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WD Special Edition HDs and Sound Dampeners

T

tweakmm

Lifer
I am looking at getting a new computer and I am very concerned with the noise level. I really want one of the WD special editon HDs, but I do not want the noise. Has anybody used one of these with a special edition HD? I am concerned that it might be too hot. Also, how loud is the WD HD in the silentdrive?
I know I could get a maxtor and it would be quiet, but I really want a faster HD. If the special edition HDs would be too hot for the silent drive, I probably am going to end up getting a maxtor
 
I've used a SilentDrive, as well as a Barracuda IV (the king of quiet HD's) and the WD SE drive.

My thoughts:

- The WD SE is a hot little bitch, both my roommate & I were impressed at how hot they ran when we got ours. Mine was running on my desk, outside my case, & was still VERY warm to the touch. Like heatsink warm. My Barracuda is warm, but the WD seemed warmer... Even though StorageReview found the opposite.
- The WD is noisier than the Barracuda IV, but not enough to be annoying
- The silentdrives are generally not recommended for HD's with more than two platters (WD has three), & are iffy on 7200 RPM drives

I personally would avoid it.

Viper GTS
 
I think the difference is something like 41db to 47db. Hardly something to worry about, and for me, it is not worth getting the slightly quieter hard drive and sacrifice the speed of the WD 8MB.

I also do not know why Viper GTS thinks they run hot. Mine is cool to the touch (luke warm at the most), and according to

Storage Review

The 1200JB drive is the coolest 7200RPM drive they reviewed... I do not see any reaosn to believe the 800JB would be any different. If anything, it would be cooler since it has one less platter, and probably more open space inside because of that.
 
Originally posted by: SteelCityFan
The silentdrives are generally not recommended for HD's with more than two platters (WD has three), & are iffy on 7200 RPM drives
Click to expand...

The WD 800JB has 2 platters.
Click to expand...

True, I didn't think about that. I have a 120.

I dunno why mine was so hot... Granted at the time it was under pretty heavy load, but it was one of the warmest HD's I'd ever felt.

Viper GTS
 
If you're looking for quiet why not go for the Seagate Barracuda IV? With all the money you're spending on Quiet Drives, etc, you could easily get 2 x Barracuda IV's in RAID.

WD SE's are only loud if they are reading/writing, otherwise in a closed case (im sitting between my roommate's and my computer, and he has a WD 120GB SE), they sound slightly louder than a 92mm 3200 rpm case fan. My Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB is barely audible, even at full read/write. And its DEFINITELY hotter than the WD SE.
 
The WD 800JB has 2 platters.
Click to expand...

So far, all of Western Digital's 60+ GB drives have had 3 platters.

The WD 800BB uses 27 GB platters, the WD 1000BB & 1000JB use 33 GB platters, and the WD 1200BB & 1200JB use 40 GB platters. AFAIK, the WD 800JB is still using 27 GB platters like the 800BB.
 
Quote

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The WD 800JB has 2 platters.
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So far, all of Western Digital's 60+ GB drives have had 3 platters.

The WD 800BB uses 27 GB platters, the WD 1000BB & 1000JB use 33 GB platters, and the WD 1200BB & 1200JB use 40 GB platters. AFAIK, the WD 800JB is still using 27 GB platters like the 800BB.


Hmmm... I have one of these drives and AFAIK this answers the platter question.
 
I stand corrected. Western Digital's website does list the WD 800JB as having only 2 platters. Storage Review got this wrong, they thought it was going to be 3 platters like the 800BB.

The 600BB, 800BB, 1000BB, 1000JB, 1200BB, & 1200JB all have 3 platters - so this is the only drive they make larger than 40 GB with only 2 platters. In theory, it ought to be slightly cooler and quieter than their other large drives.
 
Originally posted by: archmage
I stand corrected. Western Digital's website does list the WD 800JB as having only 2 platters. Storage Review got this wrong, they thought it was going to be 3 platters like the 800BB.

The 600BB, 800BB, 1000BB, 1000JB, 1200BB, & 1200JB all have 3 platters - so this is the only drive they make larger than 40 GB with only 2 platters. In theory, it ought to be slightly cooler and quieter than their other large drives.
Click to expand...


I am losing faith in Storage Review. The mis-Information has been on their site for a long time. I for one emailed them about it, and asked them to please confirm their story based on the specs at WD. I never got a response, and the mis-information is still there.

Edit: Late night grammer blunder.
 
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