IBM 75GXP? What exactly is the problem?

[LastStop]

I was about to get this model until I read the countless number of horrific reviews about the drive developing bad sectors and crashing. Is this a design defect or is a manufacturing defect? The only reason I could find on the Internet (Anandtech) is that the platters expand when they're warm and the firmware doesn't account for that all the time. They also mentioned that the drives that were made in the Hungarian plant were the ones that failed the most. This leads me to think it's a manufacturing defect.

I ended up getting a 120GXP 80GB since the 75GXP had a high failure rate and that I have had good experience with IBM drives before (14GXP and Deskstar8). I guess my question is that, would any of these problems we see in the 75GXP series carry over to the 120GXP?

 

[btvillarin]

Well, I think the 60GXP series fixed the problem they found in the 75GXPs. So, everything after those 75GXPs should be just fine. I'm not sure about the manufacturing defect theory, since mine just failed. It was made in the Philippines... :frown: Luckily, I bought a data-only HD a few months ago, just in case.

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[Arrow]

My 75GXP's been going for 1yr 2 mo now. It better not go kaput on me.

Rob
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[LastStop]

Here's a useful link if you have a 75GXP. It explains what I described above. <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=71" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=71</A>

 

[ejsmith2]

I Rma'd my old 45gig 75gxp back to ibm, and just got a 60gig 120gxp back from them.

The problem with the 75gxp was a design defect. It had too many heads, and couldn't keep up with the thermal dissipation. They changed the number of heads with the 60gxp, and it all evened out. Supposedly.

Anyway, I'm gonna run some speed tests on this new/refurb. drive I got. I've seen some really good numbers for it on the web, but I'll see if it is reliable enough to use everyday. God knows my old 6.4gig ibm drives are still running...

 

[Mnx4]

If heat dissipation is the problem, would cooling your HDD fix the problem? or is it more of an internal problem?

Putting the laughter back in to Slaughter.

 

[ejsmith2]

Mine lasted a little over a year, and I attribute it to good cooling.

Anyways, for the first 12gig of this drive, it holds over 40meg/sec reads. Hits 48/s tops, and 22/s low, with an average of 36/s.

I'll give it about 4 weeks, and scour the net for problems in the meantime. If I don't hear all that many complaints, I'm changing it over to my system drive. I can live with a drive that will read my os at 45+ meg/sec...

 

[Matisaro]

I Rma'd my old 45gig 75gxp back to ibm, and just got a 60gig 120gxp back from them.

The problem with the 75gxp was a design defect. It had too many heads, and couldn't keep up with the thermal dissipation. They changed the number of heads with the 60gxp, and it all evened out. Supposedly.

Are you [-peep-] shitting me?


I just rmaed 2 45 gig 75gxps which died on me, are you telling me im getting 2 60 gig 120gxps back????


Did you have to do anything special to get the new drives???


IF THIS IS TRUE...W0000 HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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[FatBurger]

Be careful, there is no guarantee that's what you'll get back. I've heard reports of other people getting back refurbed 75GXPs. 60GXPs or even 120GXPs are more common, however.

<font color=orange>Quarter</font color=orange> <font color=blue>Pounder</font color=blue> <font color=orange>Inside</font color=orange>

 

[ejsmith2]

I don't know what everyone else got back.

When I first opened it, I didn't know what the hell I'd gotten back. I just figured it was a 60gxp.

Looked at the part number, and checked out Ibm's site. Didn't match up with the 60gxp's, or the 75gxps. I was wondering what the hell was the deal, and just took a wild a$$ look at the part numbers for the 120gxps.

Matched up. *And* the 48meg/sec transfer rate at the beginning of the media matched up with storagereview's HDtach numbers.

Dude, I have a 60gig 120gxp. I'm planning on cranking the hell out of it tonite and tomorrow morning, just to see if I can grind it under. I'm really wanting to turn it into my system drive. There's something about a 45+ meg/sec read when you're trying to load your OS that makes you smile.....

 

[btvillarin]

Dude, that's awesome! I've been waiting for my replacement to come in. It's been 8 days (I guess 5 working days ), and still waiting for IBM to send something. I'd be so stoked if I got a 40GB 120GXP replacement for my 75GXP 30GB hard drive. But, I wouldn't be surprised if I just got a 60GXP. I'll post what I get hopefully in a couple of days. Later...

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[ejsmith2]

I think it took 3 weeks for Ibm to send me back a replacement drive.

 

[btvillarin]

That sounds about right. Then, I guess I got two more weeks. I'm a patient guy...yeah right

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[ath0mps0]

The real cause of the problem was that the 75GXP uses a new type of high density ceramic platter. While they are extremely high density, they react more to heat. The firmware for the drive did not allow for the necessary adjustment.