid 0 array with a HBA that has its own processor and ram.
Click to expand...


Haha, I dought thats going to happen anytime soon. I don't play the lottery!
I love those flash drives though. I was tempted to buy a smaller size flash drive with the same speeds as a 7200rpm drives at one point.
 
Originally posted by: weirdologist
All the things you have said I agree!

I listened to my computer a lot today and I've decided to stick with my Raptors for the performance. I think I will just get used to the drive chatter noise for now.

Samsung Spinpoint woud have been the HD to buy if I decided to switch.

I also plowed though that forum and have decided to get a notebook HD to play around with. Seems like they are in many ways better then a normal desktop drive. I think I will get the 7200rpm Hitachi drive.

Like you said about that fan, I wish I can get rid of the single 120mm fan I HAVE to use, but it's just not possible.

Thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...

I have disabled the acoustic managment on my hitachi, and i brings back some fond nostagic memories of the old days of computing when all 10mb, 528mb, 2gb HDD's made that noise and no one really cared or thought much about it.

Originally posted by: weirdologist
All the things you have said I agree!

I listened to my computer a lot today and I've decided to stick with my Raptors for the performance. I think I will just get used to the drive chatter noise for now.

Samsung Spinpoint woud have been the HD to buy if I decided to switch.

I also plowed though that forum and have decided to get a notebook HD to play around with. Seems like they are in many ways better then a normal desktop drive. I think I will get the 7200rpm Hitachi drive.

Like you said about that fan, I wish I can get rid of the single 120mm fan I HAVE to use, but it's just not possible.

Thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...
I agree, my thermaly controlled low rpm fans make more noise than my Hitachi 7k250, and I my hitachi is just as quiet as my samsung spinpoint.

disableing the acoustic management has given me a noticeable IO performance boost, that is welcomed any day of the week over the small amout of noise it makes.
 
I used to not care about half a year ago, then I was thinking, I can build computers, why not build them quiet? Make it more integrated into the home so no one notices it's there.

I was gonna use one of those ionic things that clean the air. The thing moves air without any moving parts but I wasn't sure how big the air flow was and if it was gonna damge my computer components.

The Hitachi seems to be a good choice also, I just picked Samsumg for no real good reason.
 
Here is my last idea for you, An external connection to the hdd, Similar to servers use (fcal/fibre channel). instead of haveing the HDD in side of the case locate them outside in an enclosure and connect them to a PCI scsi card via 5-8 foot scsi cable. You can store the 15k scsi drive HDD BOX in a nearby closet with the door closed or on the otherside of a wall (i have considerd this) by cutting a small hole for the cable to run through.
 
Hehe thats a good idea. I might as well put my whole computer in the closet and use an external DVD drive and extended DVI cable! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: weirdologist
Hehe thats a good idea. I might as well put my whole computer in the closet and use an external DVD drive and extended DVI cable! 🙂
Click to expand...


Umm, I don't know if you got what I mean. Do you know much about FCAL or SCSI use in servers?


Here is an example of such a product for External SCSI HDD.
These are external SCSI HDD cases, they are meant to sit beside your tower or a few feet away.

http://www.granitedigital.com/catalog/pg03_cases.htm
 
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: weirdologist
Hehe thats a good idea. I might as well put my whole computer in the closet and use an external DVD drive and extended DVI cable! 🙂
Click to expand...


Umm, I don't know if you got what I mean. Do you know much about FCAL or SCSI use in servers?
Click to expand...

Yeah I understand. I was just pointing out I could move my computer to say the other side of the wall and that would solve the problem also.(From my room where the monitor,mouse, and keyboard stays)

I would do the scsi solution if I had the money, then I might as well do U320-SCSI and rid the Raptor for even better performance.😉
 
Hi there weirdologist

I think I have the solution you're looking for.

Based on reading this thread, I think you want some nice performance while running super quiet (fanless PSU, watercooling, 1 fan and all).

I too have 74 gig raptor... and i feel ur pain... it's super fast... however, it's soo loud... i can't take it anymore... when it seeks stuff... gah i hate that noise

I've built a friend's computer with samsung spinpoint 160 gig SATA hdd.. MAN that this is so quiet.. you can't even hear it unless you actually lean your ear against the hdd.

Performance wise... well I've installed Windows xp under 10 mins with Raptor... and under 12 mins with samsung... not much of a difference there... but noise wise, it's like heaven and earth... You wont be disappointed with samsung hard drive... if my friend would trade me, i would definately trade my raptors for his samsung...

By the way, Samsung hard drives perform very well, one of quietest drives i know, it's very very cheap compared to other hard drives, solid warrenty, fast... What else can u ask for?

get one at newegg for like $80
 
AznSensation: Your post is very convincing! I am pretty sure the Samsung drives are quiet but the laptop solutions seem even better! I would use the Samsungs definately if the 2.5" drivers dont work for me.
 
laptop solutions isn't much better... generally they are much slower and they still produce noise... again, spintpoint is so soft, you can't hear it
 
Originally posted by: AznSensation
laptop solutions isn't much better... generally they are much slower and they still produce noise... again, spintpoint is so soft, you can't hear it
Click to expand...


Good point. I was thinking of getting them becaseu they make less vibration. There are 7200rpm Hitachi laptop drives so the performance shouldn't be bad.
 
Originally posted by: AznSensation
laptop solutions isn't much better... generally they are much slower and they still produce noise... again, spintpoint is so soft, you can't hear it
Click to expand...

Correct! however when it comes to sound My Hitachi is just as quiet as my Samsung when silent mode is turned on. But offers better performance.
 
Originally posted by: Googer
I got this email, I feel it is importaint for this to be disclosed.

AznSensation has posted a message entitled WD Raptors noise questions. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK!.

Message Posted on: 01/04/2005 10:26:10 PM
I work for Samsung

You can view the message at http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=1482347&forumid=1.
Click to expand...


Apearantly he deleted the post before anyone could read it.
Click to expand...



My mistake, sorry I looked on the wrong page.
 
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