Seagate vs. Hitachi for T42

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Deleau · #1 Post by **Deleau** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:44 am

I've got a T42 2378-FVU, and I am looking to upgrade the 40GB HDD that came with the machine (Fujitsu).

I've read a lot of threads that recommend the 7k100 from Hitachi, and I'd like to get a 100GB drive. I've seen some reviews that say that the Hitachi are a bit loud.

Can anyone comment on the noise of a Hitachi compared to the stock drive and/or the Seagate?

This is the Seagate drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146230

hobbes · #2 Post by **hobbes** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:09 am

Deleau wrote:I've got a T42 2378-FVU, and I am looking to upgrade the 40GB HDD that came with the machine (Fujitsu).

I've read a lot of threads that recommend the 7k100 from Hitachi, and I'd like to get a 100GB drive. I've seen some reviews that say that the Hitachi are a bit loud.

Can anyone comment on the noise of a Hitachi compared to the stock drive and/or the Seagate?

This is the Seagate drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146230

I want to do the same thing for the same machine, and I was wondering the same thing about noise. I'll be interested in the responses.

masterus · #3 Post by **masterus** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:32 pm

Hi

I use 7K80 from Hitachi and I don't hear any noise from my T43.
Besides as I know Hitachi use "air-bag" system which you can use by ThinkPad software

Regards

raabjerg · #4 Post by **raabjerg** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:23 am

In my experience, the Seagate drives (especially the newer generations) have the lowest noise-levels.

But this will really be very subjective based on which kind of noises that gets on your nerves. For me, the noise that bothers me the most is a constant high-pitch whine, and here I have found that Seagate's are more silent, but you will have to get a 5400 RPM model to get a really silent drive. (I can highly recommend the Momentus 5400.3)

#5 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:16 am

http://www.barefeats.com/hard61.html

The above testing shows the two brands are close across the board.

The difference could depend on the actual unit you purchase.

raabjerg · #6 Post by **raabjerg** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:21 am

I found the following quote quite interesting in the test you posted:

However, the Seagate was whisper quiet while the Hitachi's actuator could easily be heard clicking away. It's interesting that we could hear the difference even though the respective manufacturers rate their drives only one decibel apart.

#7 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:45 am

That is a very good point. I also think it varies from model to model. That is to say, for instance, the first version of the 7200rpm Hitachi's may seem louder than later generations, but may be within a decibel or two.

If noise is a significant concern, information about specific models should be evaluated.

raabjerg · #8 Post by **raabjerg** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:50 am

Yes, I think you are right.

To be specific as to my experience, I have tried Hitachi's 5k40, 5k80, 7k60 and Seagate's 7200.1, 5400.3.

I ended up with the 5400.3 because it was way more silent than all the rest, and I really value this (silent both when not in use, and also very silent in read/write mode). However, the 7200.1 was also markedly more silent than the 7k60.

I haven't had the opportunity to try out the 7k100 though, but from what I hear, people generally judge both the 7k60 and 7k100 to be silent, although I found the 7k60 to have a high-pitch constant noise that was unbearable to me.

califas · #9 Post by **califas** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:06 pm

raabjerg wrote:
I ended up with the 5400.3

How would you rate it's heat and speed? Is it faster then the 7k60? Do the 80GB and 160Gb versions have equal performance?

raabjerg · #10 Post by **raabjerg** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:41 am

Heat is low and speed is great. I can't really feel that much of a difference between a 7200RPM drive and this one, and in some tests I read, this drive actually performed very close to the 7k60, but the 7k60 will be a little bit faster though. Get this one if you're noise or heat sensitive - if not get a 7200RPM drive.

I have the 80GB version - don't know about the 160GB one, but my initial guess would be that they should perform similarly.

hobbes · #11 Post by **hobbes** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:47 am

underclocker wrote:http://www.barefeats.com/hard61.html

The above testing shows the two brands are close across the board.

The difference could depend on the actual unit you purchase.

Interesting test, although it appears the test machine isn't very good for assessing drive noise.

However, the Seagate was whisper quiet while the Hitachi's actuator could easily be heard clicking away. It's interesting that we could hear the difference even though the respective manufacturers rate their drives only one decibel apart. The case of the PowerBook tends to amplify any sounds the drive makes.

Gustavo · #12 Post by **Gustavo** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:23 pm

if you want really silent go for Samsung drives they are the most silent ones but you can only have them in 5400RPM versions. If you want performance go Hitachi 7200RPM.
You should check out this site http://www.silentpcreview.com
they tons of info on drives.

Good luck

hobbes · #13 Post by **hobbes** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:23 pm

Personally I would like the performance of a 7200 drive, but I'm a bit nervous about how much of a noise penalty I would incur. Right now I'm using the stock 5400 40GB and it is nice and quiet. I want more space but I have no point of reference for how much the noise would increase with a 7200 RPM drive.

#14 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:30 pm

raabjerg wrote:Yes, I think you are right.

To be specific as to my experience, I have tried Hitachi's 5k40, 5k80, 7k60 and Seagate's 7200.1, 5400.3.

I ended up with the 5400.3 because it was way more silent than all the rest, and I really value this (silent both when not in use, and also very silent in read/write mode). However, the 7200.1 was also markedly more silent than the 7k60.

I haven't had the opportunity to try out the 7k100 though, but from what I hear, people generally judge both the 7k60 and 7k100 to be silent, although I found the 7k60 to have a high-pitch constant noise that was unbearable to me.

The 7K100 is significantly quieter (based on personal experience) than the 7K60.

The manufacturers' noise ratings (idle/seek) are 26/30 dB for the 7K100 and 25/29 dB for the 7200.1. I personally don't find 1 dB to be signficant, but your mileage may vary.

christopher_wolf · #15 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:47 pm

tomh009 wrote: The 7K100 is significantly quieter (based on personal experience) than the 7K60.

That it is from all the drives I have heard and used; I would go with the 7K100 as well. I also have a 7K60 for use as an Ultrabay 2nd HDD and it doesn't produce disturbing vibration or noise beyond what I have heard classed as acceptable for most laptop HDDs.

raabjerg · #16 Post by **raabjerg** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:45 pm

Just wanted to add that the decibel scale is logaritmic, so 1dB difference is more than it sounds

#17 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:15 pm

raabjerg wrote:Just wanted to add that the decibel scale is logaritmic, so 1dB difference is more than it sounds

Indeed it is. But it's generally agreed that most humans cannot detect a sound level difference of 1 dB.

christopher_wolf · #18 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:21 pm

Indeed; it isn't very easy to pick up a delta of 1dB for the kind of low frequency vibrations that could be produced by a HDD; more around ~300Hz at the most which makes differential discrimination more difficult, especially with the far lower dBs that HDDs put out. As displayed by moving around this chart. The proportional response for such a difference in intensity isn't significantly above the resolution that the ear is tuned for at those particular frequencies. Most of the amplifications of the noise are caused by resonance as well.

Seagate vs. Hitachi for T42

Seagate vs. Hitachi for T42

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