Best drive to use in SAT-T60

[hawkbug]

I'm on my 3rd drive for SAT-T60 that's over 5 years old now. I used to use 5400 RPM drives in it until they would flake out on me, and I'm a strong supporter of Seagate and their fluid dynamic bearing system which prevents the "squealing" problem I always end up having with Maxtor and Western Digital after a year. However, I used a Seagate 7200.7 drive this last time with is obviously a 7200 rpm drive, and I think it just got way too damn hot and is now flaking out.

Where can I buy a 5400 rpm drive that's good quality and won't squeal after a year or less?

[Pauli]

I'm on my 3rd drive for SAT-T60 that's over 5 years old now. I used to use 5400 RPM drives in it until they would flake out on me, and I'm a strong supporter of Seagate and their fluid dynamic bearing system which prevents the "squealing" problem I always end up having with Maxtor and Western Digital after a year. However, I used a Seagate 7200.7 drive this last time with is obviously a 7200 rpm drive, and I think it just got way too damn hot and is now flaking out.

Where can I buy a 5400 rpm drive that's good quality and won't squeal after a year or less?
You will probably not have any luck finding 5400 RPM drives anymore -- they just don't seem to be widely available. There is good news, however. All of the manufacturers are now using FDBs now, so hard drive whine is pretty much a thing of the past. Seagates have one major issue -- their seek noise cannot be reduced because they don't support AAM (all other major manufacturers do support this feature). That said, Seagate does make a DVR-specific drive, the DB series, which are reportedly pretty quiet, though they are more expensive.
Western Digital drives are a pretty good choice these days if you activate the AAM feature and they also run cooler than Seagates. Samsung are also very good, but they tend to have more vibration than WD, which can cause some "hum", but their seek noise is probably the quietest of all major manufacturers when AAM is activated.
Another option is to use 2.5" inch notebook drives, which are generally quieter and cooler, but they are more expensive and there are no really large sizes available.
Good luck.

[hawkbug]

Great info, thanks. I didn't realize other drive manufacturers had started using that technology. After a few whining maxtors, I gave up on them for good. I realize Seagate owns them now, but I didn't expect the quality to get better over night.

How does one go about activating this AAM feature of a drive? I'm assuming that's something I would have to do with it hooked up to my normal computer, correct?

[mallace]

have a nice deal. i like it.



thanks