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    Silent 5400 RPM hard drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by scummi32, Jul 1, 2006.

  1. scummi32

    scummi32 Newbie

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    Hello,

    I am looking for a 5400 RPM SATA hard drive in order to replace my 4200 RPM Fujitsu hard drive (in my Sony VAIO FE21S).

    I pay attention to the noise coming from the hard drive. The 4200 RPM makes a HORRIBLE clicking sound when the computer is in idle. This clicking sound is like a "TAC TAC" or "CLUNG CLUNG". This sound is due to the HDD parking its heads when idling.

    This clicking sound is VERY VERY annoying. I would like to find an hard drive which DOES NOT make this clicking sound.

    So, I would like to get your opinions about 2.5" SATA HDD which does not make this clicking sound.

    According to you, what is the best hard drive, in the following brands :

    Hitachi
    Seagate (some users reported a clicking sound with this brand, can you confirm ?)
    Samsung
    Western Digital
    Toshiba
    Western Digital
    Toshiba

    Thank you very much

    Scummi32
     
    scummi32, Jul 1, 2006
    #1
  2. lazybum131

    lazybum131 Notebook Evangelist

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    Some Hitachi's do the same ticking noise thing when the drive is idle.

    My 80GB 5400rpm Samsung is fairly quiet, the seeks are nearly inaudible but it does have a constant whine that sounds like a fan. It's pretty unobtrusive but it's noticable.
     
    lazybum131, Jul 1, 2006
    #2
  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    If you can find a Western Digital SATA, that will be the best built and quietest you can find. Fujitsu's are quiet as well.

    Toshiba makes the worst hard drives. Period.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jul 1, 2006
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  4. otaku

    otaku Notebook Deity

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    Fujitsu in my experience makes the coolest running and quietest hard drives. HItachi makes the hottest and loudest (but with the best performance) seagate does a pretty good job on balancing heat, noise and performance.
     
    otaku, Jul 1, 2006
    #4
  5. scummi32

    scummi32 Newbie

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    Well,

    A constant whining sound does not disturb me. It is a typical hard drive noise which I can accomodate ;-) It is just the clicking sound that I would like to avoid !
     
    scummi32, Jul 1, 2006
    #5
  6. gilo

    gilo Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Experience only .

    Old Hitachi 4200 clicky , might be dying soon ?
    Toshiba 5400 will rattle .
    Hitachi 7200 will click from time to time , quiet mode at performence cost .
    Samsung 5400 quietest so far .

    Hope it helps .
     
    gilo, Jul 1, 2006
    #6
  7. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    My Hatichi is quite no clicking, none what so ever.

    If you are hearing clicking the drive is set to PMI? not DMA. Change to DMA to correct. It a MS screw up, it thinks it know best. Change in device drivers.
     
    blue68f100, Jul 1, 2006
    #7
  8. lku

    lku Notebook Consultant

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    How do you set to DMA?

    My Hitachi has some clicking sounds. Its slight and unobtrusive but its still there. My Samsung is very quiet. I do not hear anything from it at all. Trade off is its a bit slower compared to the Hitachi. Both drives are 5400 rpm and 40 gb.
     
    lku, Jul 1, 2006
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  9. scummi32

    scummi32 Newbie

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    Hello,

    It is impossible for me to change the PMI/DMA mode of my hard drive. I have a SATA hard drive, which is different form IDE HDD...
     
    scummi32, Jul 2, 2006
    #9
  10. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    Chaz, where did you get this info from..web site, personel opinions or usage? I've read some good thing on WD 3.5" but cannot find any thing published as far as drive longevity and that sort for 2.5" drives.

    Here at work we have killed them all ;) I keep droping the external cases or one of the girls drops the whole laptop; same outcome or s.m.a.r.t. errors. IMHO I think they all, 2.5", suck comprared to cooler running 3.5" drives.

    I have a segate momentus from dell in my latest laptop. It doesn't click but sounds somewhat noisy (motor?) at times.
     
    hydra, Jul 2, 2006
    #10
  11. scummi32

    scummi32 Newbie

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    Hello Hydra,

    Which Seagate model do you have ?
    Momentus 5400.2 ? 5400.3 ? IDE ? SATA ?

    Thx
     
    scummi32, Jul 6, 2006
    #11