7200.10 320gb Whining

ubern00b · 25 Oct 2006 at 20:57

After spending the last 15 minutes trying to find all the components that make a noise in my case, it seems that the brand new 7200.10 320gb that is 5 days old makes a very high pitch whine. Is this normal? My 750gb doesnt make a noise like this, infact it makes no noise besides when reading/writing. Just wondered if its RMAable or if this is just how it is.

Edit: just found another thread covering this so ignore!

Tosk · 25 Oct 2006 at 23:58

mm did you sort out the problem? im thinking of buying a seagate sata2 7200.10 hd but from the posts i keep seeing on here just puts me off them

celliott · 26 Oct 2006 at 00:02

If your Read/Write speeds are ok then I wouldnt worrey about it tbh. My WD makes a whining noise and I have just learned to ignore it

wjfcomputers · 26 Oct 2006 at 00:49

Yeah this seems to be a common problem.

I certainly would recommend that nobody purchases the 7200.10 series. The risk of getting the noisy version just isn't worth it.

Steves_pc · 26 Oct 2006 at 01:18

Normally that'd be just my luck

actually been lucky for a change, just got 2 and theyr'e both quieter
than everything else :cool:

mind you theyre only 12hours old so theres time yet.

Nelly · 26 Oct 2006 at 01:47

I've bought 2 x Seagate 7200.10 320gb. Not had chance to setup my new rig yet i'll let you know if their okay, thiers always a chance of getting a duff hard-drive thats life.

33L · 26 Oct 2006 at 08:49

just got a pair of the 250GB 7200.10 and they re near silent.

jbloggs · 26 Oct 2006 at 09:02

Just got a 7200.10 320GB Barracuda SATAII yesterday, and it is very quiet, very good Average read speed as well, even better than my 74GB Raptors (8MB cache), so very pleased with it.

ubern00b · 26 Oct 2006 at 10:18

Tosk said:
mm did you sort out the problem? im thinking of buying a seagate sata2 7200.10 hd but from the posts i keep seeing on here just puts me off them

Didnt sort out the problem no. I am sending the drive back (as its within 7 days) for a refund and buying another one from the same place my mate did, as his is whisper quiet. Hoping I get the same batch as he got! My 750gb 7200.10 is quiet as well, its just the 320gb thats annoying as hell.

Borden · 26 Oct 2006 at 13:52

There seems to be 2 different motors used in these drives. On the underside of the drive where the motor is there's a small chip that is covered with a 'glue-type' substance. If it's pink, then it's a quiet motor, if it's white then it's one of the noisy motors. Maybe you got one of noisy motors? That's what i read on www.storagereview.com forums. So have a look on there and have a read up on the drive.

ubern00b · 26 Oct 2006 at 14:01

I read that post, havent taken the drive out my pc yet to have a look at the motor but will report back once I do.

Nelly · 26 Oct 2006 at 23:24

http://forums.storagereview.net/index.php?showtopic=22660&st=139

Taken from Storagereview.net said:
Since I have 4x 320GB 7200.10 I tough I'd hook them all and see if these is a variation in the noise output

1. I tested the drive in a near SILENT room

2. The power supply I used was fanless and totally silent

3. Drive were place on foam pad to minimise vibration/resonance

4. Sound instrument : my ******* ear, from about 0.5m away. BTW I can hear that annoying "Mosquito" ring tone for Mobile phones, so my hearing is quite reasonable.

5. No drive seeks were involved as the drives were NOT connected to a computer

Drive 1
Date Code : 6522
Firmware : 3.AAC
Site Code : WU
Product of China
Result : near silent

Drive 2
Date Code : 6522
Firmware : 3.AAC
Site Code : WU
Product of China
Result : very slight high pitch whine

Drive 3
Date Code : 6527
Firmware : 3.AAC
Site Code : AMK
Product of Singapore
Result : near silent

Drive 4
Date Code : 6527
Firmware : 3.AAC
Site Code : AMK
Product of Singapore
Result : near silent

I wanted to investigate what could be causing one of the drive to be different, could it be just normal manufacturing variations or was it something else.

Upon close inspection I noticed one of the drives had a different "Drive Spindle Motor" and I bet you can guess which one it was.

Silent Motor

Not Silent Motor

Sending mine back, mine are exactly like the ones above - thankgod for distant sellers act.

asim · 27 Oct 2006 at 10:25

Is this noise a really big issue? I mean do they whine more than WD raptor drives?

ubern00b · 27 Oct 2006 at 10:33

asim said:
Is this noise a really big issue? I mean do they whine more than WD raptor drives?

I unplugged all 3 of my drives and connected them back one by one and my raptor didnt make a peep. The whine was very noticible on the 320gb.

Borden · 27 Oct 2006 at 10:34

asim said:
Is this noise a really big issue? I mean do they whine more than WD raptor drives?

Raptor drives don't usually whine as such, it's more the seek/access noises that cause issues. Some people have said that the noisey motor 7200.10's are louder than raptors.

It's just unlucky if you get one of the noisey versions.

jbloggs · 27 Oct 2006 at 11:52

I have 2 x 200GB 7200.7 Barracudas (Non-NCQ), and these are louder than the 7200.10 that I have, also my Raptors would be louder as well than the 7200.10, the WD Caviar SE 200GB PATA that I have produces a bit less noise than the 7200.10.

asim · 27 Oct 2006 at 13:19

ubern00b said:
I unplugged all 3 of my drives and connected them back one by one and my raptor didnt make a peep. The whine was very noticible on the 320gb.

Decided to go with a 500gb WD instead. I was interested in the seagate but can do without it for now.

ubern00b · 29 Oct 2006 at 16:32

Got another drive and this time it had the pink glue, and my ears have finally stopped bleeding. Just a warning for people who buy these drives. If you get one with white glue, send it straight back!

Justintime · 29 Oct 2006 at 17:37

I've hit the lucky pink with all my 7200.10s so far

Nelly · 29 Oct 2006 at 18:15

ubern00b said:
Got another drive and this time it had the pink glue, and my ears have finally stopped bleeding. Just a warning for people who buy these drives. If you get one with white glue, send it straight back!

Did you buy it from OcUK? Also what size drive is it. Would appreciate the info, obviously if you didnt buy it from OcUK dont post where you did!