The Official PC building thread -3rd Edition

Do you have a link for those specs by any chance, because even 27dB would be pretty loud and easily audible! BTW both the Seagates I have in the AMD are the newer drives with Parallel Recording Technology. I just don't like the idea of very large drives to begin with, so I shouldn't have to worry about any noise problems like that!

Russ

 

This is for the same size drive, but 1TB vs 1TB. That's what I love about the WDs, they don't get noisy when you buy big ones. That noise specification is Seagate's official measurement (3 bels) and what Silentpcreview recorded from the drive. Samsung drives are also quite good, but the 1TB versions are inherently unreliable, and they vibrate quite a lot too.

 

yeha but SPCR test them on a table not a case...

 

Precisely, so the results aren't impaired by how their test platform reacts to them. In a vibration-free environment that's how they'll sound. Vibration free mounting does exist.

 

well you see most people have their HDD in a case, so it wont sound as bad, and on the table my HDDs sound shit, btu in a case i cant here them (inc vibrations)

 

The mount SPCR use carries no vibrations, so the point is, in a case it will sound worse, almost always, which is why they quantify the vibration level so you can gauge this. This is why in cheap cases, Samsung and Maxtor drives are very noisy, solely due to the vibration levels. By contrast in an Antec P182 even noisy Seagate drives sound quiet because of the dampening.

 

Yeah, but doesn't the case kind of muffle the sound?

 

Yes, it muffles airborne noise.

 

It's funny, I just came from silentpcreview, and I can't find any mention of hard drives or a section for it. I'm sure that it's there somewhere, but I'm not going to read through all those pages to find it. Basically, I want a single platter drive. I like the new Seagate 7200.11 360GB drives. They are quieter than my 7200.10 ones and consume less power and run at a constant 7200 rpm. For the Folks that like large capacity drives, they have a 1.5TB model at Newegg for $149.99.

I tried a little experiment with one of the 160s. I set it on the desktop on top of an aluminum ash tray (Alarm Clock trick from my old college days), which amplifies any noise and vibrations. I put it through it's paces and you barely hear any noise at all. I also took the 250 Deskstar out and did the same thing, and was surprised to see that it was much quieter than it was in the case. After investigating further, I discovered that I had the drive mounted smack up against the front fan. Moving it back slightly so it no longer contacts the fan resolved my noise issue with that drive. It also rendered the case vibration to almost nothing, and it was minimal before. now you can't even tell by feel that the computer is even on. Given all the fans and two HDDs, that's pretty amazing to me. On a scale of 1-100, it rates a 1, and about a 3 if you surround the side fan with your fingers. Remarkably vibration free!

Russ

 

sam, why can i hear mine seeking etc on the table, and vibrating, but nothing when this are in my asaka zen?

 

Because all cases absorb airborne noise to an extent, so if it faintly grinds rather than abruptly clicks (like Samsungs in the former case, Seagates in the latter) then your case will absorb the noise.

 

I just purchased that drive for $146.98 at TigerDirect delivered.

 

Heh, they're about £145 delivered here....

 

Is this good Memory
OCZ Platinum Revision-2 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 x 1024MB)
Price: $44.99
Less Rebate: $30.00
Final Price: $14.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...M1752C&cm_mmc=Email-_-Main-_-WEM1752-_-topten

 

Just for the record, how noisy is it?

Russ

 

Stay away from OCZ platinum. I have had many fail on me.

 

did you buy them at once or within a few weeks, or over a long time?

 

abuzar1: OK Thanks, sure looked like a sweet deal. I guess they're just trying to unload them, & hope some will be OK

 

I read no end of issues about OCZ Platinum, doesn't seem worth the risk.

 

Don't know yet for I JUST purchased it. But I will let you know when I receive it.