Western Digital 160GB for $59.99

[Brett]

CompUSA has the 2mb cache version:
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...10369&pfp=cat3

OR CircuitCity has the 8mb cache version (for $79.99):
http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...&catoid=-10263

enjoy
-Brett

[TivoTerminator]

Looks like a great price on the drives, but I hate mail-in rebates! I probably have over $200 waiting to be "processed". Hopefully I'll received them.

[Brett]

Originally posted by merrypig
does it come with free ear muffs?

I did not see that on the side of the box, but based on my own experience with the JBs (the 8mb versions) I am not complaining...

-Brett

[Cayars]

Originally posted by merrypig
does it come with free ear muffs?

ROFLMAO

Yea, those suckers are loud!

Carlo

[Brett]

Ok...you all have suggestions for quieter drives?

I personally found them to be reliable, fast, and affordable, and they make the same amount of noise as my other drives did.

-Brett

[Mr.X]

does it come with free ear muffs?

WORD to that!!! LOL!!

[Brett]

This is annoying, if you all think the drives are loud, why not make suggestions at better drives in the same price range instead of just "LOL" or "ROFL" or whatever...

-Brett

[Mr.X]

Sorry, Brett, it's just that the WD "whine" is an oft-talked about problem. Most people who have a few drives have noticed it. I think it's funny how it's so well known and WD has only recently tried to do something about it by putting fluid bearings in some of their drives. Maxtor's been doing it for years. You have to check carefully to find the WD's that have the fluid bearings.

I believe it's the drives that end in "L" "M" or "P" as the second-last letter in the model number that have fluid bearings. For example: WD 2500 MB or WD 2500 PB.
I believe they call the later drives "quiet" drives. - See, even WD admits their drives are loud!

FYI Here's WD's info: http://www.wdc.com/en/library/2579-001028.pdf

Of course, you could just get a Maxtor and get quiet, S.M.A.R.T. and temperature monitoring and probably a cheaper drive!

[Brett]

How is this drive?
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...209&pfp=BROWSE

I am thinking I will get 2x200gbs and then return the 80gb external I just purchased, and ebay the 80+200gb ones.

-Brett

[Brett]

Well...since you all got me all concerned I did some more research, and I actually unplugged both of my drives just to see how the computer sounds with no harddrives and I must have other sound issues that I am hearing. I will be the first to admit I have a noisy computer, and when you told me it was my drives I immeadiately suspected that to be the sole problem, but it appears to be my rear fans (as I suspected) that are louder than the drives.

After testing this I must admit the drives make _some_ noise, but its not noticable over the rest of the fans/frills that are running in the case...the fact is this is a gaming machine, not some PVR for the front living room, usually the games sound effects are so loud you can't hear yourself think, much less the harddrives.

I will likely be building my dedicated PVR this upcoming Fall (when I do my main processor/motherboard upgrades), when I do I was going to purchase new drives then (shooting for 4x200s or 4x250s) and now will focus on ULTRA quiet, I will certainly consider these opinions then.

Fact is I have school to worry bout now, and transferring data sucks, and ebaying sucks, and rebates suck, so I just do not want to have to deal with all those hassles.

I will likely get the Seagates, I read some more reviews and like what I am reading, but I am going to hold off until my dedicated box is built this Fall.

-Brett

[Mr.X]

After testing this I must admit the drives make _some_ noise, but its not noticable over the rest of the fans/frills that are running in the case...

It's usually not the overall level of sound, but the fact that it's a high-pitched FREQUENCY that's annoying. If it was at a lower pitch, it would be much less annoying.