Hard Drive: Hitachi 7K500 or WD Scorpio Black WD5000BEKT

They're noisy at startup when they're cold. For like 3 minutes but once they get to normal operating temp they're like any other harddrive. I have two of those inside (one inside opti-bay) and they're fairly quiet, you can't tell I have two installed. CPU fan makes more noise in SilentMode than the HDDs.

 

Maybe it's just the 500 GB models cause my 320 GB Scorpio Black isn't really audible during boot up..

 

Or maybe its 'cause the CPU fan doesn't kick in at start-up and the HDDs are the only ones making noise (only moving parts). However on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the loudest I'd say they're a 4.

 

I can't hear my fan most of the time. I do hear the WD5000bekt.

Different notebooks, different samples, different people.

 

I wonder if noise and vibration are due more to the mounting of the drive and type of laptop than anything else.

Anyone tried tightening or loosening the fixing screws to see if there's any change? I wonder if you can get some kind of washer to absorb vibration?

 

Perhaps my hearing is not what it used to be after decades of attending rock music shows , but for what it's worth, I can hear a gentle hum from the WD5000BEKT when alone in a quiet room, but I don't find it bothersome. I use a notebook cooler and its fans obscure the sound of the 5000BEKT. As Phil commented, the degree of noise from a given HD varies with the PC it's installed, the sample, and perception by different people.

 

7K500.

I replaced Scorpio Black with 7K500, very satisfied.

Scorpio Black is too loud to use in a laptop. Performace wise, they are the same.

 

After several days of usage, I can also say 100% that the WD5000BEKT is noticeably louder than the 7K500. If I had to buy again I would go with the 7K500. I am not dissatisfied with the WD but I wish they had worked more on the acoustics.

 

Thanks for all the responses. It looks like I'll be getting the Hitachi 7K500.

Does anybody know when exactly the 750GB Hitachi 7K750 will be released in Q1? Is it around January or will it be closer to March? The specs look impressive:

Travelstar 7K750 | Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

12ms seek times.

 

After reading the additional comments about the WD5000BEKT's noise levels, I auditioned my sample in a quiet room again with notebook cooler and TV and other noise-producing devices turned off. The noise level of the HD seems markedly louder to me now and, although it's not bothersome to me, I understand why others would find it annoying. Its noise--for me at least--is easily masked by other ambient noises, such as television, radio, and other people.

 

It will probably not be faster than the 500GB. This has been the case with every 750GB drive so far.

 

Are there any reviews with RL-benches out there with the new Samsung MP4 hdd?
According to HD-tune it should be even faster than the Scorpio Black, not to forget it is offered way cheaper , atleast here.

Well nontheless, i'd rather wait for a SSD.

 

just got a WD5000BEKT, going to install now and post my results. I'm replacing a 640GB WD Scorpio blue

 

The only real world data I have is for file copy:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...le-copy-result-hdds-ssds-easy-comparison.html

But anyway, I don't think anyone will notice any performance difference between these drives.

If you switch to hybrid or SSD, then you will notice a difference.

 

Hi guys!

I want to a 7K500-HDD.

I strictly don't need 500GB, so I deliberate to buy the 250GB-model. My thought was, that this is single-platter model and will be maybe a little bit quieter than the 500GB-version (dual-platter).

Would that be right?

If not, it would be more economic to buy the 500GB-model for less more money!?

Thanks for your tips

ole258

 

Yes measurements on Chip.de confirm that single platter drives are quieter than dual platter drives.

By the way, you should be able to buy 320GB single platter drives.

If you are looking for a quiet and fast drive check out the latest WD5000bevt from September 2010:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...964-amazing-wd5000bevt-benchmark-results.html

 

Thanks for your fast reply!

You mean the Z7k320?

I don't really need that space and it's more expensive that the 7K500 250GB.

What about a comparison between the 7K500 and the WD5000bevt?

For your understanding:

At the moment I use a Hitachi 5K250 (160GB) - this one ist 5400rpm (really "slow") an for my sense, to "loud". In idle there is a noise, like a quiet cpu-fan and noise on access is clearly audible.

Now I want a 7200-drive as quiet as possible - speed is the second choice!

My first thought was Seagate 7200.4 but I read much bad comments about this drive, so I found the 7K500.

What's your opinion? Which drive should I take?

 

Samsung HM320HJ is a 320GB 7200rpm single platter drive.

A Hitachi 7K500 or Scorpio Black 250GB single platter would be good too.

 

Dou you know both drives?

Which of both is niosier?

Which drive is more reliable?

 

Hitachi wins on noise.

The Samsung should be good too.

 

I'm not a friend of samsung

By the way - I think the hitachi is faster!?

The one and only question is now: 250GB or 500GB???

250GB costs ~ 61$
500GB costs ~ 80$

On economic factor I should buy the 500GB-version! Isn't it?

Do you think the 250GB is much quieter than the 500GB rather the 500GB much louder than the 250GB

Did you ever hear both of them?

 

Never heard the 250GB. The 500GB is reasonably quiet.

What notebook do you have?

 

I have a Toshiba Satellite P200D.

 

So a larger notebook with AMD CPU. I wouldn't worry too much about sound. 500GB Hitachi 7K500 will be fine.

 

So it is. (For mobile use a have a IBM ThinkPad X31 with the "legendary" HM160HC)

Note, the drive I will buy now, would be porbably the one and only drive, that I will buy for this book, so I inform me much detailed, that I am sure to buy the right one.

 

If you want maximum performance: Seagate Momentus XT 500GB.

I don't think the sound will be a problem in such a large notebook.

After that come WD5000BEKT, Hitachi 7K500, Samsung HM640JJ which all perform similar.

 

Okay - but this is a bit to expensive!

Sometimes you can beguile...everybody feel different relating hdd-sound. For example: the sound of the 5K250 who works until yet, I feel a bit deranging. Maybe others say, that's okay/normal!?

I think, I will try the 7K500!

The WD5000BEKT would be probably to "noisy" for me.

As I said I am not a friend of Samsung...because there are to many comments about "sudden death" of samsung hdds (3,5" & 2,5")!

I only bought the HM160HC becauese there is no good substitute in 2,5"-ata-drives.

 

i went from a 160gb hitachi to the 500gb 7200rpm 7k500 benchmarked the 2 hdd's against eachother and benchmarked 77% increase in performance over the 160gb 5400rpm.

as far as speed,perofrmance and noise speed is great performance is great and noise is very min. highly recomended