Momentus XT Yay or Nay?

I am about to pull the trigger on a Envy 14, but I can't decide on what I should do about the HDD. I've read mixed reviews about the momentus xt (vibrations, noise, etc). I just want someones honest opinion on this HDD because theres just no way i can drop 500+ dollars on the 256 GB SSD.

 

I think the people complaining about noise are the people who have always used 5,400 RPM drives. They aren't used to the spinning speeds of a 7,200RPM drive, like the Momentus.

With that being said, I really want a 500gb Momentus, and depending on how good of a coupon I can get for my envy14, I may buy one off newegg.

 

Ah okay, so under load it will make noise just like any other 7200 rpm HDD? What about the vibrations, is that similar situation as well?

 

Honestly, you won't get honest opinions. The closest way would be for someone to have your exact HDD, upgrade to the XT and explain to you any differences. Then it's still their opinion and not yours. That being said, the people that have it(and have upgraded from 7200rpm drives) have said the vibrations are not abnormal. Which seems a pretty accurate statement, since it's the exact same HDD as a 7200.4 momentus, sans the PCB board. I have suspected the people 'complaining' of such upgraded from a slower spinning drive, or from different drive brands.

 

yea the vibration from a HDD comes from how fast it spins (and a few other factors), so if someone is use to the vibrations of a 5,400rpm drive, they will freak out when they use a 7,200 rpm one.

 

Whoa, that is just not true. I had a WD Blue 500gb 5400rpm drive in the laptop in my sig. It was so quiet that I couldn't even tell it was running. I replaced it with the Hitachi 7200rpm 500GB 7k500 and couldn't tell a difference from the WD Blue it replaced from a noise or vibration standpoint. You can't tell it is running unless you put your ear within 2 inches of the palm rest. I know several people personally who have 7200rpm HD's (WD or Hitachi, I don't know any with Seagate) in their laptop and all are quiet and don't vibrate.

If I were to purchase any brand drive and it vibrated when installed I would return it for another.

A good place to read peoples real world comments about a HD's issues is on Newegg. Search for your drive and see what people are saying.

 

It's not true for your laptop. I'm sure you haven't tested material quality, build assembly and noise damping materials in every laptop where people have complained about increased vibration. a 7200RPM drive in a net book will cause vibration. Heck, even my 5400RPM drive in there vibrates the case a small amount, and that's a WD.

 

I have the Momentus XT and did notice very mild vibration when I placed it on a Samsung R480. I have a WD 7200rpm HDD on my dv2138xx and I don't feel the vibration at all. The positive side of the Momentus XT is the faster boot and shut down times just like my SSDs.

 

In general there may well be a slight increase in noise and vibration with a a 7200rpm drive over a 5400rpm. Unless the drive has a problem no one should 'freak out' when using a 7200rpm drive. If they do, they should RMA it.

 

/agreed

10characters

 

I would just go for an SSD. It's the best money to spend for an upgrade in a computer (even though it's a lot of money)

 

Just to share an experience regarding vibrations, went from a good working 250 5400 Fujitsu (original in the hp 6730b) to a ridiculously noisy and vibrating Seagate 320 7200, probably a doa, returned it and got a 320 7200 Hitachi. The Hitachi is quiet like a whisper (not audible behind the fan at lowest speed, and even quieter than the 5400), and no vibrations whatsoever to be felt.

 

I wish I has ordered my M11x with the standard drive. I have had no problems with my Momentus no noise or vibration. Performs as advertised!

 

Well I returned the Samsung R480 back to the store because I didn't really need another laptop. After cloning I transplanted the Momentus XT to my tx2500z and surprisingly it doesn't vibrate at all!

 

Actually because of increase of speed in a 7200rpm drive over 5400rpm drive the vibrations in a horizontal position would cause it to have less vibration, yes it seems like the opposite would occur but with the inertia and the added centrifugal force applied from the increase in revolutions this is concurred.

As for the Momentus BUYER BEWARE stay away, the idea of such a product is good but there are so many problems facing the engineering of such a product the controllers would not be properly tested nor all the variables calculated.

The pros of a SSD:

-Resistance to force and heat
-No heat
-Fast write and read speeds
-No vibrations or noise.

Cons:

-Price
-slow data deterioration

Pros of a regular HDD:

-big Capacity

Cons:

-Vibration
-Heat
-Noise
-failure imminent

NOW pros of MOMENTUS:

-moderatly fast
-capacity
-cheaper than ssd price

CONS:

--Vibration
-Heat
-Noise
-failure imminent
-Untested in real world


There are not many more advantages of getting the momentus over a regular drive.


-Googlei

 

@ googlie:

Do you seriously think that Seagate hasn't extensively tested the Momentus XT prior to selling it? Do you actually have this drive or are you surmising all the pros and cons? Even SSDs performance will degrade in time. To generally tell people to STAY AWAY, BUYER BEWARE to get this drive is essentially depriving them of experiencing this drive for themselves.

 

Nah! IMHO, it's an inadequate substitute for a real SSD. I guess it's probably better than no SSD at all. Now if it was 100GB SSD/500GB 7200rpm HD that might be something to think about.

Bronsky

 

Hi.

I'm sorry to take back an old topic, but it seemed to be the most suitable one for my questions.

Now many of you must have bought a Momentus XT, as i did. I'm very happy with performances (my Acer 4820TG had a Scorpio Blue 5400rpm). Launching times of usual apps are just amazing.

BUT. It has two noise related problems:
1. It vibrates like hell: when on my desk, the desk itself will
emits a low background sound. Is it normal for a 7200? I don't say it's loud, or crazy, but i can clearly feel it and here it when in a low-noise environment.
2. There's a little, low "clac" happening at the end of every read/write on the HDD. Usual HDDs make a sound when writing/reading, but this is different, it's only at the end of a reading or writing cycle, and it sounds like a drop falling in water. Does anyone experienced the same? Should i send it to Seagate?

Thank you!

 

See this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...e-momentus-xt-hybrid-hdd-w-built-4gb-ssd.html