Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[TomB1]

I recently purchased a ACER desktop computer that came with a  Seagate Barracuda® 7200.10 Hard Drive - Model # ST3500830AS (500GB). Everything works fine except that the harddrive is noisy at idle. I have isolated it to the harddrive. The noise sounds like a low buzz or hum. The noise is being propagated thru the cage assembly. The noise goes away if the HD power cable is disconnected (prior to turning on the computer). I have run Sea Tools and everything passes. There is no additional noise when data is being read or written - it sounds normal except for the idle noise. If I lay the computer on its side (the non venilated side) - the harddrive noise goes completely away. I assume that I will have to live with it? Thank you.

[AlanM]

That noise is normal.  It is off-line error scanning.

[TomB1]

Thank you. The noise (hum/buzz) was very noticeable. I put the computer on its side yesterday and the noise went away. About 6 hours later I put the desktop to its normal upright position and the noise has not returned (about 16 hours ago).

[atx12v]

Hello, I'm another person with this problem. The loudest thing in my computer is the Seagate Barracuda (500gb 3.0)

The buzzing noise is unreasonable.

Can you advise me in any way? Is it possible to turn this off-line error scanning off?

Is there another Seagate that does not have this problem? I have thought about buying some enclosure for it as if it were an external drive, but it would almost be cheaper just to get another (quieter) drive.

Would the operating system or running as Raid make any difference?

Thank you. I know a lot of  people notice these things. Unfortunately it's not something I could of checked for when buying the product.

[atx12v]

Just to clarify, this is not a defect (or is it?). This drive is brand new.

This is not a reasonable noise, but a high pitch squeel. High enough to hear through a computer case and over the 5 fans. Like finger nails on a chalk board, or the monitor of an old television set, not very loud but constant when powered up (never ending even under load).

[Cantbecanit]

Hum is ok in an enclosure, it's the drive spinning, in an enclosure it's not physically screwed to a cage so you will get vibration, cut a small piece of carpet and put it under the enclosure stand, a squeal however should concern you, that sounds like a fail on it's way tbh.