Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB

jozi · Post by **jozi** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:41 am

Would like to know peoples opinion on these drives. Ive read the review on the 500gig model, can i expect this one to perform in the same way?
http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=318471 thats the one im thinking of ordering.

Thanks,
Jozi

L0n3W0lF · Post by **L0n3W0lF** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:53 am

Well, I have one inside a NSK2400 case. It seems quieter than a Samsung 1614C in Sonata with respect to both idle and seek noise. I don't know how much of that can be attributed to the case, but at least I'm very happy with the drive.

I have not run any performance tests to compare the two drives but in a normal use there does not seem to be much difference between them.

ryboto · Post by **ryboto** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:21 pm

i own the same drive, seems fast, i don't really run any tests in that regard though. Acoustically, it's quieter than my old 160gb spinpoint, by a great deal. The operational "whine" that typically haunts my drives is gone, it's a much lower operational "hum", i guess you could call it, but, i can only hear it if i have the case open and i get within 1ft of the drive. Seeks are also practically inaudible. If i ever hear them, it's a very low rumble, but, again, i'd only hear it if the case was open, and i was listening for it. very happy with my purchase.

jozi · Post by **jozi** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:35 pm

I think that good enough for me to buy one

Thanks,
Jozi

papito · Post by **papito** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:41 pm

Hold your horses! I have this running on my P-180 case. Mine on fire at 56 Degrees C!

How hot can a hard drive go before its danger time? I have 2 fans running too! Take hard drive temperature into consideration too mate!

bogus · Post by **bogus** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:42 pm

papito wrote:Hold your horses! I have this running on my P-180 case. Mine on fire at 56 Degrees C!

How hot can a hard drive go before its danger time? I have 2 fans running too! Take hard drive temperature into consideration too mate!

dont know about WD, but my seagate is rated at:

Operating: 0Â° to 60Â°C (32Â° to 140Â°F) (ambient)
Nonoperating: â€“40Â° to 70Â°C (â€“40Â° to 158Â°F) (ambient)

Ambient temperature is defined as the temperature of the environment immediately surrounding the drive. Actual drive case temperature should not exceed 69Â°C (156Â°F) within the operating ambient conditions for standard models, or 64Â°C (147Â°F) within the operating ambient conditions for all models.

natethegreat · Post by **natethegreat** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:20 pm

I have this WD drive and I'm very pleased with it! I would not hesitate to buy another one if i needed it...

JimX · Post by **JimX** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:53 pm

papito wrote:Hold your horses! I have this running on my P-180 case. Mine on fire at 56 Degrees C!

How hot can a hard drive go before its danger time? I have 2 fans running too! Take hard drive temperature into consideration too mate!

These are false readings, many WD drives have temp sensor problems. I have 2 WD250JS side by side in my case, one is reporting 33c, the other 53c, with the same surface temp.

kogi · Post by **kogi** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:21 pm

This drive is quieter than my 2504 in idle and seek.
But this has a weird intermittent whine/buzz that is very soft but totally unexplainable.
It's louder than idle hum but softer than the seek noise. inaudiable from more than a foot away so I've ignored it.

kogi

riddles · Post by **riddles** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:11 pm

i guess the general concensus is that thses are better than the 7200.10s for quite operations, but the 7200.10s are faster...?

SweeJ · Post by **SweeJ** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:19 pm

Nope, ever since the 7200.8 series, the Seagates are all louder, hotter and slower than its competitors.

The 7200.10's are slower than the new WD Caviars SE16.

Check out www.storagereview.com for reviews & benchmarks:

http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200607/500_3.html

Poodle · Post by **Poodle** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:28 am

papito wrote:Hold your horses! I have this running on my P-180 case. Mine on fire at 56 Degrees C!

How hot can a hard drive go before its danger time? I have 2 fans running too! Take hard drive temperature into consideration too mate!

If it is really over 55 C it's gonna go by by soon.

I have a 320 caviar SE that seldom goes much over 30 degrees in my p 180 lower chamber. Really quiet also. Some vibration noise only.

barth2k · Post by **barth2k** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:51 pm

Poodle,

I notice in your sig you have the MSI 7600GT HDCP. how is the stock fan. Are you using 3rd party cooler. If so, which one? thanks

papito · Post by **papito** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:13 am

Poodle any chance of some internal pics? Thanks

Lazaredz · Post by **Lazaredz** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:38 pm

I was thinking of getting one of these also (for storage as my 76GB Raptor is quickly filling up).

However, I would LIKE to keep the cost down below $100, so I was looking at the 250GB or possibly the 320GB models ... any suggestions on those? Do they run as quiet/cool as their newer/bigger brothers?

aidanjm2004 · Post by **aidanjm2004** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:12 am

I installed a 320 Gb SE16 today. It doesn't appear to be noticeably more noisy than my Samsung 250 Gb stat drives. Seeks don't seem particularly obnoxious. They are more "whispery" than "crunchy". It does run 6-8 degrees warmer than my Samsungs (if the reported temperatures are to be believed) - it is sitting at 36 degrees C (it is located in same area as Samsungs in case).