Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Do all Western Digital 320/500GB hard drives make the 'swoosh' sound?

Does your WD 320GB or 500GB hard drive make 'swoosh' sounds? (keep your ear close)

  • No it doesn't.

    Votes: 14 66.7%

  • Yes it's slightly audible

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Yes it's clearly audible

    Votes: 5 23.8%
  • Total voters
    21
P

Philflow

macrumors 65816
Original poster
May 7, 2008
1,276
3
Someone is telling me ALL Western Digital 320GB and 500GB make the 'swoosh' sound. Is this true?

If you have a WD 320GB or 500GB in your Macbook Pro please answer the poll.

Please make sure you are in a very quiet room and try to keep your ear close to the hard drive. The poll is for both 5400rpm and 7200rpm.
 
I'm not sure what the "swoosh" sound is but my scorpio black 320gb doesn't seem to make much more noise than the stock drive. I can definitely feel more vibration but it doesnt bother me. Anything I have to put my ear up to the drive to hear doesn't make a difference to me.
 
Are you talking the Black or Blue (7200rpm or 5400rpm)? If 7200rpm then yes they all make more of a whooshing sound than any Apple stock 5400rpm drive. If you are talking 5400rpm then the difference is not as great but generally make a slightly louder whooshing sound than most stock Apple drives.
 
Philflow said:
Please make sure you are in a very quiet room and try to keep your ear close to the hard drive.
Click to expand...

Personally, I have never understood all the fuss over HD noise, etc. If I have to have a quiet room and keep my ear close to the drive, then it isn't an issue to me because I don't ever work in that position ;)

I have the 500 GB 5400 Scorpio Blue and I have never noticed any sound or vibration

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
Fact: Hard disk drives have moving parts.
Fact: Moving parts make noise.
Therefore: Hard disk drives make noise.

I own both a 500GB WD Scorpio Blue and a 320GB WD Scorpio Black.
 
I agree with MacDawg. The sound doesn't bother me because it's very minimal. Using desktops all these years that are much louder than any sound a HDD can make. The main thing to look for is vibration. I think that plays a more important factor when choosing which HDD to get. Besides, most of the time you'll be in a place with ambient sounds which will make the "swoosh" sound hard to hear.
 
I installed a 500GB scorpio blue in my MBP 13" just a few days ago.
My gf also has a MBP 13" with the scorpio blue as well.
However only two bracket screws (versus four) could be removed from her stock drive to hold the scorpio in place.
Now, my MBP is almost silent, virtually no difference than the stock drive, with all the brackets properly seated.
My gf's MBP however makes that shwooshing sound and has more vibration.

So either not all WD scorpio HDD's are consistently made OR perhaps the drive has not been installed correctly.
At least that's my two cents.
 
otispondscum said:
So either not all WD scorpio HDD's are consistently made OR perhaps the drive has not been installed correctly.
At least that's my two cents.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It would be interesting to know what happens if you install all screws.
 
geoffreak said:
Fact: Hard disk drives have moving parts.
Fact: Moving parts make noise.
Therefore: Hard disk drives make noise.

I own both a 500GB WD Scorpio Blue and a 320GB WD Scorpio Black.
Click to expand...

:cool: very elegantly answered! I was going to post that people are making too much of a deal of Hard Disk noises - but you've done it really well :D
 
There isn't a mechanical motor driven device made that does not make some sort of sound.

Where are you using your computer that you can hear the drive running?

Are you inside some sort of AF anechoic chamber ??????

WD fanboys complain of Seagates making noise!

Seagate fanboys complain of WD's making noise.

Tis what makes the world go round ....... when the world goes round, does it make a noise ????
 
relax sparky,
This isn't some fanboi debate. The fact of the matter is, yes, all mechanical HDD make noise. HOWEVER, not all HDDs make the same level of noise. The OP is just looking for the drive with the least amount of mechanical noise.

Obviously, one should expect a noise level increase to accompany a performance increase, however there's nothing wrong with trying to find a balance between the two.
 
320GB Scorpio Black - virtually silent, even in a quiet room. No vibration. I did have one with a very slight vibration (my tolerance level is none), so a quick warranty swap through WD got me this current unit).

I also have a 2nd unit (in external case) that is just as quiet and vibration free (spindle), though the head load/unload is slightly noisier.
 
otispondscum said:
relax sparky,
The fact of the matter is, yes, all mechanical HDD make noise. HOWEVER, not all HDDs make the same level of noise. The OP is just looking for the drive with the least amount of mechanical noise.
Click to expand...

To explain: I'm trying to establish whether all WD5000bevt (for example) make the same level of noise or if there are individual differences.
 
Philflow said:
To explain: I'm trying to establish whether all WD5000bevt (for example) make the same level of noise or if there are individual differences.
Click to expand...
from contradictory reports of noise level one would have to surmise that there are individual differences.:)
 
Not at all. Mine's pretty much silent. I've still NEVER heard it click even once randomly, or during writing in a quiet room. It's just like the Hitachi.
 
My Scorpio Blue 500 gig drive is totally silent when shut down... and it does make some noise when it's running... It actually seems louder when I lie my head down on the palm rest directly over the drive, but I find it difficult to see my display or type anything during those times... so... don't know what else to report. I kind of suspect the same phenomenon will happen with any drive...It's been a damn good drive, despite emitting some sound during operation, even if it's hardly noticeable (without making a point of listening hard for it.)

Okay, seriously... I can't say it bothers me one little bit. Any major difference in hard drive operation sounds between various HDs will usually favor the WD Scorpio Blue 500g drive, with the few quieter drives out there only quieter by a very slight amount. This shouldn't really be an issue for an average laptop user in different environments. Just my opinion... of course. ;)
 
if i put my ear ON my topcase and listen, then yes i can hear the hard drive. other than that, nope! :)

i'm not sure what you mean by a "swoosh" noise though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back