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TEST RESULTS
Our samples were tested according to our standard
hard drive testing methodology. Our methodology focuses specifically on
noise, and great effort is taken to ensure it is comprehensively measured and
described. Performance is not tested, for reasons discussed in detail in the
methodology article. For comprehensive HDD performance testing results, we recommend
Storage Review,
who have established a long reputation as the specialist in this field. Unfortunately,
because the P120 is so new to the market, Storage Review has not yet reviewed
the drive at the time of writing. In fact, the only other review that we know
of is this
performance-focused review by Tom's Hardware Guide.
Our test drives were compared against our reference drives, the Seagate Barracuda
IV and Samsung Spinpoint P80, that are profiled in our methodology article.
To get a good idea of where the drives in this review stand, it is important
to read the methodology article thoroughly.
Two forms of hard drive noise are measured:
- Airborne acoustics
- Vibration-induced noise
These types of noise impact the subjective perception of hard drive noise differently
depending on how and where the drive is mounted.
Both forms of noise are evaluated objectively and subjectively.
Both the subjective and objective analyses are essential to understanding the
acoustics of the drives. Airborne acoustics are measured using a professional
caliber SLM. Measurements are taken at a distance of one meter above the top
of the drive using an A-weighted filter. Vibration noise is rated on a scale
of 1-10 by comparing against our standard reference drives.
A final caveat: As with most reviews, our comments are relevant to the sample we tested. Your sample may not be identical. There are always some sample variances, and manfacturers also make changes without telling everyone.
Ambient noise at the time of testing was 18 dBA. For the record, room temperature was 22~23°C.
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SAMSUNG SPINPOINT P120 NOISE EVALUATION
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Drive Model
Mfg date - firmware
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Vibration at idle
1-10
(10 = no vibration)
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Activity
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Airborne Acoustics
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Power
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Samsung Spinpoint
P120 SP2004C
June 05 - firmware VM100-33
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5
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Idle
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21 dBA/1m
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7.1 W
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Seek (AAM)
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23-24 dBA/1m
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8.9 W
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Seek (Normal)
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23-24 dBA/1m
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10.4 W
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| Reference Drives |
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Seagate Barracuda IV
ST340016A - firmware 3.10
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6
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Idle
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20 dBA/1m
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6.7 W
|
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Seek (AAM)
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23 dBA/1m
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11.3 W
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Seek (Normal)
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25-26 dBA/1m
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11.6 W
|
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Samsung Spinpoint P80 (Nidec motor)
June 04 - firmware TK100-24
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4
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Idle
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21 dBA/1m
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6.3 W
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Seek (AAM)
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23-24 dBA/1m
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8.3 W
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Seek (Normal)
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25-26 dBA/1m
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9.1 W
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Samsung Spinpoint P80 (JVC motor)
Feb 05 - firmware TK200-04
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6
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Idle
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21 dBA/1m
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6.2 W
|
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Seek (AAM)
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25 dBA/1m
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n / a
|
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Seek (Normal)
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27 dBA/1m
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9.3 W
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| Similar Capacity Drives |
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Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD (250GB)
March 2005
firmware 31.08F31
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6
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Idle
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22 dBA/1m
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7.1 W
|
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Seek (AAM)
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23-24 dBA/1m
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8.2 W
|
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Seek (Normal)
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28-30 dBA/1m
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10.7 W
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Hitachi Deskstar 7K250 (250GB)
Aug 03
firmware V360A60A
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4
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Idle
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23 dBA/1m
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6.9 W
|
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Seek (AAM)
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25 dBA/1m
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9.8 W
|
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Seek (Normal)
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26 dBA/1m
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13.1 W
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The lineage of the P120 is easily heard the first time it is turned on. The
idle noise is smooth, quiet, and predominantly broadband — shhhhhh — although a
faint mid-range hum can also be heard at close range. In comparison to the P80
(Nidec), there is much less low frequency noise around the 120 Hz resonant frequency.
However, there is slightly more wind noise, which can probably be attributed
to the greater number of platters in our P120 sample. The P120 also exhibits
less high frequency noise than any of our reference drives. All of these differences
are minor; I would be hard pressed to distinguish the P120 from either of our
reference drives when they are installed in an actual system.
Seek noise for the P120 is fairly good; in fact, it tied the P80 for the best
measured noise in the 3.5" form factor. Subjectively, however, the noise
signature is a bit worse than the original P80. Instead of the muted rumble of the
original Spinpoint, seeks are closer in quality to the Barracuda IV without
AAM: sharp and clicky. Enabling AAM does nothing for the harshness of the noise,
although the speed of the seeks seems slightly less. The bulk of the improvement
from AAM seems to come in the form of reduced vibration. In free air, I could
barely tell when AAM was enabled, but the difference is immediately apparent
when the drive was on the vibration box.
The vibration level of the P120 is much more reasonable than the previous Spinpoint
(Nidec), approaching but not quite matching the level of the Barracuda IV. Its
rating of 5 is about average for a 3.5" drive, so it could certainly benefit
from suspension, especially if more than one is installed.
Against the 250GB competition from Western Digital and Hitachi, it has a small
but audible lead that's reflected in the measured SPL. Our sample WD2500JD has
lower vibration and actually has softer sounding seeks when AAM is enabled,
although they measured identically. However, its idle noise is slightly louder
and sounds undamped in comparison to the P120; it's noise signature is much
"dirtier" in the midrange and high frequencies than the P120, which is almost
free of mechanical noise. Still, Western Digital may be Samsung's closest competitor.
The Deskstar 7K250 is also quite good when listened to on its own, but a direct
comparison reveals the P120's obvious advantage. The
main difference is in the amount of noise; both are fairly smooth in character,
but the Deskstar is louder. The Deskstar is also higher vibration than the P120.
Seek noise between the two is comparable, with the Deskstar being louder but
a bit easier to listen to.
Power consumption of the P120 was about a watt higher than the P80 across the board. This
increase comes from two sources: The higher number of platters (two instead
of one), and the SATA interface. The increase from the additional platter is
obvious: Simple physics dictates that spinning a higher mass requires more energy.
The increase from the SATA interface is something we've seen in practical testing.
It is also sometimes reflected in the spec. sheets for hard drives in the same
line. Note that our measured power draw does not reflect how the drive would
perform when used with a more recent disk controller that supports SATA Link
Power Management.
MP3 RECORDINGS
An MP3 recording of the Spinpoint P120 was made containing ten
seconds of idle noise followed by ten seconds of seek noise with AAM enabled
and ten more with AAM disabled. Keep in mind that the audio recordings paint
only part of the acoustic picture; vibration noise is not recorded, and drives
often sound different depending on the angle from which they are heard. The fidelity of your sound playback system will definitely affect what you hear.
Samsung
Spinpoint P120 SP2004C (Idle: 21 / AAM: 23-24 / Seek: 23-24 dBA/1m)
Similar Capacity Drives:
Hitachi
Deskstar 7K250 HDS722525VLSA80 (Idle: 23 / AAM: 25 / Seek: 26 dBA/1m)
Western
Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD (Idle: 22 / AAM: 23-24 / Seek: 28-30 dBA/1m)
Reference Comparatives:
Seagate
Barracuda IV ST340016A (Idle: 21 / AAM: 23 / Seek: 25-26 dBA/1m)
Samsung
Spinpoint P80 SP0802N, Nidec Motor (Idle: 21 / AAM: 23-24 / Seek: 25-26 dBA/1m)
Samsung
Spinpoint P80 SP0802N, JVC Motor (Idle: 21 / AAM: 25 / Seek: 27 dBA/1m)
Nexus 92mm
case fan @ 5V (17 dBA/1m) Reference
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HOW TO LISTEN & COMPARE
These recordings were made
with a high resolution studio quality digital recording system. The hard
drive was placed on soft foam to isolate the airborne noise that it produces;
recordings do not take into account the vibration noise that hard drives
produce. The microphone was centered 3" above the top face of the hard
drive. The ambient noise during most recordings is 18 dBA or lower.
The fidelity of your sound playback system will definitely affect what you hear.
To set the volume to a realistic level (similar to the
original), try playing the Nexus 92 fan reference recording and
setting the volume so that it is barely audible. Then don't reset the
volume and play the other sound files. Of course, tone controls or other
effects should all be turned off or set to neutral. For full details on
how to calibrate your sound system to get the most valid listening comparison,
please see the yellow text box entitled Listen to the Fans
on page four of the article
SPCR's Test / Sound Lab: A Short Tour.
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CONCLUSIONS
The Spinpoint P120 continues the legacy of the P80 by increasing
the maximum capacity of Samsung's offering while keeping the noise
level unchanged: The best in the industry. Although
the lack of a single platter model is a little disappointing, it is understandable
that Samsung doesn't want to confuse the marketplace by offering a P120 at 100 or 125 GB capacity when the P80 series already offers 80 and 120 GB models. The lack of readily available stock in the 250
GB model is also a little disconcerting, but it is our experience that Samsung HDDs are a bit slower to reach all the retail markets. The simple fact is that retail is just a small fraction of any HDD maker's OEM market and is thus often the last served.
The updated features supported by the native SATA interface and
the increase in areal density are welcome benefits,
but it is good that the PATA interface hasn't been abandoned just yet; there
are still plenty of systems out there that will run perfectly fine with PATA,
and its lower price makes it an excellent buy.
About the only criticism that could be made from an acoustic point
of view is that the subjective quality of the seeks has worsened slightly and become
more noticeable, but this is really just picking nits. Inside a case, the sharpness
of the seeks will be dulled and they are not loud enough to be seriously disruptive.
All in all, the P120 should help Samsung maintain its reputation
as the manufacturer of the quietest desktop drives on the market.
Many thanks to Samsung
Canada for the Spinpoint P120 sample.
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POSTSCRIPT, Jan 30, 2006: SP2504C
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