new Raptor HDD, strange noise while running diagnostics

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Doe
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John Doe

Using the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics (most recent
download from their website).

Running the QUICK TEST on my new 150 GB Raptor produces zero errors,
but it also produces noise like a manual transmission car getting up
to speed at the beginning of the test. Sounds like it goes through
about three gears, with excessive vibration too. After about 10% of
the test, the unusual sound goes away.

The old 37 GB Raptor does not make unusual noises or vibrations
during the same quick test.

Here is the SMART comparison between the two drives, and the strange
sound.

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.phish
Subject: Raptor SMART information
Subject: Raptor sound

I ran the extended test, it produced zero errors.

Should I be concerned?

Thanks.
 
Using the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics (most recent
download from their website).

Running the QUICK TEST on my new 150 GB Raptor produces zero errors,
but it also produces noise like a manual transmission car getting up
to speed at the beginning of the test. Sounds like it goes through
about three gears, with excessive vibration too. After about 10% of
the test, the unusual sound goes away.

The old 37 GB Raptor does not make unusual noises or vibrations
during the same quick test.

Here is the SMART comparison between the two drives, and the strange
sound.

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.phish
Subject: Raptor SMART information
Subject: Raptor sound

I ran the extended test, it produced zero errors.

Should I be concerned?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I would concern me enough to want to return it.
 
Using the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics (most recent
download from their website).

Running the QUICK TEST on my new 150 GB Raptor produces zero errors,
but it also produces noise like a manual transmission car getting up
to speed at the beginning of the test. Sounds like it goes through
about three gears, with excessive vibration too. After about 10% of
the test, the unusual sound goes away.

The old 37 GB Raptor does not make unusual noises or vibrations
during the same quick test.

Here is the SMART comparison between the two drives, and the strange
sound.

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.phish
Subject: Raptor SMART information
Subject: Raptor sound

I ran the extended test, it produced zero errors.

Should I be concerned?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


That is the butterfly test, it is normal. Kind of a buzzing rising
falling tone.
 
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
I would concern me enough to want to return it.
Click to expand...

After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found a
concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car accelerating up
and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, maybe because that
drive doesn't support the test.

Thanks to the replies.
 
After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found a
concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car accelerating up
and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, maybe because that
drive doesn't support the test.

Thanks to the replies.
Click to expand...

I would still return it and get a drive that doesn't buzz, YMMV.
 
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
John Doe <jdoe usenetlove.invalid> wrote in
After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found a
concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car accelerating
up and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, [because maybe]
that drive doesn't support the test.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I would still return it and get a drive that doesn't buzz, YMMV.
Click to expand...

Is your advice based on anything besides never experiencing/hearing
that before?

What if you got another hard drive that did exactly the same thing?

Besides the other user experiences, the reply in this group and the
reply in the storage group from authors who appear to know what
they're talking about agree with each other.
 
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
John Doe said:
After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found a
concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car accelerating
up and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, [because maybe]
that drive doesn't support the test.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I would still return it and get a drive that doesn't buzz, YMMV.
Click to expand...

Is your advice based on anything besides never experiencing/hearing
that before?

What if you got another hard drive that did exactly the same thing?

Besides the other user experiences, the reply in this group and the
reply in the storage group from authors who appear to know what
they're talking about agree with each other.
Click to expand...

I have a low tolerance for noisy equipment regardless of whether or not
the manufacturer considers it to be normal and my reply reflects that
position. I would exchange the drive for one whose noise level I find
acceptable, from another manufacturer if necessary. I like Segate. I
find them both quiet and reliable. Since my advise is without charge and
no warranty is eithier expressed or impied you may do as you please.
 
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
John Doe said:
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
John Doe <jdoe usenetlove.invalid> wrote in
After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found
a concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car
accelerating up and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that
resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, [because maybe]
that drive doesn't support the test.
Click to expand...
I would still return it and get a drive that doesn't buzz, YMMV.
Click to expand...

Is your advice based on anything besides never
experiencing/hearing that before?

What if you got another hard drive that did exactly the same
thing?

Besides the other user experiences, the reply in this group and
the reply in the storage group from authors who appear to know
what they're talking about agree with each other.
Click to expand...

I have a low tolerance for noisy equipment regardless of whether
or not the manufacturer considers it to be normal and my reply
reflects that position. I would exchange the drive for one whose
noise level I find acceptable, from another manufacturer if
necessary. I like Segate. I find them both quiet and reliable.
Click to expand...

It's perfectly quiet during normal operation. The MTBF is over one
million hours. And the platter spins at 10,000 rpm.

Have you ever done a test with "sequential track 0 to track n seeks,
ie track 0 to track 1 followed by track 0 to track 2, then track 0
to track 3, and so on" on a Seagate hard drive?
 
pcbldrNinetyEight said:
John Doe said:
pcbldrNinetyEight <pcbldrninetyeight.com> wrote:
John Doe <jdoe usenetlove.invalid> wrote in
After looking up the helpful keywords "butterfly test", I found
a concurring experience "the drive sounds like a car
accelerating up and down". I'd say it's a buzzing sound that
resembles a car.

Apparently it doesn't run on the 37 GB Raptor, [because maybe]
that drive doesn't support the test.

I would still return it and get a drive that doesn't buzz, YMMV.

Is your advice based on anything besides never
experiencing/hearing that before?

What if you got another hard drive that did exactly the same
thing?

Besides the other user experiences, the reply in this group and
the reply in the storage group from authors who appear to know
what they're talking about agree with each other.
Click to expand...

I have a low tolerance for noisy equipment regardless of whether
or not the manufacturer considers it to be normal and my reply
reflects that position. I would exchange the drive for one whose
noise level I find acceptable, from another manufacturer if
necessary. I like Segate. I find them both quiet and reliable.
Click to expand...

It's perfectly quiet during normal operation. The MTBF is over one
million hours. And the platter spins at 10,000 rpm.

Have you ever done a test with "sequential track 0 to track n seeks,
ie track 0 to track 1 followed by track 0 to track 2, then track 0
to track 3, and so on" on a Seagate hard drive?
Click to expand...

No. The Seatools test is automated.

100k hours sounds impressive, I imagine Segate has a similar rating
mandated by a need to compete in the market place. Problem is if our
drives fail prior to 100k we have no recourse so the number is of no
value. IIRC Segate is the only drive manufacturer still offering five
years parts and labor warranty. To me that statistic has monetary value.
 
Raptors are very small but offer "5-year warranty and 1.2 million
hours MTBF".
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. Your WD Raptor has the same waranty as my Segate. But
I thought you said 100k? No matter though, 1.2 million or 1 billion it's
academic. By small I assume you mean dimensionally? I was unaware small
HDs are desirable in a desktop PC, either in capacity or physical size.
 
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