I own a 2009 MBP 13" with a preinstalled 250GB 5400rpm Hitachi HDD. The Hitachi uses just one platter/disk which is 250GB. (HDDs that range from 120GB to 250GB use just one platter)
Here is the Datasheet:
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/FFA370A7BF845F87862574FE0003054C/$file/TS5K500B_DS_final.pdf
My new MBP 15" i5 2.4Ghz has a preinstalled Seagate 320GB 5400rpm HDD. This one makes use of 2 platters/disks. (HDDs that range from 320GB to 500GB use 2 platters)
Here is the data sheet: http://www.seagate.com/docs/pdf/datasheet/disc/ds_momentus_5400_6.pdf
In a completely silent room (no ambient noise), the idle HDD noise of the MBP 15" is noticeably louder than MBP 13".
Heres my take at it: The HDD that contains only 1 platter will make less noise and vibrations because it has only 1 disk spinning instead of 2. Also the sound generated in the MBP 15" is not only by the HDD but also the aluminum resonating that is located to the right of the trackpad. Many users have found that covering that area with your palm significantly damps the HDD noise. So far, what I have noticed is that 2 platter HDDs not only make more idle noise but also more vibrations (which results in making more noise because of resonance). There is another forum of users indicating
The information in both of the datasheets shows that the all the hard drives of the respective brand make the same idle noise and vibrations. I think that is just generalized and averaged data.
Despite the datasheets, do you think the explanation for increased idle sound in the 320GB HDD is because of 2 platters?
Does anyone else notice this difference in their one platter vs two platter HDD (please do this test in a COMPLETELY SIlENT room)?
Here is the Datasheet:
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/FFA370A7BF845F87862574FE0003054C/$file/TS5K500B_DS_final.pdf
My new MBP 15" i5 2.4Ghz has a preinstalled Seagate 320GB 5400rpm HDD. This one makes use of 2 platters/disks. (HDDs that range from 320GB to 500GB use 2 platters)
Here is the data sheet: http://www.seagate.com/docs/pdf/datasheet/disc/ds_momentus_5400_6.pdf
In a completely silent room (no ambient noise), the idle HDD noise of the MBP 15" is noticeably louder than MBP 13".
Heres my take at it: The HDD that contains only 1 platter will make less noise and vibrations because it has only 1 disk spinning instead of 2. Also the sound generated in the MBP 15" is not only by the HDD but also the aluminum resonating that is located to the right of the trackpad. Many users have found that covering that area with your palm significantly damps the HDD noise. So far, what I have noticed is that 2 platter HDDs not only make more idle noise but also more vibrations (which results in making more noise because of resonance). There is another forum of users indicating
The information in both of the datasheets shows that the all the hard drives of the respective brand make the same idle noise and vibrations. I think that is just generalized and averaged data.
Despite the datasheets, do you think the explanation for increased idle sound in the 320GB HDD is because of 2 platters?
Does anyone else notice this difference in their one platter vs two platter HDD (please do this test in a COMPLETELY SIlENT room)?