Best 500GB SATA

blake · Post by **blake** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:56 pm

I was about to purchase 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB units(ST3500630NS) for an Antec Sonata III case, but luckily did some reading here first.

Are these drives loud for a silentpc? In the performance/reliability dept, Seagate seems to win, so I am disappointed this is not a "quiet" drive.

Can anyone recommend a good 500GB alternative (SATA, single user application, app/multimedia>gaming)? How about the Western Digitial Caviar SE16 500GB (WD5000AAKS)?

noespam · Post by **noespam** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:10 pm

I purchased an WD5000AAKS based on review. Did not live up to being silent. It's louder than my old WD 250GB SE16 during seeks and vibrates more than my other dirves. Suspending the drive helped but I could still hear it. I bought a Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ to replace it. MUCH better. It doesn't even need to be suspended. Very silent and has same performance. 5.8 on Vista performance index.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822152052

Michael Sandstrom · Post by **Michael Sandstrom** » Sun May 20, 2007 1:54 am

I bought a Samsung HD501LJ five weeks ago and found that the drive was amazingly quiet. Last week I purchased another HD501LJ and it was equally quiet. Newegg priced the drive at $120 with free shipping. Customer reviews of the HD501LJ have been outstanding. Last month Newegg gave the drive an award for best product based on customer reviews.

fjf · Post by **fjf** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:41 am

Another vote for the samsung HD501LJ. This thing is dead quiet when suspended, compared to my previous seagates. VERY nice HDD.

pputer · Post by **pputer** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:09 am

On here, it seems it's either the Samsung HD501LJ or WD 5000AAKS. The cheaper one for ordering from Canada is the WD although I'd like to order the Samsung. I had the impression here that it's a mixed bag with the WD5000AAKS so I am guessing the QC isn't the best. Some people say it's totally quiet or at best, the only hum is when it's idle and some people say it's not as quiet as reviews state. The Samsung, however, gets a consistent thumbs up but seems to be more expensive than the WD (at least for me - I have to order from Cdn vendors).

alfred · Post by **alfred** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:50 pm

I'm using 8 HD501LJ and 2 WD5000AAKS; the Samsung wins hands down. It only needs something to absorb vibrations.

This debate keeps going here in the forums; we need a comparative review Mike

rseiler · Post by **rseiler** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:12 pm

FYI: The seek issue with the WDC is totally solved by setting AAM to 128.

blake · Post by **blake** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:16 pm

My only concern with a Samsung is long-term reliabiltiy / warranty support as this is not a "big" name is the industry like WD and Seagate.

What does changing the AAM actually do?

Shmanky · Post by **Shmanky** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:29 pm

Can someone please recommend an external drive enclosure for the HD501LJ please and thanks. So that I can connect it via USB2.

SoopahMan · Post by **SoopahMan** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:42 pm

alfred wrote:I'm using 8 HD501LJ and 2 WD5000AAKS

Good god that's a lot of drives! Can I ask what you use to hold them all? I've been looking for an enclosure for a 5-drive setup (actively cooled by a quiet fan ideally, especially with an air filtered intake).

alfred · Post by **alfred** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:07 pm

I'm using several computers; two of them use a 4*HD501LJ RAID-0 array, all in Scythe Quiet Boxes, decoupled where possible and without any active airflow around the enclosures. Temperatures are OK.