Which 250GB SATA HDD??

[Shmee150]

So many to choose from, but which is going to be quietest?

Thanks,

ShMeE

[outlawzsm]

the Diamondmax 10 250GB is really great, silent and super fast with all its cache and features. highly recommended

[arthurleung]

the Diamondmax 10 250GB is really great, silent and super fast with all its cache and features. highly recommended

If you have appropiate cooling and power that would be nice. Since it takes 2A startup current on 12A rail, my external enclosure wouldn't run it. If you have a pretty weak power supply, you need to be careful. I would prefer Hitachi T7K250 or the slightly older 7K250. Samsung P120 is pretty good too.

[Shmee150]

I have a Tagan 580W, but it only has 20A on the 12V rail which worrys me because I think my components must be already over that!

Thanks for the pointer, I'll look deeper at it tomorrow,

ShMeE

[arthurleung]

I have a Tagan 580W, but it only has 20A on the 12V rail which worrys me because I think my components must be already over that!

Thanks for the pointer, I'll look deeper at it tomorrow,

ShMeE

Tagen 580W has DUAL 12V rails, which I believe to be 20A each rail, so you don't need to worry too much about it. 580W is quite a lot (unless you want to run a lot of tiem, i.e. 8 of them in RAID5)

[zachig]

I think Samsung is the most quiet H.D, but I would go for Maxtor, I like them more and I find them very durable.

[GFiSH]

I would go for the Maxtor, but would also consider Western Digital.

[Nitestorm]

Just gone for the Diamondmax 10 250GB myself as the Maxtor 250/300GB drives top the storagereview leaderboard for overall performance, noise, heat, etc. Though think the T7K250 does slightly better in the gaming benchmark.

[nichomach]

Maxtor all the way; I have 3 Maxtors in my work rig (1x 250GB SATA, 2x40GB UDMA100), an 80GB SATA in my home rig, and a 30GB UDMA133 in my second rig. None has ever gone wrong (touch wood). I have, on the other hand, swept up after WDs, Hitachi/IBMs, and a rash of Seagates that have gone titsup.com.

[arthurleung]

IMOH
Seagate = Fast on Seq RW, Slow (Very) in Random RW, Noisy when seeking, Cool, Use little power
Maxtor = Fast in Seq RW, Moderately fast in Random RW, Relatively Quiet when seeking, HOT, Use lots of power (3 times more than Seagate 300G looking at the drive label)
Western Digital = Slow in Seq RW, Moderately fast in Random RW, Fairly Quiet when seeking (except Raptor), Heat is fine, Power drainage is fine, but I don't trust WD that much since I have 5+ WD failures in the past 3 years.
Hitachi = Fast in Seq RW, Very fast in Random RW, Cooler than Maxtor and WD, Quiet seek noise.

Those are my experience.

[herulach]

Spinpoints are generally the quietest. I have a diamond max 10, and it is quite noisy, has that random clicky access noise like properly old school machines. Its not loud, its just noticeable cos its not continuous and the rest of my computer is pretty quiet.

[Shmee150]

I think I'm tied between the Hitachi and Maxtor drives, but thanks for clarifying that thing about the Dual rails, that cleared that one up

ShMeE

[kempez]

The Hitachi deskstars are very fast and especially good in RAID 0. My drives are cool and incredibly quiet - I never hear them. Great drives...

[[DW]Cougho]

I have the older 7K250 and its marvellous.

Always speedy and very quiet (when i turn my fans off i cant hear it above my noisetaker PSU, except when seeking)

Id go for the newer hitachi