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TEST RESULTS
Our sample was tested according to our standard
hard drive testing methodology. Our methodology focuses specifically on
HDD 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.
The 5400.3 was compared against our reference notebook drive,
Samsung MP0402H, that we profiled in a recent
notebook drive review. It was also compared against its predecessor, the
Seagate Momentus 5400.2.
Two forms of hard drive noise are measured:
- Airborne acoustics
- Vibration-induced noise.
These two 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.
Unfortunately, AAM (Automatic Acoustic Management) is not supported
as a user-configurable option on the Momentus 5400.3, which means that our standard
means of generating seek noise via the AAM test function in Hitachi's
HDD Feature Tool could not be used. Instead, seek noise was generated
by copying a large file set within the drive. Unfortunately, this task does
not require as much random seeking as the AAM test, so seek noise was not as
constant as usual. To compensate, we spent more time than usual listening to
and measuring the seek noise.
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 manufacturers also make changes without
telling everyone.
Ambient conditions at the time of testing were 18 dBA and 22°C.
Review sample.
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NOTEBOOK DRIVE NOISE EVALUATION
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|
Drive
Mfg date
firmware version
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Vibration
1-10
(10 = no vibration)
|
Activity State
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Airborne Acoustics
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Measured Power
|
|
Seagate Momentus 5400.3 ST9160821A
December 2005
firmware 3.ALA
|
8
|
Idle
|
19 dBA@1m
|
1.2 W (heads unloaded)
1.4 W (heads loaded)
|
|
Seek (Normal)
|
20-21 dBA@1m
|
2.7 W
|
|
Samsung MP0402H
April 2004
firmware UC100-10
|
8
|
Idle
|
17 dBA@1m
|
0.8 W
|
|
Seek (AAM)
|
18 dBA@1m
|
2.3 W
|
|
Seek (Normal)
|
19-20 dBA@1m
|
2.4 W
|
|
Seagate Momentus 5400.2 ST9120821AS
July 2005
firmware 3.04
|
9
|
Idle
|
20 dBA@1m
|
1.5 W (heads unloaded)
2.3W (heads loaded)
|
|
Seek (Normal)
|
20-21 dBA@1m
|
3.3 W
|
At idle, the 5400.3 was very close to our reference Samsung, which is to say,
very, very quiet. Almost all of the noise consisted of a smooth whoosh that
should blend easily into the background. It had a similar noise character to
the 5400.2, but there seemed to be less of it overall.
Seek noise was different from both of the comparison drives, which both sound
sharp and clicky. The 5400.3 seeks sounded like distant raindrops, making made them difficult to distinguish
during testing... because it was raining at the time! The volume of the seeks was
roughly the same as the 5400.2, and just a little louder than the Samsung. In
an actual system, however, these differences are moot: All three drives would
probably disappear entirely (acoustically speaking).
In addition to seek noise, one other sound could occasionally be heard: The
read/write heads loaded and unloaded with a slight "click" that occurred
about ten seconds after the drive became idle. The click sounded similar to
seek noise in both character and volume, and most users will probably not be
able to tell the difference.
While the idle and seek noise was improved over the 5400.2, the
level of vibration a bit higher. As with the other noises, however,
the difference was slight, and may not make much of a difference in an
actual system.
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