WD GP with Scythe Quiet Drive?

Xuestor · Post by **Xuestor** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:12 pm

I'm thinking about buying a WD greenpower disc. which one is most quiet (numbers of platters etc)? Would an WD GP in a quiet drive give an "near silent" storage? an signifigant change versus my f1 samsungs? (750 and 500 gb editions)

Nick Geraedts · Post by **Nick Geraedts** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:31 pm

I picked up two of the 1TB WD GP drives yesterday, and they are MILES ahead of my WD5000AAKS drives in terms of noise and vibration. I wasn't at SPCR when they did their testing, but everything that they've said is true.

Once installed in a decent case, you'd have a hard time hearing these drives, even during seeks.

Xuestor · Post by **Xuestor** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:48 pm

the reason Im asking is that the only thing audiable in my case are my 2 samsung f1 drives. So if these WD babes really are "silent" in a Quiet Drive placed on foam, Then I'll place my order today!

*EDIT* - How's the performance drop, is it anything you notice unless viewed under benching tests?

Nick Geraedts · Post by **Nick Geraedts** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:59 pm

I've run benchmarking tests while they were individually configured, and managed to get decent results. I configured them in RAID1, and they perform beautifully. I just copied a 2GB encoded video from those two drives to my RAID5 array at 120MB/s.

I've read a lot of talk about stuttering video in HTPC setups using these drives. This is more likely from poor drivers or improper setup - not these drives. There are virtually no hard drives on the market today that can't keep up with video playback unless there is something wrong with the hardware.

kevinfelker42 · Post by **kevinfelker42** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:11 pm

I give the WD GP drives 2 thumbs up.

I have a 750gb, which I can't hear from across the room.

My old samsung 500gb drive drove me nuts with his rotation and clacking.

I can play a 1080p x264 MKV file (all I have is Island Fever 4

) just fine with my single drive setup.

Edit: Mine is just in a drive bay decoupled from the case sitting on foam.
More info on my completely silent system and link to image gallery can be found here:
viewtopic.php?t=46383

zoob · Post by **zoob** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:26 pm

Is AAM enabled or disabled for you guys?

kevinfelker42 · Post by **kevinfelker42** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:33 pm

I've been seeing that term a lot, Automatic Acoustic Management I see it means...

How would one know if it is enabled? Where would I go to do it?

Nick Geraedts · Post by **Nick Geraedts** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:34 pm

My drive is hard mounted (I know, I know - horrible) and I haven't touched any AAM settings.

The reason why it's hard mounted is because this is my file server, where important data goes. I'm a bit worried by having 10 drives all suspended, and the possibility of them hitting each other is a little daunting. I'm trying to work out a way of gutting old CD drives and putting a suspension system in there, but that's a WIP at the moment.