Newest hard drive squeals bad, but works fine! Replaced WD hard drive 3 times because of squeal noise. Already on 2nd Seagate (I thought changing brands might help). I can't understand why this problem keeps happening. I'm sure it's the HDD making the noise. Squeals usually when under heavy graphics processing load. Any suggestions?
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HDD squeal noise, recurring problem on new drives!!
- Thread starter bubba9000
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- #3
I haven't checked too carefully with this newest one. But all the fans are at the back of the case, squeal is coming from the front (listening closely with cover off). The squeal in the first drive ended up turning into a buzz, it was too late to RMA, so it's now in an external case and used for swapping.
The case was purchased with no fans except the power supply. If it is a fan, it must be the power supply. There is now one case fan and one on a video card.
The case was purchased with no fans except the power supply. If it is a fan, it must be the power supply. There is now one case fan and one on a video card.
- Thread starter
- #5
I had been using an HDD enclosure with temperature gauges because it seemed the WD drive was running hot. The 1st Seagate stayed cool, so when I replaced it with the 2nd Seagate because of squealing I didn't bother with the enclosure.
I'll try to install one of those monitoring programs tonight. I think I have a link for one. Thanks.
I'll try to install one of those monitoring programs tonight. I think I have a link for one. Thanks.
The real question: Is the drive operating as designed?
Do you have another drive of the same model running in another PC without the squeal? I've noticed that in many SATA drives shipped in our new HP desktops make that noise a lot, especially during our imaging process. Every single one does that, and it's a different tone than I'm used to hearing in older drives. It sounds more like a whine.
I wonder if this isn't some new internal design and what we're hearing is a result of the air flow. I don't notice it at all except when the drive is spinning at its highest RPMs. And without an audio clip to listen to, I have no way of knowing if it's what you're experiencing (quite strange though that you're having the same problem with different brands).
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
Do you have another drive of the same model running in another PC without the squeal? I've noticed that in many SATA drives shipped in our new HP desktops make that noise a lot, especially during our imaging process. Every single one does that, and it's a different tone than I'm used to hearing in older drives. It sounds more like a whine.
I wonder if this isn't some new internal design and what we're hearing is a result of the air flow. I don't notice it at all except when the drive is spinning at its highest RPMs. And without an audio clip to listen to, I have no way of knowing if it's what you're experiencing (quite strange though that you're having the same problem with different brands).
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
- Thread starter
- #8
Cdogg i'm afraid it probably is not the whining noise you are describing. It's a very high pitched squeal, it's actually painful to hear after a short time. Also I have switched models so it's unlikely it's the design.
Freestone is there any way to confirm this power starvation? Is there any type of PS that is preferred?
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Freestone is there any way to confirm this power starvation? Is there any type of PS that is preferred?
Thank you all for your suggestions.
See if this helps
If the drives are running hot then the bearings will dry out which will cause a lot of noise. I have never heard one squeal though - but I have heard one sound like a 747 taking off! Squealing sounds to me more like a head crash - but that would make the drive inoperable, surely?
If the drives are running hot then the bearings will dry out which will cause a lot of noise. I have never heard one squeal though - but I have heard one sound like a 747 taking off! Squealing sounds to me more like a head crash - but that would make the drive inoperable, surely?
Are you sure it isn't the case "speaker" or something to do with the audio in your system? The little pizeo sound maker in most modern cases is normally located in the front of the case about 1/3 of the way from the bottom. This might me near where the hard drive is mounted.
Some bios's will sound an alarm for various reasons. Temp, fan rpm out of spec, voltage our of spec.
Sometimes poorly shielded cables or a poor design will cause odd noises in the audio.
I assume we have ruled out any kind of UPS alarm.
You seem pretty adamant that it is the hard drive.
Don't be offended, but I have had a lot of customers that are adamant about something, but turn out to be wrong.
I have done it myself. Sometimes we seem to get tunnel vision and don't see something that is obvious to another observer.
As stated above. If you can take the hard drive out of the case and run the system that way you should be able to isolate the noise better. Make sure the hard drive is on a insulated surface of some kind.
Some bios's will sound an alarm for various reasons. Temp, fan rpm out of spec, voltage our of spec.
Sometimes poorly shielded cables or a poor design will cause odd noises in the audio.
I assume we have ruled out any kind of UPS alarm.
You seem pretty adamant that it is the hard drive.
Don't be offended, but I have had a lot of customers that are adamant about something, but turn out to be wrong.
I have done it myself. Sometimes we seem to get tunnel vision and don't see something that is obvious to another observer.
As stated above. If you can take the hard drive out of the case and run the system that way you should be able to isolate the noise better. Make sure the hard drive is on a insulated surface of some kind.
Another obvious thing to try is to pull the squealing drive and throw it into another PC. If it squeals there too, then of course, you'll know for sure where it was coming from!
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
- Thread starter
- #13
The case has no speaker. No USB alarm either cuz I don't have one.
The reason I'm positive this is the hard drive is that The one I left in for too long ended up permanently squealing. In fact the squeal turned into a buzz as the problem continued, and still makes noise in an external USB casing, but operates fine otherwise.
Freestone, I ran these specs thru the calculator:
INTEL D865GBFL MAINBOARD
INTEL P4 3.00 GHZ CPU
1024 MB DDR 333MHZ RAM
SEAGATE ST3160812A 160 GB HDD
ATX MID TOWER 300W PS
NVIDIA GEFORCE 6600 GT VIDEO CARD
this is a comment from another forum that seems applicable.
"Since your voltage drain is right on the edge, I would suspect your power supply and the demands of your video card as the source of your problem. Frankly, 300 watts isn't much with the P4 machines and newer motherboards."
The reason I'm positive this is the hard drive is that The one I left in for too long ended up permanently squealing. In fact the squeal turned into a buzz as the problem continued, and still makes noise in an external USB casing, but operates fine otherwise.
Freestone, I ran these specs thru the calculator:
INTEL D865GBFL MAINBOARD
INTEL P4 3.00 GHZ CPU
1024 MB DDR 333MHZ RAM
SEAGATE ST3160812A 160 GB HDD
ATX MID TOWER 300W PS
NVIDIA GEFORCE 6600 GT VIDEO CARD
this is a comment from another forum that seems applicable.
"Since your voltage drain is right on the edge, I would suspect your power supply and the demands of your video card as the source of your problem. Frankly, 300 watts isn't much with the P4 machines and newer motherboards."
Ya know , I had a similar isssue , Replaced the squeeler ,and the new HDD still made that noise.
Turned out the noise was actually coming from the CRT monitor , You'd swear if you heard it that it was coming from the tower , and it's pitch even modulated with the HDD activity!
-Alas it was the CRT though.
Turned out the noise was actually coming from the CRT monitor , You'd swear if you heard it that it was coming from the tower , and it's pitch even modulated with the HDD activity!
-Alas it was the CRT though.
- Thread starter
- #16
Well I may find out the hard way that it's not the PSU. I have purchased a 425W Enermax (CAN$80), I'll pop it in later today.
The PSU that came with my system is el cheapo anyways, and the main reason I was advised not to buy from MDG, which I did anyways.
Stay tuned for the result. The only bugger is that the squeel comes and goes, sometimes it will go away for a week, then EEEEEEEE!
The PSU that came with my system is el cheapo anyways, and the main reason I was advised not to buy from MDG, which I did anyways.
Stay tuned for the result. The only bugger is that the squeel comes and goes, sometimes it will go away for a week, then EEEEEEEE!
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