Solve : Second HDD and noises?

1.	Solve : Second HDD and noises?
Answer» Yesterday I installed a second HD (an old WD 40 GB I had laying around) into my Dell Dimension 4550 to use as extra storage to use while movie editing. I started with two optical drives, the floppy, a Seagate 80 GB HD, and a GeForce 5600 Ultra connected to the PSU. After installing the second HD, which requred the use of a molex extension, my fan, which is usually very quiet, had a higher, annoying pitch to it. I would assume that this is due to the change in load created by the extra HDD? I tried removing an optical drive to SEE if that lightened the load enough, but it did not. I thought I could deal with it, but my tower is up on the desk next to me and I found the NOISE to be too annoying, so I pulled the HD and will have to deal with storage another way (external USB). Is this pretty common? Is that just something I have to deal with if I want to install a second HD? PKIf that's an older PSU that's just about a full load on there with 4 drives and a vid card. What make is the PSU and what is it rated at ? ? p.s. You'll need to replace it with a Dell unit as there's are almost always propietary. Using another one could damage the system.Quote from: Allochthonous on July 29, 2007, 06:26:23 AM After installing the second HD, which requred the use of a molex extension, my fan, which is usually very quiet, had a higher, annoying pitch to it. I thought I could deal with it, but my tower is up on the desk next to me and I found the noise to be too annoying, so I pulled the HD and will have to deal with storage another way (external USB). How you be sure the fan is the source of the noise? The noise started when you installed the second HD and then stopped when you removed the drive, right? So, I'd suspect that hard drive as the source of the noise. Some hard drives had this problem. I have an old 15.3GB hard drive that I used a lot in an older computer but it always produced a high pitched whine. Like you, I found it annoying. The drive was always that way. If I bought a drive today that made that noise, I'd return it.You could try that drive in a different computer to see if the noise is still there.Its the stock Dell 250 watter. Yeah, I am actually thinking that it may be the HDD now. I just realized that the last system I used it in also had a similar noise. I guess I did not know that a HDD could make a noise like that. I will do some more testing and get back. PKConfirmed...its the HD. Man, it sure sounds like a fan to me. Unfortunately, it does not solve my problem. The noise still exists and still annoys me. pkUnfortunately, there's nothing you can do to make that drive quieter. Could you re-arrange your work space so that you could put the tower down under a desk or somewhere on the floor? That would probably HELP some. Alternatively, you might get a USB external enclosure for that hard drive and use it an external hard drive which could perhaps be placed where the noise would be less noticeable. Also, the external drive could be turned off when not using it.Rearranging is not really an option. And I don't think I could get this drive far enough away to not HEAR it. It is really loud. All well...it was free so no biggy. Thanks for the suggestions though. PKTry some small rubber washers between the drive and the mounting to help dampen the noise...it may improve to where it's tolerable. Actually i mount all my drives this way.patio, where do you get the small rubber washers? Will they fit in all computer cases?

Answer»

Yesterday I installed a second HD (an old WD 40 GB I had laying around) into my Dell Dimension 4550 to use as extra storage to use while movie editing. I started with two optical drives, the floppy, a Seagate 80 GB HD, and a GeForce 5600 Ultra connected to the PSU. After installing the second HD, which requred the use of a molex extension, my fan, which is usually very quiet, had a higher, annoying pitch to it.

I would assume that this is due to the change in load created by the extra HDD?

I tried removing an optical drive to SEE if that lightened the load enough, but it did not.

I thought I could deal with it, but my tower is up on the desk next to me and I found the NOISE to be too annoying, so I pulled the HD and will have to deal with storage another way (external USB).

Is this pretty common? Is that just something I have to deal with if I want to install a second HD?

PKIf that's an older PSU that's just about a full load on there with 4 drives and a vid card.
What make is the PSU and what is it rated at ? ?

p.s. You'll need to replace it with a Dell unit as there's are almost always propietary. Using another one could damage the system.Quote from: Allochthonous on July 29, 2007, 06:26:23 AM

After installing the second HD, which requred the use of a molex extension, my fan, which is usually very quiet, had a higher, annoying pitch to it.

I thought I could deal with it, but my tower is up on the desk next to me and I found the noise to be too annoying, so I pulled the HD and will have to deal with storage another way (external USB).

How you be sure the fan is the source of the noise? The noise started when you installed the second HD and then stopped when you removed the drive, right? So, I'd suspect that hard drive as the source of the noise.

Some hard drives had this problem. I have an old 15.3GB hard drive that I used a lot in an older computer but it always produced a high pitched whine. Like you, I found it annoying. The drive was always that way. If I bought a drive today that made that noise, I'd return it.You could try that drive in a different computer to see if the noise is still there.Its the stock Dell 250 watter.

Yeah, I am actually thinking that it may be the HDD now. I just realized that the last system I used it in also had a similar noise.

I guess I did not know that a HDD could make a noise like that.

I will do some more testing and get back.

PKConfirmed...its the HD. Man, it sure sounds like a fan to me.

Unfortunately, it does not solve my problem. The noise still exists and still annoys me.

pkUnfortunately, there's nothing you can do to make that drive quieter. Could you re-arrange your work space so that you could put the tower down under a desk or somewhere on the floor? That would probably HELP some.

Alternatively, you might get a USB external enclosure for that hard drive and use it an external hard drive which could perhaps be placed where the noise would be less noticeable. Also, the external drive could be turned off when not using it.Rearranging is not really an option. And I don't think I could get this drive far enough away to not HEAR it. It is really loud. All well...it was free so no biggy.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

PKTry some small rubber washers between the drive and the mounting to help dampen the noise...it may improve to where it's tolerable.
Actually i mount all my drives this way.patio, where do you get the small rubber washers? Will they fit in all computer cases?

Solve : Second HDD and noises?

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