Is the 750GB hard drive loud?

Question

Is the 750GB hard drive loud?

I'm considering getting a 24" iMac with a 750GB hard drive. Apple probably uses the Seagate 7200.10 because that's the only 750GB 3.5" drive I can find anywhere. Unfortunately many of the reviews of this drive suggest that it's very loud.

I need a very quiet computer, so I'm hoping someone with an iMac with this drive can comment on its idle and seek volume. If it makes a racket in the iMac I'll stick with the 500GB drive and hope it's closer to silent.

Posted on Nov 24, 2006 8:08 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 24, 2006 8:15 PM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

whish i could suggest a differant hard drive but there really isnt! im sadened. my best bet would be is to look into a Westeren Digital hard drive eith slighty smaller or slightly bigger.

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Answer 2

Nov 24, 2006 8:40 PM in response to Christopher Neufeldt

Unfortunately I don't have much say in what brand of hard drive Apple sticks into my iMac. I only know the 750GB is a Seagate because that's the only company making 750GB drives. But I suspect a smaller drive (say the 500GB) may be quieter. And hard drives aren't user-replaceable in the iMac, so I'd be voiding my warranty by putting in the drive of my choice, or paying $150 to my local authorized service center to do it for me.

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Answer 3

Nov 25, 2006 9:21 AM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

There's new 1TB internal drives coming from WD. We received them last week at BestBuy.

Derek, who charges you $150 to put in a HD? Do you have a CompUSA near you? They do it for $30..

For instance, I'm replacing my 250GB with a 500GB for a grand total of $175, installed.

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Answer 4

Nov 25, 2006 10:37 AM in response to nicklange19

1TB would be great, though hopefully unlike Seagate's 750GB it won't sound like a blender. I'll eagerly wait for the reviews.

I called my local Apple Store (Fifth Avenue) and they said a place called Tekserve could do the HDD upgrade. I called them and they said it would be an hour of labor for which they charge $150.

But I also have a CompUSA nearby and I know they deal in Apple hardware, so I'll ask what they charge. Hopefully it's $30 even in New York.

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Answer 5

Nov 25, 2006 10:42 AM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

Wow. I probably knew there were some places out there that had a "repair" fee of like $100/hr that includes anything. CompUSA has prices for everything they do work on, not just a "flat" fee.

I don't really like them, but if it doesn't void my warranty, and the HD works, I won't complain.

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Answer 6

Nov 25, 2006 11:22 AM in response to nicklange19

I called my local CompUSA store and they confirmed that installation of the hard drive is $30, so thanks for the tip.

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Answer 7

Nov 25, 2006 11:54 AM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

Sure thing..

If the replies in this thread have helped, or solved your question, please mark according replies 'helpful' or 'solved'.

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Answer 8

Nov 25, 2006 6:31 PM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

how much is tax in NYC?? ive just wondered since your there. 🙂 but wont installing a new hard drive void the warranty or is it just if the consumer does it or a non appl ecertified tech? my local computer shop charges US$100.00 an hour to work on ibook clamshells!

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Answer 9

Nov 25, 2006 7:37 PM in response to Christopher Neufeldt

If you mean sales tax, I believe the current rate is 8.625%.

Installing a hard drive in an iMac voids the warranty unless it's done by an Apple-certified service center. CompUSA is one such service center (they charge $30 for HDD installation). Tekserve, the local shop I tried first, charges $100 to $150 per hour for labor, and they said an iMac hard drive upgrade takes an hour. Needless to say I'll be going to CompUSA. 🙂

As long as your local shop is Apple-certified, they can perform non-user upgrades without voiding the warranty.

Of course some upgrades can be performed by the user without voiding the warranty. RAM can be upgraded in just about an Mac without issues, and many (all?) Apple laptops can have their hard drives upgraded by the owner.

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Answer 10

Nov 25, 2006 8:50 PM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

so when the ibook clamshells were new, was the HD user upgradeable?

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Answer 11

Nov 25, 2006 8:58 PM in response to Christopher Neufeldt

I'm not enough of a Mac expert to give you a definitive answer, but from what a quick Google search turned up,the hard drive was user upgradeable, at least in the second-generation clamshell released in September 2000. Link.

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Answer 12

Nov 25, 2006 9:15 PM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

I went to check out that 1TB Hd, and it's actually an external 😟 It was a big box, and I guess I glanced over the box and thought it was internal. Sorry about any confusion, if you were looking forward to it.

The new MB's have user replaceable HD's too..

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Answer 13

Nov 25, 2006 11:24 PM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

i see. you know as much as i do about it 🙂 heres what it states "although user installation is advised against (see below)." im guessing it wasnt user upgradeable, i have also looked on apples site to see if they have a hard drive replace manuel. no luck, so must not be. ah well glad i didnt get one brand new!

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Answer 14

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Nov 26, 2006 8:32 AM in response to Derekasaurus Rex

Either generation of Clamshell is as difficult to crack as the other. Neither was User upgradable (from Apple's point of view). The MB looks like a dream to upgrade (and so is truly user upgradable) but the real mark of User upgrade status is whether Apple themselves will provide instructions on how to perform the upgrade. For example, whilst it's moderately difficult to open a Titanium Powerbook and replace it's drive - the instructions to do so are in the printed manual in the box.

As the Intel Macs are sealed I suspect the manual just advises you to seek out an Apple service centre if you wish to upgrade at a later date.

If I were in your situation I'd probably go for the 500Gb internal and a FW800 1 or 1.5Tb external drive.

mrtotes

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Answer 15

Nov 26, 2006 8:55 AM in response to nicklange19

I concur with the WD drive. I have an iMac G5 (iSight) with a WD Caviar 400 GB in place of the 250 GB. It is without a doubt the quietest and coolest drive I have ever used and I have no complaints about the speed either. I am never aware of its presence as far as sound is concerned. It makes the Seagate sound like an outboard motor in comparison!

I would really be interested in the 1TB when it arrives!

Griff

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