What's quieter and runs cooler: iMac internal 3.5" HDD or external 2.5" FW drive?

I'm getting ready to throw down for a new high end 21.5" iMac with an SSD (once Lions out). I was at first planning on ordering the SSD + HDD combo, but what with the all present concern of hard drive noise in iMacs with randomly shipping Seagates, I am reconsidering just purchasing the SSD model only. I was lucky enough to get a WD Caviar Black in my current iMac 27", which is supposedly quieter, but even then, my very picky ears still find it grating.

I need a larger drive to store my content (Logic sample libraries and iTunes). So what would be the optimal setup for noise and heat:

1.) SSD + 3.5" HDD iMac, or...

2.) SSD only iMac, with 2.5" external FW drive (7200RPM).

Specifics such as cost, value between drive capacities, and bandwidth speeds are negligible. Reduction of noise and heat is paramount.

Any insight would be much appreciated

Thanks. The Raid drive you linked looks nice. Also, interesting how you point out that your external Seagate (which I assume is 3.5" enclosure) is more silent than you're internal drive, which also happens to be a WD black. This is the kind of thing that I like to get my knickers in a bunch And seriously what makes me consider going the external route.

Awesome. Never seen feet before until now.

Yea, you're right about over thinking it. I think it will just stick with the original plan and get the SSD + HDD option and be done with it.

Thanks again.

/Thread.

Air2 said:

The (2TB) HDD fan is the "loudest" (*) part in my iMac and in my quiet room I sometimes find whatever little noise it makes too much. Thus, I am sympathetic to your concerns. Yet, I still recommend buying a HDD/SSD combo. The HDD sound goes away after a few idle minutes; if need be I can always use the "eject" command to make it go completely quiet. (I just haven't figured out how to rediscover it without a reboot). You control what you put on the HDD.
My external WD MyBook is louder but I prefer its low humming to the Hitachi drive's high-pitch buzzing. Yet, subjective perception differs and changes over time, so I am glad to have a choice between both drives.

(*) = The ODD fan can get even louder but does only so when increasing minimum fan speed beyond 2000 which I have not experienced even with heavy DVD/SSD activity.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight Air. I agree with your statement that noise is very subjective perception and will definitely differ from user to user. My confession is that I also have the new Macbook Air (well, used to...as it's now in my wife's proper possession!), but the silence of that machine is really nice. I can't help but desire for that same quickness of the SSD while retaining the sheer silence.

Yea, the SSD + HDD combo is probably the best solution at this point in time, and I'm pretty much leaning toward that route. I really hope once SSD prices drop to critical mass prices, that Apple can offer dual SSD BTO options for pure silent machines.

Thanks for the recommendation. Now whenever Apple wants to drop Lion....