27" iMac hard drive noise

www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/.../2879-701229.pdf

I installed the 2TB WD20EARX, and it significantly reduced the noise. But I can still hear the perculator hd noise.

I use a lot of RSS bookmarks in Firefox, which has the hard drive constantly checking for updates. So the noise can be almost continuous with my FF browser open.

In reviewing this wdc spec sheet pdf, I see that the 1TB WD10EZRX has lower accoustic numbers. I'm going to do one more swap and see if this drive reduces the perculator noise even further.

I did not have any trouble with the reinstall of all of my data except for Microsoft Office. Office ties the product key to the hard drive, so it had to be removed and re-installed.

After I make the swap, I'll come back and post results using the WD10EZRX.

puddytat, Thanks alot for your feedback. I'm also considering to put a 2 TB WD green drive, mainly to get rid of a spinning drive noise (not a perculator noise, cause my main drive is SSD). So, afer the install of WD green 2 TB drive - please comment do you still hear your iMac, when it's idle and is not making the perculator noise (caused by drive heads seeking the track)? I mean the noise from the drive spinning. My current drive has a loud humming from its spinning, which fills my entire quiet room. BTW to get rid of your perculator noise you can better buy a 7200 rpm WD Scorpio black drive - with 750 gb - it's a laptop drive, but as fast as desktop drive, then put it in metallic 2.5 to 3.5' adapter. surely you'll get rid of your noise. If you are ready to exchange some speed on the fully quiet drive, then buy 1 Tb Wd Scorpio blue laptop drive - for sure you won't hear any percular noise at all.

ALSO - I hope all our community will be interested to look at one more victim of noisy Apple drives:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYs-uKDR4pM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

the video and his comments are showing the issue clearly.

also... setting AAM option to Quiet can dramatically reduce the perculator noise, if your hard drive supports AAM fine-tuning. most aam software is for windows, but the drive stores the setting once applied, so you can install Windows on your drive to test that setting and then delete Windows bootcamp partition. I believe WD green drives are supporting AAM and should b much more quiet when it's enabled.

Hi there DD,

Thanks, and glad the info helps. Please re-read my post. I did install the 2TB WD20EARX, and it significantly reduced the noise. But I can still hear the perculator hd noise.

After reviewing the WD spec sheets, I want to try the 1TB WD10EZRX.

I did look at the 1 Tb Wd Scorpio blue laptop drive, and the spec sheet indicates that the Caviar Green 1TB WD10EZRX is quieter.

I understand it was reduced, I just asked was it possible to get rid of persistent spinning hum at all?

or it's just reduced but still can be heard?

I am not sure about the tech specs.. I was looking at specs for many drives and for 7200 RPM drives they are all very close. SO WHY THEN IMACS SOUND SO DIFFERENT.?

I was listening to a laptop with 500 Gb WD scorpio blue drive and I swear it's dead-silent, no access noise even in the fully quiet room. I am sure your 1 Tb green drive will sound the same with 2 Tb, cause the heads there are the same for all model range. specs are not always reflecting reality.

Hi there,

I have the same problem, I have just got a new iMac 27 with the 1TB seagate hard drive. After a week using it, it started to make the rumbling noise (really annoying). Then after searching a bit about it, I found this discussion and another one talking about the number of big video files in the drive that can cause fragmentation.

And I had a lot if big files between 1 gb up to 10gb, after I deleted them, it stopped. Now I only hear it when starting the Mac, but afterwards it stops.

My doubt is: is this supposed to be like that ? If it is, it is disappointing, since every time i put i big file in there I will be having problems. Or is my drive faulty?

Cheers,

Leo

Hi Leo,

Your drive is not faulty. This is the sound the 1Tb seagate makes. I'm now on my 3rd seagate drive and they all just sound the same. They ALL make the grumbling noise. I have a mac pro at work with the 1TB seagate and it too makes the same noise. Don't try and get it changed as apple will only put in another seagate and it will just make the same noise; however, you may risk getting dust underneath the glass of your mac and you'll have to do without your mac for no difference to the noise (like me).

Is is very, very disappointing from apple but they refuse to acknowledge the issue.

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Hi Derek,

Thanks for your answer, and I completely agree with you. I just send the email and I am now writing the story to the BBC.

It is really frustrating to know that I will have to live with this. But thanks!

Cheers,

Leo

Hey Derek,

Thanks again mate, well observed. I have got the number of the Apple technical assistance here in Australia, I will give them a ring a complain, in Australia its the ACCC.

But I don't know if you saw the asterisk after the phrase, according to Standards, really sneaky.

Cheers,

Leo

Hi all.. I almost got used with a sound of my 2 Tb HDD in iMac.. Weird thing it has almost no grumbling but mostly humming sound, which changes when the disk is getting hotter - actually the tone becomes less annoying. I still have a plan to replace it but I don't trust the repair services - last time it ended up with some dust under my glass and that was the only change they made, ie no help at all.

OK everyone.

Here is an example of what we have been complaining about for years.

I was recently asked to do a simpe youtube video on how to use a music website. Please ignore my Scottish accent and the video content, it was a very, vey rough and initial attempt.

However, can you hear the grumbling getting in the way of the presentation?

This is what we have all been complaining to apple for so, so long.

Derek

Link -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZAPGPnFI90&feature=plcp

Finally got my constantly grumbling harddrive to sit quietly (cease the constant seeking/writing noise) after logging out from iCloud! (Relogged in - noise problem returned, so now have left iCloud logged off.)

Now, apart from just an occasional very soft brief seek/write grumble from the hard drive, between times I have a completely quiet machine (i7 iMac, 11,1 late 2009), Lion, 1TB seagate ST31000528ASQ rev AP24).

I don't know why logging out from iCloud has completely fixed the constant and loud disk thrashing/churning/grumbling noise and will need to leave that to the more clever brains.

Best regards,

C

Hi All,

I bought my 27 iMac a month ago and after a month I started to hear the clicking sound from hard disk, I took it to service cneter and they sent it back to me with the status: "nothing wrong with machine ahrdwares and it's normal operational sound!"

should I accept this???? this is not really what I wanted to ehar from apple! but seems that I should live with the sound?! this might annoy me for a while and can get used to it...but I really don't know what to do? should I ask them to change the mac for me?

any idea folks?

Hi there,

Sorry for not posting this reply sooner - I've been on holiday.

I'm afraid this is exacly the same issue as me and, like me, you'll have to live with it although it's completely unacceptable that this is the case.

Could you place a post if you manage to get it sorted?

Regards,

Derek.

I too have this very anonying issue, and as I work in a VERY quite enviroment it's really does get on my nerves.

As this has gone on for years without Apple doing anything about it, I now thinks it's just a way to sell more SSD when people get so fed-up with it they upgrade.