[SOLVED] Which is quieter a 7200 or 5400 rpm HDD

[fobos8]

Hi guys
I need to get some fairly large internal storage. Have been looking at Barracuda and the Pro version. Which will be quieter? assuming both mounted the same etc. The Pros sping at 7200rpm the normals spin at 5400rpm.
Cheers, Andrew

 

[fobos8]

I'm only bothered about idle noise. I'm just keeping infrequently access files on there.
I've read that the Barracuda Pros can make an annoying idle noise - would like to know if the standard Barracudas do the same.

Before you tell me to get a NAS and put in another room - I already have one. I just want to keep a second copy of some files on my PC.

 

[fobos8]

come on guy please help, I need to order one today

 

[USAFRet]

Either should be near silent.

 

[DSzymborski]

come on guy please help, I need to order one today

Hard drives aren't like components that are reviewed for noise; they have no fans and they don't have differing effects on a case's airflow. One hard drive will pretty much be as noisy as any other hard drive will be. If you're that concerned with noise, get an SSD.

 

[fobos8]

thanks guys.
I've read in several places that the Pro Baracuda HDDs click and chirk on idle. I wondered if this was a rule or an exception, and if I might be better off with normal Baracuda.

 

[USAFRet]

thanks guys.
I've read in several places that the Pro Baracuda HDDs click and chirk on idle. I wondered if this was a rule or an exception, and if I might be better off with normal Baracuda.

As with any device, there are performance outliers. Both good and bad.
There may be a few that do make noise like that. But that is not a fleetwide thing.

 

[cryoburner]

Generally, 5400RPM drives can be a little quieter, as the platters are spinning 25% slower. However, there are other things that can potentially affect that too, such as how many platters a particular drive uses, and whether the drive docks and undocks the read-write heads at idle, which can potentially make a clicking sound when that happens. Some sites used to review hard drive noise, but I think that's become less common as SSDs have become viable as a silent solution suitable for most tasks outside of bulk storage.

How a drive is mounted can also have a significant effect on noise. If your case has rubber dampers to attach the drive to within its cage, that should be quieter than if it's screwed directly into the metal cage, as that can cause any sound that generated to reverberate though the case.

 

[fobos8]

thats great guys - i really appreciate your answers. I think I'll go for 5400 drives.

Many thanks, Andrew

 

[fzabkar]

Just be careful with WD's "5400 RPM class" drives. Many of them actually spin at 7200 RPM.

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