SATA Drives - Samsung vs Seagate..Best choice?

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:38 am

I was veering towards Samsung...but I'm a bit concerned about potential reliability issues.

So which is a better pick based on quietness, reliability and speed..?

FYI I'm looking at getting 2 160gb drives

Thanks

Joe DeFuria · Post by **Joe DeFuria** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:07 am

The samsungs are simply too new to really have any meaningful drive reliablity numbers. I've give you personal thoughts on mine, but it's being RMA'd at the moment.

(This particular RMA was completely my fault thogh...)

Anyway, the general consensus is this:

The samsung is both a bit better performer, and is a bit quieter and cooler. However, many Samsung drives around here appear to have a bit more vibration than the seagates. Whether or not this translates into noise will depend on how you mount it, and your case design.

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:12 am

Joe DeFuria wrote: Whether or not this translates into noise will depend on how you mount it, and your case design.

Likely to be Acousticase C6607..so I'd hope anything would be at least muffled

Joe DeFuria · Post by **Joe DeFuria** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:41 am

You should look at Ralf Hutter's experience with the Samsung 160 GB model in essentially the same case. (It's in an Antec 3700 BQE that he has applied acoustipac foam too.)

The vibration of his Samsung is a bit too much for his taste in that case when mounted "conventionally". Dead silent when he decoupled it more deliberately.

Now, while the cases are based on the same chassis, the drive cage is a bit different in the BQE than it is in the Acousticase you're considering, and this could have a major difference (positive or negative) on the case resonance / humming.

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:09 pm

Joe DeFuria wrote:Now, while the cases are based on the same chassis, the drive cage is a bit different in the BQE than it is in the Acousticase you're considering, and this could have a major difference (positive or negative) on the case resonance / humming.

Yeah but the nifty thing about the 3700AMB is that the entire HDD cage is easily removable so that you can suspension-mount the HDD very easily, for the ultimate in decoupling silence.

JVM · Post by **JVM** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:19 pm

Ralf Hutter wrote:
Joe DeFuria wrote:Now, while the cases are based on the same chassis, the drive cage is a bit different in the BQE than it is in the Acousticase you're considering, and this could have a major difference (positive or negative) on the case resonance / humming.
Yeah but the nifty thing about the 3700AMB is that the entire HDD cage is easily removable so that you can suspension-mount the HDD very easily, for the ultimate in decoupling silence.

I believe you can also easily remove the HDD cage in the LX-6A19 and the air filter is MUCH easier to remove for cleaning.

I have my Samsung SP 0812C in a Zalman ZM-2HC1 mounted in a 5.25" bay and it is very quiet.

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:50 pm

JVM wrote:
Ralf Hutter wrote:
Joe DeFuria wrote:Now, while the cases are based on the same chassis, the drive cage is a bit different in the BQE than it is in the Acousticase you're considering, and this could have a major difference (positive or negative) on the case resonance / humming.
Yeah but the nifty thing about the 3700AMB is that the entire HDD cage is easily removable so that you can suspension-mount the HDD very easily, for the ultimate in decoupling silence.
I believe you can also easily remove the HDD cage in the LX-6A19 and the air filter is MUCH easier to remove for cleaning.

Yes, dat be da troof. The 6A19 is basically a clone of the 3700AMB with a different front bezel.

JVM · Post by **JVM** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:14 pm

Ralf Hutter wrote:
JVM wrote:
Ralf Hutter wrote: Yeah but the nifty thing about the 3700AMB is that the entire HDD cage is easily removable so that you can suspension-mount the HDD very easily, for the ultimate in decoupling silence.
I believe you can also easily remove the HDD cage in the LX-6A19 and the air filter is MUCH easier to remove for cleaning.
Yes, dat be da troof. The 6A19 is basically a clone of the 3700AMB with a different front bezel.

Ahh, but the LX-6A19 provides a much easier way to remove the air filter. Just snap it out from the front!

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:52 pm

If Antec came with an no-PSU option I'd consider them...though I'm not won over by case front doors.

After reading the posts about Samsung woes it's got me worried as I'm going to be doing a lot of audio work...I'm not going to be too happy if I get a complete fail..

I know audio specialists in UK are not as yet using Samsungs..so it's little difficult to get advice.

I've even been pondering adding IBM/Hitachi into the equation...

JVM · Post by **JVM** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:10 pm

IdontexistM8 wrote:If Antec came with an no-PSU option I'd consider them...though I'm not won over by case front doors.

After reading the posts about Samsung woes it's got me worried as I'm going to be doing a lot of audio work...I'm not going to be too happy if I get a complete fail..

I know audio specialists in UK are not as yet using Samsungs..so it's little difficult to get advice.

I've even been pondering adding IBM/Hitachi into the equation...

Front doors are certainly a matter of preference. I like them because it helps keep out some noise from the optical drives, and my HDD mounted in a 5.25" bay. But I have to say the difference is not earth-shattering and probably is not what you want. It can be a pain to open the door to push the power button but it doesn't bother me.

I will say this, if I was to do it over again, and the pre-cut acoustipack was available for the LX-6A19, I would give very strong consideration for that case with the modifications like rear grill cut out, and plastic fan holders out and standard fan mounting holes drilled.

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:38 pm

Prob with the door for me is that I'll probably be using the drives quite heavily thereby making it of little use

JVM · Post by **JVM** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:45 pm

IdontexistM8 wrote:Prob with the door for me is that I'll probably be using the drives quite heavily thereby making it of little use

Have you considered the LX-6A19? There is a place on the web that sells it with all kinds of modifications for a very reasonable price. You can check it out here: http://www.coolcases.com/index.php3

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:57 pm

JVM wrote:
IdontexistM8 wrote:Prob with the door for me is that I'll probably be using the drives quite heavily thereby making it of little use
Have you considered the LX-6A19? There is a place on the web that sells it with all kinds of modifications for a very reasonable price. You can check it out here: http://www.coolcases.com/index.php3

I've looked at it on a couple of UK sites (it's not well supplied) price is about £55...no mod options like this site.

I suppose I could source the Acoustipack as I believe they make it as a separate pack for similar cases to the 6607

Golgo13 · Post by **Golgo13** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:31 pm

Talk about 'hijacking a thread', could we go back ON TOPIC regarding Samsungs SATA and Seagates SATA offering as was asked!?!

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:08 pm

Golgo13 wrote:Talk about 'hijacking a thread', could we go back ON TOPIC regarding Samsungs SATA and Seagates SATA offering as was asked!?!

I thought the 'hijacking' was quite interesting and I started the thread!

Golgo13 · Post by **Golgo13** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:51 pm

I apologize but your question still stands and no progress was made regarding the main issue. Oh well, it's your thread. Again, I apologize.

If I can offer an amends, and add some substance to this thread, this is what I can surmise from my brief look into this Seagate/Samsung issue over the last hour...still researching..

-Samsungs have not proven themselves to be reliable.
-Seagates have.
-Samsungs are quieter and a bit faster
-Segates are not as quiet as teh IV or V series. (IV series is of course the best)
-Balance between noise and performance appears to go to the HItachi 180GXP. (still looking into this but I did look at a friends PC400SC Server which is remarkably quiet and it has a 180GXP) However, questions on reliability are always present going back to when IBM was in charge.

I guess you could go with the Seagate V series' SATA version if you can find them.

Again sorry for the rant, I blew a fuse.

NullObject · Post by **NullObject** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:21 pm

I have 2 160g Samsungs and I love them. Actually, I love 1 of them, the other I have to RMA, but its completely my fault

The samsung is extremely quiet. I usually can't hear it on seeks.

Before I bought my second one, I picked up a couple of the Seagate 160s on an impulse at CompUSA. But then I read some more user experiences with the 7200.7s and they are still in the bag. Unfortunatley Comp only has 14day return policy.

Back OT, everyone is right on about the reliability issue. If you leave your computer on all the time, you could disable hd suspend, which would extend the hd life. And if its on all the time then have it fold so it won't get bored

Joe DeFuria · Post by **Joe DeFuria** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:43 am

NullObject wrote:I have 2 160g Samsungs and I love them. Actually, I love 1 of them, the other I have to RMA, but its completely my fault

Just out of curiosity...what did you do? My Samsug is also being RMA's (it's on it's way back now and I should have it tomorrow)....also completely my fault. I knocked the underside of the Samsung with another drive, and a couple (resistors, I think?) popped off the PCB...

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:11 am

Are Samsung making minor revisions of the drive every now and then?

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:54 pm

Found an interesting review here...

http://storagereview.com/articles/20040 ... 14N_1.html

IdontexistM8 · Post by **IdontexistM8** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 5:26 am

OT - again

I've found a good price on the Compucase

http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/Compucase_.html

How much difference would having the Acoutipack make?...and is it something I could add easily add if I felt I needed more soundproofing?

Back OnT - I think I'm going to go with Samsungs...the combination of quietness, price per gb and 3 year warranty is enough..hopefully Samsung have weeded out the majority problems by now.

NullObject · Post by **NullObject** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:18 am

Joe DeFuria wrote:Just out of curiosity...what did you do? My Samsug is also being RMA's (it's on it's way back now and I should have it tomorrow)....also completely my fault. I knocked the underside of the Samsung with another drive, and a couple (resistors, I think?) popped off the PCB...

Ummmm...

I dropped it onto a cement floor when I opened the packaging