The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Recommend me the most silent 1.5 ~ 2Tb external drive ON THIS PLANET

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by Vogelbung, Jan 8, 2010.

  1. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

    Reputations:
    3,677
    Messages:
    4,067
    Likes Received:
    699
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Question as title. I am aiming for something shushtastic.

    Single 3.5" drive configuration.

    Needs to have:
    eSATA
    FW400/800
    USB

    And in terms of context:
    Lacie d2's are too noisy.

    Thanks.
     
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    I'd probably get the WD Green 2TB drive and build my own enclosure if you have time since most enclosures are pretty crappy IMO and it isn't expensive to find the connectors for eSATA, FW, and USB.
     
  3. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

    Reputations:
    3,677
    Messages:
    4,067
    Likes Received:
    699
    Trophy Points:
    181
    If recommending noise-damping enclosures please specify which. I'm not going on a wild goose chase.
     
  4. FatManChan

    FatManChan Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    42
    Messages:
    418
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You could buy a very small bit of sound proofing panel and build your own enclosure lined with that stuff
     
  5. David

    David NBR Random Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    7,515
    Messages:
    8,733
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I'd say the WD 2TB green drive is probably the most quiet drive I've used thus far.
     
  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    As FatManChan stated, I was referring to building your own enclosure with vibration dampening grommits, noise dampening foam and a big heatsink (for example).
     
  7. NeRo45

    NeRo45 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hmm. Sounds like someone should write up a DIY thread on how to make your very own silent external. This interests me highly. Maybe I will, not sure though since I don't need another external.
     
  8. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

    Reputations:
    3,677
    Messages:
    4,067
    Likes Received:
    699
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Just to let you know that I've dispensed with the idea of silenced drives, and I've commissioned an acoustically somewhat isolated, vented desk drawer with trays for DroboPros. Looking forward to silenced bliss, for the most part. I'm fairly certain that given a normal workload for me, the Macbook Pro's blasting will be noisier than the M6500 doing the same thing.
     
  9. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    11,461
    Messages:
    16,824
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The most quiet.. a SSD lol but it will cost you like half your soul to buy one that is that capacity.
     
  10. ajengen

    ajengen Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    12
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Build your own. my hitatchi drive + my kingwin external enclosure is near silent (to me).
     
  11. gengerald

    gengerald Technofile Extraordinaire

    Reputations:
    674
    Messages:
    1,961
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    My suggestion is one of two Western Digital 2TB models. Both use the Green version of the drive. They come in MyBook (3 year w) and Studio (5 year w) models. The difference in price is about $100. I have a 1TB Mybook (USB) and it is extremely quiet in comparison to the other drives I own. Building your own is a great idea, but you come to the price of a MyBook at that point. As long as you do adequate drive setup, the WD enclosure+drives are a great deal. Just on a side note, the Studio 2TB with the multiple interfaces is only available from a couple spots. I believe they might be refreshing the line, which would be nice. I am currently holding out for more information before upgrading. Hopefully it comes out with something like USB 3.0, ESata, FW 400/800.