Temperature and Noise Results
As mentioned, the hard drive temperature was measured using the WD740’s SMART feature, which allows you to read a value using tools such as Everest 4.6. The drive temperature was pinned down after 45 minutes of heavy I/O activity. Clearly, the GUP Smart Drive Neo does the better job of cooling the 10,000 RPM WD Raptor drive, although this HDD silencer is completely sealed.
Idle noise was measured after a few minutes of inactivity, but with the motor spinning. The difference is more noticeable than the numbers suggest, as the remaining noise is noticeably lower once the WD740 is installed into either of these two products.
The noise level was extremely different when executing our IOMeter database benchmark. Operating the drive on the open test bench resulted in a noise level of 55 dB, which is noticeable at all times, and was perceived as annoying by most of the people who walked by our test setup. Once installed into the 3RSystem case, the hard drive noise was limited to only 42 dB, which is not too far away from idle noise! Clearly, the spring mount mechanism, paired with the case’s sound proofing on the inside, do a great job. Experienced users would not assume that a fast 10,000 RPM hard drive was being used; subjectively, the noise level was almost as low as if a notebook hard drive were running.
However, the GUP Smart Drive Neo did an even better job, achieving a 40 dB noise level during random hard drive operation. If you install your hard drive into the HDD silencer by GUP, it will effectively eliminate almost all of the noise above idle level. The difference between the 3RSystem L-1100 T.REX case and the GUP Smart Drive Neo HDD silencer is noticeable, but only important for those who insist on not hearing their hard drive at all.
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I found the "Smart Drive Neo HDD" on scan.co.uk for £86!!!! Argh!
So ripped off we are. If it was £40, I would of had it. I can live with the bit of noise for now. I'll wrap my PC in old pants.
Well I had a look in japan for a Smart Drive Neo HDD.
http://kakaku.com/item/05392910807/
5,850.00 JPY = 39.1732 GBP
We get 140yen to the pound right now. The average used to be 200yen to the £. So the weak pound will drive the price up; But I have to say this is a basic item that's way overpriced.
ummmm.....guys,theres a BIG problem. 3dB are twice the spl, not 10dB. 10dB will be more than 3 times the pressure.
If the Smart Drive Neo HDD only takes 3.5" HDDs, the case must be about 4.5". Where would you mount it?!
According to google you shudnt keep ur harddrives cool anyway, contrary to popular opinion harddrives kept at low temperatures in googles servers broke more than those at moderate temps, and the trend was only reversed at very very high temps. So little air exchange shouldn't be a huge concern.
So... how come we didn't see the results of the Neo IN the T.Rex? That would have been something to hear about (or not hear, hardy har)
I got a minor improvement just using silicone washers on the HDD mounting screws. 50 rings for £3 from Maplins...
The 150gb raptor is still quite noisy, but at least it's not so penetrating now.
The article is wrong. Log 10 means if you increase by 10db you increase the power by a factor of 10.. As someone else mentioned an increase of about 3db is a doubling of power! simple maths guys!
Yes. Get your science right, an increase of 3db means a doubling of spl.
I'm content with my HDDs enough to save the money. And I have 4.
When SSDs come though, noisy drives will be of the past. Unless you still use DVDs/ BR-DVD.
In every system I've built it's not the hard drive that's the problem..it's the PSU or CPU fan. It's like some manufacturers simply do not care.
I found the "Smart Drive Neo HDD" on scan.co.uk for £86!!!! Argh!So ripped off we are. If it was £40, I would of had it. I can live with the bit of noise for now. I'll wrap my PC in old pants.
LOL it's not only graphics cards, then