Noisy Hard-drives

Matty · 24-04-2005, 10:43

I have 2 very noisy hdd, they constantly whine and drone, even when the pc is idleing, and i really have had enough...any suggestions as to cause, and cure?

CT · 24-04-2005, 10:45

No idea Matty - I think it's just that some drives tend to be more noisy. It's noisy fans which drive me nuts!

Matty · 24-04-2005, 10:48

tbh i thought it was the fans, but complicated scientific tests constisting of me sticking my fingers on the fans to slow them down(dont try this at home kids!)failed to stop the noise, only uplugging the hdd from the power stopped it...i am going to isolate the HDD from the cages with a small bit of card, but i dunno if thats the answer. I dont really want to have to buy new ones, ive only had the 80gb one for about a year...

IanC_UK · 24-04-2005, 10:51

Some hard drives are just noisy EosD !

What makes and models are they ? and is it one hdd that is worse than the other ?

KenCo1964 · 24-04-2005, 10:53

In my own personal experience no cure, some h/d are noisier than others just the way they are. However you could try defragging as a fragmented h/d needing to access its information it would be skipping all over the drive creating more work and resulting in more noise. The other thing is depending on how old these drives are there is also a possibility of them being on there way out. H/d tend to go like that, so make sure all your system is backed up, I use nortons ghost, very good and would recommend, doesn’t take long to back up your drive and even less time to reinstate, rather than spending hours installing software and drivers.
Hope this helps

Matt · 24-04-2005, 10:55

Some hardrives are noisey Matty.

You have 2 choices:

Replace them (not really the ideal solution)
Sound proof them (Isn't this your line of work).

I beleive there is a rubber jacket that can fit over a drive, it protects it from knocks and also reduces the noise that it produces.
It would also stop any vibration noises that transmit through the PC case.

Before you ask, I have no idea where to get them from but I have seen a drive with it on.

IanC_UK · 24-04-2005, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Some hardrives are noisey Matty.

You have 2 choices:

Replace them (not really the ideal solution)
Sound proof them (Isn't this your line of work).

I beleive there is a rubber jacket that can fit over a drive, it protects it from knocks and also reduces the noise that it produces.
It would also stop any vibration noises that transmit through the PC case.

Before you ask, I have no idea where to get them from but I have seen a drive with it on.

Some drives come with these on, have never seen them for sale though !

In my line of work noisy hard drives produce less noise than the servers ! lol

***Steve*** · 24-04-2005, 11:04

The noise is most likely due to the bearings in the HD's and there is nothing that you can do to make them any quieter so the options are the same as the guys above have already pointed out, either sound proof/isolate or replace. Instead of card though, use some small sections of rubber inbetween the HD and anything it rests on or touches, this will also dampen the drive and stop your case amplifying the noise. If you chose the second option of replacing, first give me first shout on buying your old one

and second make sure the replacement drive comes with fluid bearings as these are much quieter.

Hope that helps buddy

IanC_UK · 24-04-2005, 11:07

Have a look at this EosD

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3851.html

Is supposed to silence noisy bearings etc, never used them, but maybe worth a try ?

Matty · 24-04-2005, 11:13

cheers guys

Oz · 24-04-2005, 11:16

Are the drives mounted in internal or "external" drive bays in the case? If "external" then could you move them to internal and then sound proof the case using our old friend Dynamat?

Biggus · 29-04-2005, 01:57

Try mounting the drives on some fresh sausages. With them being fairly soft & squishy, the drive noise should be barely audible

DaveG · 29-04-2005, 07:48

[smilie=s:

I use this all the time. It works a treat.

***Steve*** · 29-04-2005, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveG

[smilie=s:

I use this all the time. It works a treat.

And when you get hungry....

Biggus · 29-04-2005, 12:58

[/sillymode-off] :wink:

Why not get a big new hard drive which has fluid bearings (reduced noise levels), transfer all your crap (sorry, important data

) on to it, then sell your old drive(s)?

I only use Western Digital drives on the systems I build, because if things do go wrong they are the fastest in getting a replacement to you (2-3 working days throughout the WHOLE wty period using their advance replacement). In the last 70-80 systems I've built, only 1 HD has failed and I got that sorted in under 4 days.

If you want extra data security, why not get 2 drives in a RAID1 (mirrored) setup, as you'll have speed & more peace of mind?

Something like...
200Gb WD2000JB PATA for £62.12 each
or if you have SATA HD connectors..
200Gb WD2000JD SATA for £69.07 each

Matty · 29-04-2005, 18:08

christ thats cheap!!! How do i know if im getting something with Fluid bearings?

Biggus · 29-04-2005, 20:14

Almost all newer model HDs have them now, and the WD drives do. I've got 4 HDs in my PC 3 of which are WD (other is Hitachi), and I can only hear the 10k rpm Raptor when it's defragging.

Matty · 29-04-2005, 20:16

this case sounds like a car fan, its really hacking me off now

Oz · 30-04-2005, 09:40

Is it deffo the HDD? perhaps it's the PSU cooling fan? You can get whisper quiet ones cheap enough.

24-04-2005, 10:43	#1 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	Noisy Hard-drives I have 2 very noisy hdd, they constantly whine and drone, even when the pc is idleing, and i really have had enough...any suggestions as to cause, and cure?

24-04-2005, 11:04	#8 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,468	The noise is most likely due to the bearings in the HD's and there is nothing that you can do to make them any quieter so the options are the same as the guys above have already pointed out, either sound proof/isolate or replace. Instead of card though, use some small sections of rubber inbetween the HD and anything it rests on or touches, this will also dampen the drive and stop your case amplifying the noise. If you chose the second option of replacing, first give me first shout on buying your old one and second make sure the replacement drive comes with fluid bearings as these are much quieter. Hope that helps buddy __________________ .......__o .......\<, ....( )/ ( )

29-04-2005, 12:58	#15 (permalink)
Biggus Quite Chatty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S/E Kent Posts: 72	[/sillymode-off] :wink: Why not get a big new hard drive which has fluid bearings (reduced noise levels), transfer all your crap (sorry, important data ) on to it, then sell your old drive(s)? I only use Western Digital drives on the systems I build, because if things do go wrong they are the fastest in getting a replacement to you (2-3 working days throughout the WHOLE wty period using their advance replacement). In the last 70-80 systems I've built, only 1 HD has failed and I got that sorted in under 4 days. If you want extra data security, why not get 2 drives in a RAID1 (mirrored) setup, as you'll have speed & more peace of mind? Something like... 200Gb WD2000JB PATA for £62.12 each or if you have SATA HD connectors.. 200Gb WD2000JD SATA for £69.07 each __________________ KM Dynax 7D ¦ KM VC-7D grip ¦ Vosonic VP6210 40Gb storage ¦ Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro Min 50/1.7 ¦ Min 35-70/4 ¦ Min 70-210/4 ¦ Tamron 28-200/4 ¦ Sigma 100-300/4

24-04-2005, 10:45	#2 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	No idea Matty - I think it's just that some drives tend to be more noisy. It's noisy fans which drive me nuts!

24-04-2005, 10:48	#3 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	tbh i thought it was the fans, but complicated scientific tests constisting of me sticking my fingers on the fans to slow them down(dont try this at home kids!)failed to stop the noise, only uplugging the hdd from the power stopped it...i am going to isolate the HDD from the cages with a small bit of card, but i dunno if thats the answer. I dont really want to have to buy new ones, ive only had the 80gb one for about a year...

24-04-2005, 10:51	#4 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Some hard drives are just noisy EosD ! What makes and models are they ? and is it one hdd that is worse than the other ?

24-04-2005, 10:53	#5 (permalink)
KenCo1964 Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Co. Durham England Posts: 1,069	In my own personal experience no cure, some h/d are noisier than others just the way they are. However you could try defragging as a fragmented h/d needing to access its information it would be skipping all over the drive creating more work and resulting in more noise. The other thing is depending on how old these drives are there is also a possibility of them being on there way out. H/d tend to go like that, so make sure all your system is backed up, I use nortons ghost, very good and would recommend, doesn’t take long to back up your drive and even less time to reinstate, rather than spending hours installing software and drivers. Hope this helps

24-04-2005, 10:55	#6 (permalink)
Matt Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,326	Some hardrives are noisey Matty. You have 2 choices: Replace them (not really the ideal solution) Sound proof them (Isn't this your line of work). I beleive there is a rubber jacket that can fit over a drive, it protects it from knocks and also reduces the noise that it produces. It would also stop any vibration noises that transmit through the PC case. Before you ask, I have no idea where to get them from but I have seen a drive with it on.

24-04-2005, 11:07	#9 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Have a look at this EosD http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3851.html Is supposed to silence noisy bearings etc, never used them, but maybe worth a try ?

24-04-2005, 11:13	#10 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	cheers guys

24-04-2005, 11:16	#11 (permalink)
Oz Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 177	Are the drives mounted in internal or "external" drive bays in the case? If "external" then could you move them to internal and then sound proof the case using our old friend Dynamat?

29-04-2005, 01:57	#12 (permalink)
Biggus Quite Chatty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S/E Kent Posts: 72	Try mounting the drives on some fresh sausages. With them being fairly soft & squishy, the drive noise should be barely audible

29-04-2005, 07:48	#13 (permalink)
DaveG Been here a while Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 262	[smilie=s: I use this all the time. It works a treat.

29-04-2005, 18:08	#16 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	christ thats cheap!!! How do i know if im getting something with Fluid bearings?

29-04-2005, 20:14	#17 (permalink)
Biggus Quite Chatty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S/E Kent Posts: 72	Almost all newer model HDs have them now, and the WD drives do. I've got 4 HDs in my PC 3 of which are WD (other is Hitachi), and I can only hear the 10k rpm Raptor when it's defragging.

29-04-2005, 20:16	#18 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	this case sounds like a car fan, its really hacking me off now

30-04-2005, 09:40	#19 (permalink)
Oz Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 177	Is it deffo the HDD? perhaps it's the PSU cooling fan? You can get whisper quiet ones cheap enough.