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Quietest 500GB Firewire drive?

I'm researching external drives for my music room (Firewire drive > PowerBook G4 > [USB DAC when I have more $] > Arcam FMJ). I want it to be as quiet as possible. (I would be very happy if it were as quiet as the PowerBook.) I have an older Lacie Big Disk in my office and, even though it is fanless, it isn't sufficiently quiet for my music room (I can hear the disks spinning and electrical hum).

Here are the drives I'm comparing so far:

- LaCie d2 Quadra Hard Disk
- Western Digital My Book Studio Edition
- Seagate FreeAgent Go for Mac

Can anyone speak about their relative noise levels? Lacie tells me the Quadra is much quieter than my older Big Disk, but I would like to hear from actual users.

Thanks!
syncrasy
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
It appears Lacie may have released a 1Tb external drive in the 2.5 inch format. The device actually contains 2 500Gb hard drives in a single box package weighing 1.4Lbs. It is sold by NewEgg for $575.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822154295
prpixel
826 posts
 
Guido,

That's about $200 more than buying 2 500GB drives and mounting them in the case of your choice. Of course, that Lacie case is very sexy and it has USB, FW and Esata interfaces.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
I agree. . . prices are usually high upon release. It's just the novelty/convenience factor. . . I also do not know if the Lacie 2X500Gb 2.5 inch external package is quiet or not. G.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Why bother with building external disk when you can get Firewire Neptune 500GB for $114 with high quality (braid shield) Firewire cable included and 2 year warranty for the whole thing. Similar 1TB Firewire Neptune is $159 now with the cable (after $30 Hitachi rebate). My 500GB Neptune is Western Digital based and is very quiet (no fan, no spin noise at all) but I'm not sure about 1TB Hitachi.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Hi Kijanki. You mention 1Tb Hitachi drive. . . is that a 2.5 inch drive? Do you have the part number or a link to its description? Thanks, G.
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