Media drive (movies / music)

Havana_UK · 16 Jan 2014 at 18:54

I'm filling up my main storage drives (2 x 1TB WD Blues) pretty quick these days, so I intend to buy a drive that I can dedicate to media, and for this purpose I was planning on a 3TB WD Green.

Is there any reason that I shouldn't choose a WD Green over the other options?

Thanks in advance

Grimley · 16 Jan 2014 at 19:11

This post

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=23891687&postcount=14

& a google search would put me off, Unless WD have resolved this issue in their latest models.

Havana_UK · 16 Jan 2014 at 19:26

Hmmm, doesn't sound too bad if you use the WDIDLE3 utility...thanks though, wasn't aware of this. I wish WD made 3TB Blues, as I think they're a great compromise between performance and cost.

Havana_UK · 20 Jan 2014 at 23:16

So, after doing a bit of research I ended up opting for the Toshiba 3TB DT01ACA300, and whilst the performance is great and the price is also good, I'm not happy with the noise it makes. It's sat alongside 2 WD Caviar Blues (a WD10EZLX & a WD10EZEX) and both are deathly silent in comparison.

I'm not complaining about the seek noise, which is perfectly acceptable, but the thing hums like nobody's business! It's the noise of the drive spinning, and maybe I'm unlucky or maybe it's just resonating badly in my case (Fortress FT02) but it's damn noisy.

Does anyone else have experience, positive or negative, with this drive?

Phil2008 · 20 Jan 2014 at 23:26

I have a 2tb WD Green for my media as its spins at low speed, quite cool and silent. Thats all you need if your just accessing music and vid. Plus a good make helps for reliability too.

Havana_UK · 20 Jan 2014 at 23:30

Phil2008 said:
I have a 2tb WD Green for my media as its spins at low speed, quite cool and silent. Thats all you need if your just accessing music and vid. Plus a good make helps for reliability too.

Indeed...I was worried out of the WD Green by the post a few above mine, but I might have to return this Toshiba one as I can't bear the constant hum it makes!

photoshop · 20 Jan 2014 at 23:52

Tosh's are amongst the loudest drives around 26~30dB.
The WD Greens and Red are a lot quieter at around 14~15dB

I was looking at the Tosh's because they are the cheapest but i rather pay a litle more and get the Red due to their low noise levels.

You can find info over at SPCR

Havana_UK · 20 Jan 2014 at 23:56

photoshop said:
Tosh's are amongst the loudest drives around 26~30dB.
The WD Greens and Red are a lot quieter at around 14~15dB

I was looking at the Tosh's because they are the cheapest but i rather pay a litle more and get the Red due to their low noise levels.

You can find info over at SPCR

Yes, I have a pair of 3TB reds in my NAS and I love them. Presumably they'll run happily as a storage drive in the PC too? If so I think I'll swap for one of those tbh...

Phil2008 · 21 Jan 2014 at 00:04

Havana_UK said:
Indeed...I was worried out of the WD Green by the post a few above mine, but I might have to return this Toshiba one as I can't bear the constant hum it makes!

Ive had this 2tb wd green for roughly a yr now, and I upgraded it from the first ever 1tb wd green, and Ive had that about 4yrs. Now the 1tb green has become my installation drive and Ive had no probs with both drives.

photoshop · 21 Jan 2014 at 18:55

Havana_UK said:
Yes, I have a pair of 3TB reds in my NAS and I love them. Presumably they'll run happily as a storage drive in the PC too? If so I think I'll swap for one of those tbh...

a lot of people have the RED's as secondary/storage drives and have no problems. Once i get paid i will be ordering the 2Tb and 4Tb for music/movie storage. They get great reviews over at SPCR

sicount · 23 Jan 2014 at 18:03

photoshop said:
I was looking at the Tosh's because they are the cheapest but i rather pay a litle more and get the Red due to their low noise

Not to mention the Reds have a 3 year warranty (vs. 2 for the Toshiba), which can be extended to a fourth year if you purchase a WD Care plan for £5 - £9 extra.