I use 320GB FreeAgentDesktop version for last two weeks. It is completely noisless until you put it on a top of my desk (then whole desk is buzzing). But when the drive is standing on the floor or window-sill (parapet) - I cannot hear anything from it. The sing it is working or not is orange led lig...

P.S.: HD Tach results:
- Random access: 15.6ms
- Average read: 60.6 MB/s (starting from almost 74 MB/s).
- burst speed: 84.5 MB/s

I love this drive. I wish I could have Seagate single platter 500GB drive already!

I've just bought Seagate 7200.9 ATA 80GB. ST380210A. Firmware: 2AA. Datecode: 06187. Site code: WU (China). I'm very surprised how quiet this drive is. After using 7200.7/8 160GB/250GB I was expecting noise, buzzing drive but this one is as quiet as Barracuda IV was. Drive is 50 cm from my ear at th...

andyb wrote:
What about the infamous 'patrol seeks' as some have referred to them as?

According to Seagate pre-sales support, this 'patrol seeks' (which is called by them as 'self-diagnostic') is also present in 7200.9 series.

T.

What we hear in recently available Seagate drive is their self-diagnostic. According to Seagate support - it is for our better :-). Quotes: "The drive is doing an off-line scan which cannot be toggled off. This scan is similar to SMART but more intense. No firmware changes or upgrades are available ...

Barracuda 7200.7 / ST3160023A / ATA / 160GB / 8MB cache / Firmware 3.06 / Product of Singapore / S/N: 3JS2CGEK / Date Code: 04221 - almost no vibrations, reasonably fast, very quiet both in idle & seek, those famous 'self-diagnostic' noise -> very very quiet (to be honest, I didn't know it's present...

I use few 7200.7 & 7200.8 and I must say it is disaster. They are reliable, but that off-line buzzing self-dianostic is unacceptable for me. I need to buy some new 160GB or 250GB but I don't know if I should wait for 7200.9 or should I just switch to much quieter Samsungs. I can't believe that Barra...

But I wonder if that newer 7200.9 160GB produce the same annoying idle-buzz-noise as older 7200.7 & 8?
I don't know if I should stay with Seagate or swtich to different brand. I cannot accept that self diagnostic noise of Seagate's anymore

I hope that with new 7200.9 series that annoying self diagnostic/seek-like buzzing noise (present in both 7200.7 & 7200. is gone.
I really consider dropping Seagate drives due to that noise.