Western Digital 120GB seek noise

[jds487]

I just upgraded from a WD 60GB (WD600BB-00CAA1) to a WD 120GB (WD1200JB-00DUA0). The 60GB drive was so quiet, I could barely hear the seeks with my ear a few inches from the drive. I can hear the seeks on the 120GB drive easily 6ft away. Idle noise is acceptable. If you have the same 120GB drive, can you tell me how loud your seeks are. I'm thinking about RMA'ing, but don't want to go through the hassle if this drive is just noisy.

 

[jds487]

If anyone has the same WD 120GB drive and could offer an opinion, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[Cadaver]

I have two of these drives. One is in an external FireWire case. I can't hear the heads move, but I can hear the whirring of the motor. The other is inside an aluminum tower case. Can't hear the drive at all, though the fans in the machine probably drown it out.

 

[busmaster11]

The noise is noticeable if you're listening for it, but otherwise its fine. My problem is I've had one die on me and a second possibly dying on me. Though it passes my diagnostic tests, every now and then on startup and other times it gives this fairly loud "click", and I worry about it. I got it RMA'ed just in case because I don't know if I trust these drives anymore.

 

[Goi]

I have a WD1200JB and the noise, while not low, is still acceptable, at least to me. Then again I have a few fans whirring away so the extra noise doesn't really bug me. Its way quieter than my older WD Expert 7200 for sure.

 

[John]

I find the noise level of the seeks, and idle whine, of the JB drives to be unacceptable in "my" computers.

 

[RyanLM]

Hmm. I have 2 of them, and I can barely hear them.

 

[jds487]

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate it.

 

[MichaelD]

This is both interesting and worrysome.

I have a single WD-SE 80GB drive; it's almost silent. Even when listening for it, it's barely audible.


I'm replacing it, with two WD-SE 120GB drives in a RAID0 stripe...now you've got me worried that the drives are crap! Hell, at least they are retail and i"ve got a 3-year warranty on them.

 

[Chobits]

Even the OEMs have a 3 year warranty on them else I would've bought a 800JB retail instead. But I'm worried now because mine is near silent and my friend is impressed and I'm getting him a 1200JB for his computer and I was expecting the same results...

 

[AthlonXP]

get a cuda, there super quiet.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Chobits
Even the OEMs have a 3 year warranty on them else I would've bought a 800JB retail instead. But I'm worried now because mine is near silent and my friend is impressed and I'm getting him a 1200JB for his computer and I was expecting the same results...

Yeah I know! My 80GB is almost dead-silent...I hope I'm not disappointed with these 120GB drives.

I know that the OLDER models experienced a high RMA-rate (at least from what I've read here at AT) but mine was manufactured less then a month ago...hopefully, it's good to go.