I've been looking at storage/download hdd's for my new rig, I'm after 2 400gb units and the only real requirements are they have to be quiet and reliable. They won't be in raid, I just want the capacity. I've been looking at both spinpoints (renowned for the quietness) and the barracuda's (costs exactly the same and everyone seems to like them). So really what I want to know is, bearing in mind the application of the drives, which would you go for?
I'd go for SpinPoints. I purchased a 250GB one about a year ago and ever since I've specc'ed them in all new-builds (20+). They're very quiet and I find them to run cool too.
Personally, 7200.10s: you cant beat a 5 year warranty. It's all we use in the labs, apart from the WD raptor.
Go for the samsung if your concerns are noise levels, heat and power consumption Where reliability is concerned, theres not really anything in it.
I've found the 7200.10's as of late to be noisy compared to the very first 7200.10's. If performance isn't an issue, samsung all the way..
Yup, the cuda's have been noisy of late. Last time I checked SPCR they were still using two seperate motors for their drives. One kind of motor is nice and quiet while the other is loud and obnoxious. Which you get is totaly down to luck. Personally I'd stick sammy just because they make excellent 7200's right now.
Nice one guys, spin points it is. I must say I cannot even hear the one in my current rig, and more over, the maxtors aren't bad either. Spinpoints f-t-w
Spinpoints - Quieter and cheaper. The 401HJ (which you are looking at) and the 501HJ (which I have) are quieter than the 7200.10s, are currently cheaper, and are equally reliable and maybe slightly edge it on performance though to all intents there is no difference.
Seagate drives carry a longer 5 year warranty though, and since the drives are to be used for backup purposes... I personally prefer the reassurance of the longer warranty, over the [very slight] increase in speed/noise reduction any time It's for that reason, that I actually use Seagate 7200.10's for my backups
hmmm from what everyone has said I will still go with the spinpoints, I have had no problems with my one that I have at the moment, along with the fact that they are definitely whipser quiet and low power drives, all in all, thats what I am after. EDIT: Out of interest, I have alwasy used maxtor's (as you can see from the current rig and god knows how many old ones) why does no one ever recommend them?
Many have found them to be unreliable - though I've had several over the years that have yet to fail. Though I do find Maxtors to be a lot louder than any other HDD.
Seagates carry a 5 year warrenty yes, but think about it: How big were drives 5 years ago? They were tiny. In 5 years times chances are even 500GB drives will be considered small, and quite probably not even worth RMA'ing.
I very much doubt today's highest capacity drives (i.e. 500GB/750GB) won't be worth RMAing in five years time But what if (as is often the case) the drive you've bought fail just after the 3 year warranty period ends... when it's still worth quite a bit of the hard-earned dosh you splashed out on it 3 years previously Dunno about yourselves... but I've had one or two items expire on me over the years, just days after the warranty period ran out I'm not taking just computer hardware. I'm talking (i.e.) hi-fi system VHS recorder etc. It's as if they had a home cinema version of the 'Millennium Bug' But each to their own. If we all thought/bought the same... the hardware market would be very limited for choice
Hangabout, OCUK has just got Hitachi Desktstar T7K500 400gb's for £65 inc Vat, i know the 500gb versions got the best recommendation on storage review, what do you lot reckon, are they quiet?
I wouldn't touch a Deathstar with a barge-pole. Once bitten twice shy. I think it's fine to go with either Seagate or Samsung, but I seriously wouldn't touch the rest. WD are OK, but aren't quiet and aren't particularly cheap. At the mo, I wouldn't consider anything else.
I have a Spinpoint drive (and a Maxtor) and the Spinpoint is quieter and cooler to the touch. It's fast too.
Hitatchi make some good drives atm, and the Deskstar brand is just a name - the drives are completely different to the 75/100GXP's. Don't be fooled by a set of drives that were bad. I'd go for a Hitatchi if it was really quite cheap compared to anything else. I've used a few Hitatchi's, and never had any hint of a problem.
Thats what I thought, its over £10 cheaper per drive and the 500gb t7K500 is rated as one of the best large storage drives for enthusiasts.
