SPCR

I've been using a laptop for my HTPC for a couple years, but I'm starting to put together a dedicated HTPC.

The case I'm going to use is very open on the sides and top, so sound will easily escape from the sides and top, but the front panel will not have any vents.

So, knowing that, would you recommend a quiet 3.5" drive (for example, 500GB Caviar Green), or would I have to use a 2.5" drive to be inaudible (or nearly inaudible) at about 10 feet?

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I won't have any performance issues by using a 2.5" drive, correct?

Thanks in advance

other details:
mb: Zotac 9300 mini itx
ram: 2gb (probably, but I might go with 4GB if the price is right)
OS: Vista ultimate
Pico PSU

edit: more details

The newest "low-speed" 3.5" drives (GreenPower, EcoGreen, Pipeline) all seem to be just as quiet as 2.5" drives and offer much better price/GB.

Why Vista Ultimate? Home Premium has all the multimedia features.

jessekopelman wrote:Why Vista Ultimate? Home Premium has all the multimedia features.

True.
However, I was able to get Ultimate for a couple dollars more than Premium (MS employee discount).
Edit: Also, I may want to set up a domain at home, sometime in the future.

jessekopelman wrote: The newest "low-speed" 3.5" drives (GreenPower, EcoGreen, Pipeline) all seem to be just as quiet as 2.5" drives and offer much better price/GB.

Really? I don't have any direct experience, but I thought the smaller drives were noticeably more quiet.

With a 3.5" 5400 rpm drive, do you think I'll be able to hear it from 10 feet away? How about 5 feet?

I think I found an answer to my own question:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article951-page3.html
Samsung F2 EcoGreen HD502HI: 500GB 3.5"

Page 3 shows 16dbA at 1m - I'm quite sure that normal living room sounds will drown out the noise, unless I'm right next to the drive.

This is encouraging.

jessekopelman wrote:GreenPower, EcoGreen, Pipeline

Thanks for pointing these out!

Hello;

I think I'm starting to sound like a broken record with my recent posts; but I would like to second the advice for the Samsung F2 EcoGreen 500 GB.

I recently bought one, and it's virtually silent. I have to put my ear next to it to hear the idle sound (though I must admit, maybe it could be heard if I had even quieter parts), and seek noise isn't intrusive either - it can be almost eliminated by setting AAM to 128. With AAM set to 254 muted clicks can be heard. Transfer rate (as seen on the review and I saw in my tests) is 110 to 55 MB/s, and random access time varies between 14,9 ms (AAM 254) and 17,7 ms (AAM 128). By default settings it's like 15,4.

I'm using it as my system drive with Windows 7 RC, and I don't experience any sluggishness. I only played GRID once, and load times were reasonable. In a HTPC these would be even less of a concern.

Overall, I would recommend this drive.

neon joe
WD10EADS 1Tb, HD502HI 0.5Tb, BarracudaLP 1Tb, these are most silent. There is also WD5000AADS 0.5Tb coming soon, the first 5400rpm 1 platter 500Gb drive from WD.

Hey, Pixel, nice to see you happy with your purchase!

Thank you Please see PM, I don't want to bore everyone to death here with my repeated musings about the disk

pixel wrote:I would like to second the advice for the Samsung F2 EcoGreen 500 GB.

Thanks pixel - I always appreciate first-hand experience.

Ksanderash wrote:WD10EADS 1Tb, HD502HI 0.5Tb, BarracudaLP 1Tb,

Thanks!