Noisy Samsung F1 1TB (3 of them)

michael baxter

michael baxter

michael baxter

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I installed a Samsung F1 in a PC recently, and when starting up the PC it was making unusual noises (seek clicking) for a few seconds. After the installation of Windows, I started getting hardware errors related to the hard drive reported within Windows. Fortunately I had several of these drives (all new) so I tried another one, but this also had a similar seeking click noise at start up. I tried a third and this was the same. I didn't try installing Windows on these other two drives.

Obviously the first drive had a problem, due to the errors reported. The others I didn't use because I thought the noise may be indicative of a similar problem.

My question is ----->

Does anyone else have this same noise on start up (seek clicking for a few seconds)? I'm concerned I have a duff batch.

Btw, I have tried the Samsung dianostics software, but didn't complete a full surface scan due to time. Should I be doing that? It passed all other tests.

Thanks in advance!
 
Not got any clicking on startup, running 2 1TBs and 3 320Gbs

I do get 5 clicks when they power off, presumably the hedas goin back to "neutral" as it were
 
I had one of these, no clicking sound, works perfectly.

Then I bought second one - had clicking sound, plus was slower than the first one - but other than that it worked fine.

But I was angry about the lower speed (84MB instead of 97MB average in HDTach) and sound, so I bought third one.

Third one again works perfectly, good speed and now sound.

The difference in those 3 drives? Two perfectly functional ones have firmware 1AA01113, the one slower has firmware 1AA01118.

And if I had to bet, your three drives are 1AA01118.


Now, I dunno what this means.For me it means that 1AA01118 is not in my PC, and I use it strictly as backup (because I am too lazy to sell it or return it) and I use the other two 1AA01113 instead.With those I am perfectly happy.
 
Yeah, my new F1 does click a bit when my PC is turned on too, but it seems to be ok (no errors/bad sectors etc...for now at least)

I did read something about the F1's with firmware ending with 18 are noisier than those ending in 13...and sure enough, mine ends with 18 :(

I'm having a few issues with my pc at the moment, although I'm not sure if it's down to the drive though.
 
michael baxter said:
I installed a Samsung F1 in a PC recently, and when starting up the PC it was making unusual noises (seek clicking) for a few seconds. After the installation of Windows, I started getting hardware errors related to the hard drive reported within Windows. Fortunately I had several of these drives (all new) so I tried another one, but this also had a similar seeking click noise at start up. I tried a third and this was the same. I didn't try installing Windows on these other two drives.

Obviously the first drive had a problem, due to the errors reported. The others I didn't use because I thought the noise may be indicative of a similar problem.

My question is ----->

Does anyone else have this same noise on start up (seek clicking for a few seconds)? I'm concerned I have a duff batch.

Btw, I have tried the Samsung dianostics software, but didn't complete a full surface scan due to time. Should I be doing that? It passed all other tests.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Yes, do a full surface scan. I know it takes ages as I did one today on a Samsung F2 but it's well worth it. Also try changing the SATA data cable.

As for the noises, it's all subjective, not to mention peoples different hearing ranges, back ground noise and other hardware. Some of my hard drives click, I think it's pretty normal.
 
Thank you all for the contributions, it seems like that firmware version is associated with the clicky drives. I should be using the diagnostics software to find that, right?

Yeah, I'll do a full surface scan, at least on the drive that was raising errors, and see what I get from that.

I've had these drives for over a month sitting in a box ready for fitment, so I guess I'm not going to be able to return them simply on the grounds of being 'clicky'. But, I'll be RMAing the drive that had window errors.
 
Speed said:
As for the noises, it's all subjective, not to mention peoples different hearing ranges, back ground noise and other hardware. Some of my hard drives click, I think it's pretty normal.
Click to expand...

These sounds are NOT subjective.It is simply a sound of seeking (clicking) that you hear when you turn on your PC, and only 1AA01118 do it, those with 1AA01113 DO NOT do it. Simple as that. And I have no idea why should newer firmware make strange sounds that no other harddrive on the market does, neither why those drive should be slower.But I know that I am happy to have two 1AA01113 : ).

Michael baxter - yes, use HD Tune or HD Tach, both let you measure speed and let you see firmware version.I recommend testing all drives in both programs and posting results here, so that we can compare.
 
Paul_cz said:
These sounds are NOT subjective.It is simply a sound of seeking (clicking) that you hear when you turn on your PC, and only 1AA01118 do it, those with 1AA01113 DO NOT do it. Simple as that. And I have no idea why should newer firmware make strange sounds that no other harddrive on the market does, neither why those drive should be slower.But I know that I am happy to have two 1AA01113 : ).

Michael baxter - yes, use HD Tune or HD Tach, both let you measure speed and let you see firmware version.I recommend testing all drives in both programs and posting results here, so that we can compare.
Click to expand...

I was more on about noise in general, but I get your point.

michael baxter said:
Thank you all for the contributions, it seems like that firmware version is associated with the clicky drives. I should be using the diagnostics software to find that, right?

Yeah, I'll do a full surface scan, at least on the drive that was raising errors, and see what I get from that.

I've had these drives for over a month sitting in a box ready for fitment, so I guess I'm not going to be able to return them simply on the grounds of being 'clicky'. But, I'll be RMAing the drive that had window errors.
Click to expand...

The problem is Michael that even with Windows errors, it's unlikely that you will get an RMA if the drive passes the full Samsung dianostics software test. But I guess you will have to cross that bridge if and when you come to it.
 
when i power my machine on i can hear the F1 click once as it spins up, after that it's just normal sound and stays on 24/7 ... can't fault them really

I also have 3 of them at work and they all do the same ...
 
I have just bought 2 new Samsung F1 drives and also have the noise at boot and poor performance.

The firmware is 1AA01118 with a date of 2009-06.

My other F1 drives have firmware 1AA01113, have no boot noise and benchmark much higher.

Running ESTool reports no problems with the drives.

It seems we are stuck with this on all new batches of these drives :(
 
Before i had an ssd, i used 2 1TB F1 drives in a mirror and heard the clicking fairly frequently, especially when booting up. I've since setup the ssd as the boot drive, with the two F1's as storage and can't say i've noticed the clicking since. I've never had an issue with either drive, and they both come up clear on any error scan
 
I currently have 11 of these drives.

7 in a raid 5 array in the main PC.

4 in a windows home server

Just looked on HD Tune and they are showing as firmware 1.03

They are not being used as a bootup disk in the main pc. I have a Corsair P256 for that.

They are in the home server; but I don't really boot that up, as its running 24/7. They seem to be fine.

Have to say they seem to be working fine in the main PC as well. Haven't heard any clicking to speak of. They seem to be running very quiet.

These drives were all purchased within the last month.

Touch wood, no problems.
 
This doesn't sound to good and after checking the S.M.A.R.T data on my 14 month old F1 (1110 firmware) with the free version of Active@ Hard Disk Monitor I'm a bit concerned after comparisons with older drives.

1TB HD103UJ F1 bought May 2008

Raw Reallocated Sectors 57 on 3566 hrs (ok'd by ESTool)

120GB WD1200JD x 2 bought Jan 2004

Raw Reallocated Sectors 0/3 on 15609/15612hrs (1st/2nd)

I'm speculating that the 2nd drive was 0 too until I bought it out of retirement for OS partition backups.

300GB ST3300831AS bought Oct 2005

Raw Reallocated Sectors 0 on 7877hrs

One quirk with Active@ Hard Disk Monitor is you need to start and stop the service in Tools>Service configurator when hotplugging in drives via eSATA with a SATA drive toaster.
 
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