NoVibes or Zalman ZM-2HC1 Heatpipe

Silencing hard drives, optical drives and other storage devices

Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

NoVibes or Zalman ZM-2HC1 Heatpipe

Post by SomeGuy15 » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:21 pm

I'm going to build a new PC in a month or so and making it as quiet as possible is definately a high priority but I don't really want to sacrifice too much performance (or pay far too much) in doing so.

The new PC will probably have the new Western Digital 10K SATA Raptor drive. Not sure whether to get the 36GB or 74GB version (depending on price) but both have FDB motors so this will reduce the high-pitch whine.

It'll also have an WD800JB or WD1200JB. If I can get my hands on the new FDB "PB" drives instead that'll be even better!

The problem lies with mounting them. I can get the Zalman HDD cooler/NR and NoVibes for around the same price. If both drive have FDB motors, does anyone know which product is better at dampening the coupling noises? Has anyone tried both solutions out?

I was leaning towards the Zalman because it runs cooler (man be an issue for the 74GB Raptor) but if the NoVibes is a lot quieter I might get that instead.

GamingGod
Posts: 2057
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2002 9:52 pm
Location: United States, Mobile, AL

Post by GamingGod » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:26 pm

I would get a samsung v80 with 8mb cache. I have one and its silent and its plenty fast enough, i cant imagine it being any faster

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:17 pm

I think the v80 5400rpm drive will be way too slow for me as my current PC is fitted with the WD800JB drive (7200rpm, 8MB).

The Samsung P80 (7200rpm, 8MB) looks interesting and could be a good alternative for the WD800JB. I don't think it'll be as fast though. Take a look at these benchmarks

Edit: Sorry. Fixed long link

Mario
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 3:46 am
Location: Munich, Germany

Post by Mario » Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:22 am

What am I missing here? Following your link the Raptor is quieter than the Samsung Vsomething at idle?

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:30 am

Mario wrote:What am I missing here? Following your link the Raptor is quieter than the Samsung Vsomething at idle?
The 74GB Raptor isn't the problem as I'd definately be getting that! :D

But I'll need more space so I''m getting a normal 7200rpm 8MB drive as well. My WD800JB has served me well but the high pitched whine gets annoying. I'm hoping to get the FDB version (maybe 120GB) but I'll still need a dampening device like the NoVibes or Zalman Heatpipe device for both drives to reduce seek noise.

Kostik
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:51 am
Location: Paris, France

Post by Kostik » Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:25 am

I just finished reviewing the ZM-2HC1 (still have to write the article). Zalman's HD cooler requires that you mount the drive in a 5"1/4 bay, where temperature can be an issue as there will be very little airflow.

In order to test the cooling efficiency of the ZM-2HC1, I suspended a 60gb Barracuda ATA V in a 5"1/4 bay, much like you would do with the NoVibes, measured the temps, and then mounted the same drive in the same place with the ZM-2HC1.

With the ZM-2HC1, the drive was perfectly decoupled, no vibration was transmited to the case, seeks were much quieter. The drive was used for a full 24h, average temp was ~48°c.

With the drive just suspended, temp reached 58°c within a few hours, and the test was aborted.

By the way, I also got interesting results by taking the ZM-2HC1 appart, and mounting it upside down (heatpipes below the drive), and then suspending the drive below the HD cage. ~36°c instead of ~42°c without the ZM-2HC1. I decided to test that because in my case the air vents are below the drive.

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:04 am

That is EXACTLY what I wanted to find out! :D Thanks!

I've seen reports that drives run cooler with the ZM-2HC1 (compared to a standard mount in a 3.5" bay) but was worried it wouldn't have the acoustic dampening abilities of the NoVibes. I'm happy to see this is not the case.

Time to go out and get myself a few Zalman HD coolers! :)

Kostik
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:51 am
Location: Paris, France

Post by Kostik » Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:13 am

The drive did *not* run cooler than with the standard mount. Mounting the drive in the 3"1/2 drive cage, temperature was ~44°c.

So the drive ran hotter in the 5"1/4 bay, just not as hot as if there had been no ZM-2HC1.

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:44 am

Interesting. The other two reviews I've seen (OcPrices and myWorld) showed small decreases in temperature. Oh well... as long as its within the drive's operating tolerence, its OK with me.

Also could you hear (or measure) any differences between mounting the drive with the Zalman cooler and the suspender? I'm curious as to whether the harddrive would rattle against the Zalman cooler.

BTW what suspender setup are you using? Is it the NoVibes?

Kostik
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:51 am
Location: Paris, France

Post by Kostik » Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:59 am

I did a DIY suspension, much like the Novibes, should work just the same.

The ZM-2HC1 by itself doesn't rattle, and it provides a good decoupling. There was no vibration transmitted to the case that I could feel.

wumpus
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 946
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:57 pm
Location: Berkeley, CA, USA
Contact:

Post by wumpus » Wed Nov 05, 2003 10:12 am

Well, that's the problem with putting hard drives in the 5 1/4" bays: no real airflow in a typical case design.. can't blame Zalman for that.

I still think suspension is kind of a waste of time for noise reduction-- only because noisy drives tend to be ultra-noisy at idle. Suspension does nothing to alleviate idle noise. I have yet to meet a noisy drive that is noisly ONLY during seeks. Usually the idle noise is the worst part, and the additional seek noise is barely noticeable over that..

On drives that are already quiet (no idle whine), you may get some benefit, but it's kind of academic at that point IMO.

aphonos
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 954
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 1:28 pm
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by aphonos » Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:29 am

wumpus wrote:Suspension does nothing to alleviate idle noise.
FWIW...from a post from before you joined....
MikeC wrote:
karmasalad wrote:Well, I'm no expert, but I believe the foam serves the purpose of muffling the idle whine, as well as preventing any vibration noise from being amplified by the case.
Decoupling the HDD actually reduces the whine directly -- it seems to get accentuated by the case.

Justin_R
Posts: 319
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA

Post by Justin_R » Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:36 pm

someguy-

If all you are concerned about is seek noise, why not just use a hard disk utility to enable acoustic management on the new hard drives? (Perhaps the WD drives do not permit it to be enabled-- I don't know either way.)

Also, the SR link you gave indicates that the Samsung P80 drive outperforms the WD JB drive in almost every category, except for server performance.

I wouldn't put too much stock in Storage Review's acoustic measurements. While it's great that they are included, they're taken so ridiculously close to the hard drive that they aren't particularly informative as to the actual user experience.

Finally, even with a Zalman or No-Vibes, mounting HDs in your 5 1/4" bays moves the drives closer to your ears and away from your intake fan(s). You might consider mounting the 5 1/4" drive cage from an old case in place of your new case's 3 1/2" drive cage (or below it), and placing the drives in that cage.

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:15 pm

The SR comparison was between an 80GB WD JB and a 160GB P80. A larger drive (of similar spec) will always be faster than a smaller one. HD prices rise quickly after the 120GB mark. I also don't really need a huge HD either.

I'm concerned about both seek and idle noise. AFAIK FDB motors will help reduce the whine and the Zalman will help reduce seek noise. I'll check out whether the WD has acoustic management. I have a Deathstar 75GXP which could REALLY do with some help in the noise department.

BTW, I have a noisy drive that is especially noisy at seek... the Deathstar! I'll be installing the Zalman on one of these. The WD800JB (2 platter version) is also reasonably noisy when seeking as well but nowhere near as bad.

I think I'll be revising my HD requirements. The 74GB Raptor seems to be 3x more expensive than the 36GB Raptor!!! Hopefully the rumoured 36GB FDB Raptor will replace the current 36GB RR Raptor and keep the same price tag!

And if the WD PB drives don't appear by about Christmas, I might get the Seagate 80GB 8MB SATA drive. I don't like the thought however of spending more on a drive and having lower performance. You can't have everything! :cry:

wumpus
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 946
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:57 pm
Location: Berkeley, CA, USA
Contact:

Post by wumpus » Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:36 pm

Decoupling the HDD actually reduces the whine directly -- it seems to get accentuated by the case.
Sure, but reduce is a relative term. I can have my HORRIBLE 100gb WD "special edition" sitting on the material of your choice inside the case, and it's no less deafening. There may be a very minor improvement when decoupling a truly noisy (idle) drive, but at the point where you can hear the drive's idle whine three rooms over, does it really make a significant difference?

Point being, if you buy the wrong hard drive.. you're pretty much screwed. IMO. I have a number of drives I'm selling on eBay as fast as I can...

Trip
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 2928
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:18 pm
Location: SC

Post by Trip » Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:50 pm

I have a Seagate V in a No Vibes and a fan blowing on it. If I turned the fan to exhaust from the HDD, this would prob. be better than blowing on it, correct?

The fan is a good 3/4 inch away from HDD, blowing on the IDE connection.

Also, I was thinking that a drive suspended loosely would have better airflow, with a fan, than one suspended tightly but w/o touching anything else. If I took the bands from NoVibes and placed them on a bar inside the case, suspending the HDD just above the flow of air, this would be better, right?

SometimesWarrior
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 700
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2003 2:38 pm
Location: California, US
Contact:

Post by SometimesWarrior » Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:02 pm

wumpus wrote:
Decoupling the HDD actually reduces the whine directly -- it seems to get accentuated by the case.
Sure, but reduce is a relative term. I can have my HORRIBLE 100gb WD "special edition" sitting on the material of your choice inside the case, and it's no less deafening. There may be a very minor improvement when decoupling a truly noisy (idle) drive, but at the point where you can hear the drive's idle whine three rooms over, does it really make a significant difference?
Yes, in most instances it does. I took two hard-mounted WD drives (40gb and 80gb, 7200rpm) in a friend's computer and placed them on the bottom of the case on some folded-up socks. The reduction in idle noise was remarkable. In my quiet system, placing a Spinpoint 1614N on a sock does a great job attenuating the noise, both low-frequency and high-frequency.

I also had a Maxtor D740x whose high-pitched whine was not significantly attenuated when I suspended it, although the low-frequency noise/buzz all but disappeared. So suspension doesn't always make a big difference, but it often does help a lot.

SometimesWarrior
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 700
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2003 2:38 pm
Location: California, US
Contact:

Post by SometimesWarrior » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:05 pm

SomeGuy15 wrote:I'm going to build a new PC in a month or so and making it as quiet as possible is definately a high priority but I don't really want to sacrifice too much performance (or pay far too much) in doing so.
If near-silence is a high priority, you'll want to get the quietest hard drive on the market. In my dual XP1600+ machine, the suspended Samsung 1614N (160GB P80, IDE) is still the loudest thing in the computer, although its complete lack of whine makes the noise unintrusive. If I had a Raptor, I'd go nuts from the noise.

Think about your need for a fast hard drive. How often in normal system operation is your hard drive the bottleneck? How important is a 30% speed improvement in those situations?

Now look at your need for silence. If you live in a fairly quiet dwelling, you will probably be able to hear your Raptor at all hours of the day (unless it's masked by fan noise or music). Will that bother you?

The Spinpoint 1213N is cheaper than the Raptor, it gives you enough storage space to eliminate the need for a second hard drive, it runs cool enough to work in almost any suspension setup (if you even find such a setup necessary), and it's darn quiet. Unfortunately, it's also slower.

Many people here hit a wall when trying to silence their computers--their hard drives are too noisy, so they have to enclose it or upgrade it. Building a hard drive enclosuse can be tricky, especially for hot hard drives, and buying one can be costly, plus you still need to cool it somehow. Upgrading a hard drive is more expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with potential problems than any other noise-eliminating upgrade you can make to your PC, aside from water cooling.

Choose your hard drive carefully! ;)

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:34 pm

SometimesWarrior wrote:If near-silence is a high priority, you'll want to get the quietest hard drive on the market. In my dual XP1600+ machine, the suspended Samsung 1614N (160GB P80, IDE) is still the loudest thing in the computer, although its complete lack of whine makes the noise unintrusive. If I had a Raptor, I'd go nuts from the noise.

Think about your need for a fast hard drive. How often in normal system operation is your hard drive the bottleneck? How important is a 30% speed improvement in those situations?

Now look at your need for silence. If you live in a fairly quiet dwelling, you will probably be able to hear your Raptor at all hours of the day (unless it's masked by fan noise or music). Will that bother you?

The Spinpoint 1213N is cheaper than the Raptor, it gives you enough storage space to eliminate the need for a second hard drive, it runs cool enough to work in almost any suspension setup (if you even find such a setup necessary), and it's darn quiet. Unfortunately, it's also slower.

Many people here hit a wall when trying to silence their computers--their hard drives are too noisy, so they have to enclose it or upgrade it. Building a hard drive enclosuse can be tricky, especially for hot hard drives, and buying one can be costly, plus you still need to cool it somehow. Upgrading a hard drive is more expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with potential problems than any other noise-eliminating upgrade you can make to your PC, aside from water cooling.

Choose your hard drive carefully! ;)
Thanks for the advise :) Basically I don't need a 100% silent PC but I want it to be as quiet as possible... Hmmm this is the same thing isn't it? :?

This new PC needs to be fast. It'll run Linux and also be used for apps such as video and photo editing. Transfering several GB from a DV and manipulating it means a fast HD is important.

The "old" Raptor has ball bearing motors and the whine would probably get very annoying. I'm hoping to get the new 36GB Raptor which apprently uses new FDB motors which "should" reduce the whine.

The new FDB 76GB Raptor is a lot quieter (even quieter than your Samsung according to SR) than the old BB 36GB Raptor. If this new FDB 36GB Raptor does exist, it should be even quieter!

Then there's the Seagate 7200.7 beast. Its not cheap but its reasonably fast (not quite WD JB though) and is supposed to be one of the quietest around.

luminous
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 717
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2003 6:31 am
Location: UK

Post by luminous » Thu Nov 06, 2003 11:05 am

I have bad news for you on the Seagate 7200.7. I am currently using one.

- the drive has no detectable idle whine
- the drive is clearly audible when seeking (significantly louder than a Hitachi with acoustic management enabled)
- the drive also has a lot of buzzing/clicking at idle - see other posts in the storage forum
- and its not that fast either (but fast enough for me)

As for mouting HDD's in 51/4 bays, I have no experience on this at all. I do, however have a Coolermaster Aerogate II installed into my machine. I have read several reviews about this monitoring tool and none were very kind to it.

Personally I think this could be very useful for you as
- it has 4 temperature sensors that can be located whereever you like (like stuck to HDD's)
- it has a small fan, that is nice and quiet when you turn it down to its lowest setting
- this fan will suck in air directly into the 5 1/4 bays, I have my DVD-RW about the fan intake to help cool it
- its cheap, and personally I like the look of it, although others have said they dont like its appearance
- others have also said that they find the controls to be too insensitive, personally I was really impressed (maybe I got a good example), so be sure to read other ppl's opinions b4 buying. There was a very informative review done buy CustomPC on this and other gadgets, but its not online yet - I have the mag so I can scan something in if you are desperate.

Mario
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 3:46 am
Location: Munich, Germany

Post by Mario » Fri Nov 07, 2003 3:06 am

Kostik wrote:I did a DIY suspension, much like the Novibes, should work just the same.

The ZM-2HC1 by itself doesn't rattle, and it provides a good decoupling. There was no vibration transmitted to the case that I could feel.
This is good news. I was thinking to get this product. When will we be able to see your review? I am most interested.

Also: I have seen that it is also possible to mount it on the bottom of the case that would bring the additional advantage for the disk to be in the proximity of the fans.
Did anybody try also this option? Is the decoupling still working fine with this mounting position?
Thanks

Kostik
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:51 am
Location: Paris, France

Post by Kostik » Fri Nov 07, 2003 6:01 am

Mario, yes, there is an option to mount the ZM-2HC1 at the bottom of the case. You have to drill the case, but then you use the same rubber mounts as in the 5"1/4 bay, so decoupling should be as good.

The review should be available soon.

pingu666
Friend of SPCR
Posts: 739
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
Location: swindon- england :/
Contact:

Post by pingu666 » Fri Nov 07, 2003 6:57 am

lookin forward to review:)

SomeGuy15
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:09 pm

Post by SomeGuy15 » Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:38 am

luminous wrote:I have bad news for you on the Seagate 7200.7. I am currently using one.

- the drive has no detectable idle whine
- the drive is clearly audible when seeking (significantly louder than a Hitachi with acoustic management enabled)
- the drive also has a lot of buzzing/clicking at idle - see other posts in the storage forum
- and its not that fast either (but fast enough for me)
Damn, I found the cooler/mount I needed but now I have to seek out an appropriate drive! How bad is the seek noise compared to the current Western Digital BB/JB range?

Have you tried mounting the Seagate with some sort of dampening device (NoVibes, Zalman heatpipe, siliceous washers...)? This should reduce the seek noises.

I'm hesitant on getting a Hitachi Deskstar as my current Deathstar 75GXP is clicking away to a slow, painful and *LOUD* death! The Deskstar 7K250 80GB 8MB SATA drive does look good though. How's the Hitachi without AM enabled?

luminous
Patron of SPCR
Posts: 717
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2003 6:31 am
Location: UK

Post by luminous » Sat Nov 08, 2003 3:32 am

Seagate 7200.7 seek noises are lower than Western Digital. The sounds are slightly higher pitched, but not intrusive (imo)

Hitachi Deskstar 180GXP is louder than the Seagate without AM. It is on a par with the Western Digital (imo)

With AM the Deskstar is very quiet when seeking.

If you know that there is not going to be a reset issue with a Hitachi drive, then it could be a good drive to go for.

You could go for the new Samsung drives, they are meant to be the best performing dirves that are quiet. Personally, I have not heard them, so I can only suggest that you read other ppls opinions on them.
Last edited by luminous on Thu Nov 13, 2003 1:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

JVM
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 1564
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: USA

Post by JVM » Wed Nov 12, 2003 7:17 pm

Kostik wrote:I did a DIY suspension, much like the Novibes, should work just the same.

The ZM-2HC1 by itself doesn't rattle, and it provides a good decoupling. There was no vibration transmitted to the case that I could feel.
When you say there was no vibration transmitted to the case, are you comparing it with a HDD that caused vibration before using the Zalman?

Have you concluded the Zalman effectively reduces vibration and seek noise comparably to NoVibes?

How does the Zalman rubber thingies differ than say the rubber grommets used in cases made by Antec? I mean, if the Zalman doesn't truly suspend the HDD, then isn't it like using rubber grommets without the cooling qualities?

I'd love to read the reviews on your website, but I don't speak or read French. Any translation available to English?

MikeC
Site Admin
Posts: 12285
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Contact:

Post by MikeC » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:59 pm

Kostik's website can be easily translated using http://www.google.com/language_tools -- it does an OK job, maybe because kostic writes clean French. ;)

His review of the ZM-2HC1 is up, btw: http://www.pcsilencieux.com/article-30.html

I've been examining one of these in the last few days, and I am in agreement witi Kostik on all issues except about noise. I don't think it is as effective as a novibesIII or an elastic suspension. The rubber used in the shock absorber is quite hard, and does allow some vibration from an IBM, a Samsung and a 'cuda IV to be transmitted into the case. It's not a HUGE difference, but it's fairly easy to tell with any of these drives when it is seeking. With suspension, you literally cannot hear the seek noise in a decent case.

Having played around with a bit of sorbothane the last few days, I have to wonder why the Zalman boys didn't go with something more like that. The amount of material is so small and the advantage, IMO, is real.

Still it is definitely cooler than just suspending in the 5.25" bay, so if you can't use a good airflow position to suspend your drive, then this might be the next best compromise.

Kostik, did you try it with more than one drive? You really heard NO difference at all between the ZM-2HC1 and a real elastic suspension? I could actually feel the difference in vibration level with my fingers on the top of the case. With the elastic there is none, with the ZM, there is a bit. Maybe I was in a viciously hypersensitive mood that day? :shock:

mormakil
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2003 1:43 am
Location: Madrid, Spain

Post by mormakil » Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:46 am

I bought one Zalman, and I do feel and hear the difference to DIY suspension.

Now i don't have to be really close to the case to hear seeking noise. And I think idle noise is a bit louder, but my psu mask it so i can tell quite clear.

JVM
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 1564
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 8:44 pm
Location: USA

Post by JVM » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:18 am

MikeC wrote:Kostik's website can be easily translated using http://www.google.com/language_tools -- it does an OK job, maybe because kostic writes clean French. ;)
Thanks, MikeC, for the link, and for your comments.

The translation was pretty clean except for all that talk about "food". :wink:

The review was very interesting and brought to my attention quite a discrepancy regarding temperature with Zalman versus DIY or NoVibes. A ten degree difference is quite substantial. Considering that you should keep your HDD below 50 C, it would appear mounting in 5.25 inch bay is not practical for many people. As you pointed out, one needs good case air flow to use DIY or NoVibes mounted in a 5.25 inch bay. I assume most cases have the air flow coming in from the lower front. And I would assume cases with large venting holes in front will allow more noise to escape.

I also read his review on the Nexus 3500 PSU. Again, very interesting. I wonder if removing the grille on the Nexus would have helped reduce some of that noise he was hearing.

Kostik
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 7:51 am
Location: Paris, France

Post by Kostik » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:29 am

MikeC wrote:Kostik, did you try it with more than one drive? You really heard NO difference at all between the ZM-2HC1 and a real elastic suspension? I could actually feel the difference in vibration level with my fingers on the top of the case. With the elastic there is none, with the ZM, there is a bit. Maybe I was in a viciously hypersensitive mood that day? :shock:
I tried it with only one drive (60gb cuda V), and couldn't feel any vibrations from the case. But, as I mentionned in the review, seek noise were a bit louder, which I thought was because of the drive being mounted in a 5"1/4 bay, closer to the listeners ears.

Another possible explanation : maybe the rubber gets softer with time. The ZM-2HC1 that I got for review was far from new. It took me one hour to clean it, the heatpipes were covered with fingerprints. It looks to me like every reviewer from every hardware site on the planet has reviewed this ZM-2HC1 before I got it.

I'll test it again with a louder drive and let you know about the results.

Post Reply