500 GB Maxtor-$99.99

How is the drive running? Any stuttering issues? What is the exact model number? How is the sound level?

In the past Maxtors have required more power than other drives and would cause stuttering. Since seagate bought them awhile back, all Maxtors are prob just Seagates now.

Drive is running great. no stuttering issues. Very Quiet, large buffer 16kb, highly recommend it. currently running 6.2a waiting for 6.3e upgrade download.

Does it come factory set to "quiet" or is that something you have to adjust using an acoustic adjustment app?

I did not have to adjust anything, it was already so quiet I never even bothered to check so I have no idea what the acoustic setting is on this drive.

Thanks for the info. Do you know the exact model number?

Because Seagate bot Maxtor item numbers and specifications have not yet been updated on the web. here is the URL:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144455

good luck

Best Buy will have 500GB Seagate for $99.00 on 9/23

Good luck - Hope it works

$99 is pretty much the going price for a 500GB drive these days. I haven't heard anything regarding Maxtor's quality control since Seagate took them over but they didn't exactly have a sterling track record prior to the acquisition. I'd go with a Seagate or a Western Digital before ever considering a Maxtor, and even then it would only be as a last resort.

mr.unnatural said:

$99 is pretty much the going price for a 500GB drive these days. I haven't heard anything regarding Maxtor's quality control since Seagate took them over but they didn't exactly have a sterling track record prior to the acquisition. I'd go with a Seagate or a Western Digital before ever considering a Maxtor, and even then it would only be as a last resort.

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Like I said it is running quiet for me. When I first posted the price was about 10% cheaper. If you find a better price please post the URL here and whether or not if you think the drive is DVR suitable. Thanks for the post

rbtravis said:

Like I said it is running quiet for me. When I first posted the price was about 10% cheaper. If you find a better price please post the URL here and whether or not if you think the drive is DVR suitable. Thanks for the post

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I can't say that I've seen a better price but rather a lot of different 500GB drives advertised at the $99 price. I'm not so much concerned with drives that are supposedly earmarked for DVR use specifically. Pretty much any IDE/PATA drive will work in a Tivo, unless it's a S3 or Tivo HD, in which case you'd need an SATA drive. What I am concerned with is the reliability track record of the various brands. Maxtor is definitely not at the top of my list, but YMMV.

Anyone purchasing this drive Please post your results here. Did you like or dislike it? Was it quiet enough for you? Did you use Instantcake or some other method to place the image on the drive? How did it work? Are you happy? Posting this information will help others in their buying decision. Thanking you in advance for all your help.

I picked up one of each, a 500GB Seagate Barracuda (ST3500630A) and a 500GB Maxtor Diamondmax (STM3500630A). Pretty much the same drive since Seagates name is on the Maxtor.

I personally find both drives loud. When I'm sitting 10 feet away from the units, I can hear seek noise. I certainly don't recommend them for a bedroom. Too bad there isn't a way to "quiet" them.

scopus said:

I picked up one of each, a 500GB Seagate Barracuda (ST3500630A) and a 500GB Maxtor Diamondmax (STM3500630A). Pretty much the same drive since Seagates name is on the Maxtor.

I personally find both drives loud. When I'm sitting 10 feet away from the units, I can hear seek noise. I certainly don't recommend them for a bedroom. Too bad there isn't a way to "quiet" them.

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Download this
http://www.majorgeeks.com/IBM_-_Hitachi_Feature_Tool_d3388.html
and use it to set Acoustic Management set to 128 decimal 80hex
Good luck

rbtravis said:

Download this
http://www.majorgeeks.com/IBM_-_Hitachi_Feature_Tool_d3388.html
and use it to set Acoustic Management set to 128 decimal 80hex
Good luck

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AAM tools don't work on Seagate and New Maxtor drives because it's disabled in the drive firmware.

spike2k5 said:

AAM tools don't work on Seagate and New Maxtor drives because it's disabled in the drive firmware.

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Thanks Spike2k5 I did not know that. The Maxtor Drive in my TiVo is very quiet But I can not speak for Seagate Quality control. My Maxtor is in my bedroom and I cannot hear the drive. Maybe I am getting old.

Newegg is sold out of the drive.

The drive is back in stock - but no more free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144455

rbtravis said:

The drive is back in stock - but no more free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144455

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Out of stock again after only one day I give up