confusion with silent HDDs

ZMAJ · Post by **ZMAJ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:58 am

It's my 1st writing here so I would like to salute all of you.

here is my confusion:

Some days ago I've decided to buy a new, not silent, but most silent HDD (it had to be SATA II) and 1 guy told me that Sasmsung P80 is most silent so I have token a tour on "silentpcreview", "storagereview" to see if he is true or to chose some other HDD.

After days of reading I've decided to buy Samsung P120 (SP2504C) as it was most silent of all 250gb HDDs.

I came home, turned it on and surprised... HDD was kinda loud (Im talking about motor sound... I don't care about seeks... ); sound was like a big airflow (same like mp3 sound reviewed on "silentpcreview" but probobly louder).
It was even louder then my old 160gb hitachi PATA.

So now I would like to buy new HDD and don't know what to chose.

As I saw, most silent HDDs atm are Samsung's T series.
I've read review, and listened to the mp3 recording and I can hear a double less noise then mp3 recording of P series.

I thought of buying Hitachi's 250gb maybe as 1 guy on croatian forum said that its quiter then P120, and 1 guy from french's review site wrote that on this forum too.

Shell I go with Samsung T166 320gb or something else??

kogi · Post by **kogi** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:21 am

Welcome to SPCR

SP2504C, There has being problems with this model. With 2 different manufactures of motors. With nidec the quiet one.

Is the drive soft mounted? It will make a LOT of difference with the noise soft mounted.

If you do replace it. Personal opinion is the Latest WD 320gb

kogi

kogi · Post by **kogi** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:38 am

I've recently upgraded all my drives to
1 x Western Digital WD3200KS
2 x Samsung HD501LJ (really cheap)

I have to say they are as quiet if not quieter than the original Baracuda IV

ZMAJ · Post by **ZMAJ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:38 am

It had Nidec motor and HDD wasnt used in case... I've put it on a sponge.

I think i will try with WD this time...

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:14 am

seriously, look at all the praise for Samsung HD501LJ & HD321KJ in this forum. they are the quietest 3.5" HDD now.

ZMAJ · Post by **ZMAJ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:22 am

I guess 1st is 500gb and second is 320gb (is it T166)?

hmm on websites of stores in croatia isn't written exact model on the site, but there are Samsung 400gb, 500gb and 320gb (which is T166 for sure)

Das_Saunamies · Post by **Das_Saunamies** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:21 am

Samsung has its fans, so does WD.

Ask to be sold the precise model you want, go for the established ones that people have found to be good and of consistent quality.

niels007 · Post by **niels007** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:42 am

With harddisks, there is some variance between even the same model. The most important thing is to find a way to softly suspend the drives, perhaps with some accousic foam around it to dampen higher frequency sound.

If you don't do that, it won't matter all *that* much what HD you get.

ZMAJ · Post by **ZMAJ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:21 am

yes Im all in that stuff now.

Im thinking of buying Antec P180/182 which I've heard, make things much more quiter, and probobly I will try to do that "sandwich" stuff which is written on "silentpcreview".

Is there any sandwich modding you would suggest me??

Atm. I think I will buy WD3200AAKS

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:00 am

Have you considered a Scythe Quiet Drive? Or a 2,5"?

Steep · Post by **Steep** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:04 pm

Thomas wrote:Have you considered a Scythe Quiet Drive? Or a 2,5"?

I have to second this notion. I've got a WD 160gig Scorpio 2.5" drive and an HD501LJ (3.5" Samsung). I love the setup up having the OS + Apps on the 2.5" drive and video/music/misc data on the 3.5".

While the 501LJ is somewhat quiet, it can't compare to the near silence of the 2.5" drive.

That being said... when my computer was in my home office, I could appreciate (notice) the extra silence afforded by the notebook drive. However, when I finally moved the computer into my living room (it's an HTPC), the quietness of the 3.5" drive was more than adequate.

So, I think 2.5" inch drives are the way to go, but only if your ambient noise levels are low enough so that it would matter.

Moogles · Post by **Moogles** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:19 pm

Thomas wrote:Have you considered a Scythe Quiet Drive? Or a 2,5"?

How about 2.5" and the 2.5" Quiet Drive?! That's what I'm using currently, and both drives (E7K100/Scorpio) are effectively silent, 100% of the time. I can never hear them, not even when defragmenting. This is in a case that only has 3 600RPM Nexus fans...