New Toshiba X300 6TB HDD - Clicking Noise When Writing Data and Loud Noise in General?

[Flogger23m]

Recently received a new Toshiba X300 6TB HDD. I am a bit worried as this drive is much louder than any other HDD I've ever owned and when writing large amounts of data I hear a minor clicking sound every 5-6 seconds. When this drive is plugged in the noise emitted from my case at idle practically doubles and you can certainly hear the X300 6TB, which sounds like a muted grinding noise. However the noise is far from being "loud", but in a quiet room you will hear it.

Here is an admittedly poor quality video I took which has the "clicking noises" (when writing data):

Crystal Disk Info:

https://imgur.com/yv7CwDF

My case is a Fractal Design Define S, which does include rubberized spacers for the HDDs to minimize the sound as well as padding on the side panels. For reference, I've only ever had 7,200 RPM drives including WD Blacks were are practically silent in comparison. Currently I run a 5 year old WD Black 2TB which is essentially noiseless, as well as a 7,200 RPM Toshiba 3TB P300 which is also essentially noiseless.

Does this seem normal for an X300 6TB? I've read reviews of this drive being quiet but it is certainly louder than any WD Black or Seagate 7,200 RPM I've ever owned.

Testing wise I've disconnected case fans to see if any were wearing out one by one and those made no difference. The noise levels return to near silent when I remove the X300 and return when I reinstall it, so it is clearly the X300 and not a case fan or the WD Black.

 

[INSTG8R]

Just a theory but because of the size there are a lot more platters stacked in there so “bouncing” between them during read/writes may be a little noisier than smaller drives.

 

[MrGenius]

I just bought myself the 5TB version about a week ago. Ran it for half a day and decided there's no way I'm going to accept that much noise from a HD that I spent that much money on. Read the newegg reviews. You, me, and a bunch more of us saying the exact same thing. "Loudest HD I've ever owned". Mine's boxed up waiting to be returned for a refund at Fry's ASAP.

 

[INSTG8R]

So MrGenius has pretty much confirmed my theory that these large drives make more noise pretty much because of the multiple platters and the heads moving around them.

 

[MrGenius]

I'm not in a position to agree or disagree with that...yet. I too am the owner of a WD Black(1TB) that's absolutely whisper quiet. I do plan on purchasing another High Performance 4TB+ HD(WD Black or Seagate Barracuda Pro) to replace it when I get my refund in hand. So I'll know soon enough if that theory holds water. I tend to think they can make them quiet if they want to though. My HGST Deskstar 1TB HD is almost as loud as the Toshiba X300. Whereas, like I said, my WD Black 1TB is almost inaudible. Even with my ear within 2 inches of it(in my open case) I can just barely hear it.

 

[INSTG8R]

1TB drives have 4 platters in them(I have 2 1TB WD Blacks in RAID 0) Those big drives have double that in them so in turn more heads so more noise to go with them doing their thing.
Edit: looked up platter counts

 

[lexluthermiester]

You both are over-reacting somewhat. So they're a bit noisy. Not really a big deal. They are nothing compared to hard drives even 10 years ago and far more quiet than SCSI/IDE hard drives from 15 or 20 years ago. If they work and perform well, keep them or sell them to someone who doesn't/won't care about the noise.

Mine's boxed up waiting to be returned for a refund at Fry's ASAP.

It's unethical and immoral to take a perfectly functional drive back to a retailer just because it's more noisy than you like.

 

[R-T-B]

It's unethical and immoral to take a perfectly functional drive back to a retailer just because it's more noisy than you like.

Depends on the return policy. A few places around me have a period for a "satisfaction guarantee" or similar.

They usually cost more to cover it, of course.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

totally normal, I have used the 4TB and have two 6TB versions in my NAS. Yes they are LOUD because the 'X' series of drives are built for performance If you want quieter drives go with the 'P' series of Toshiba drives. I have a lot of the P series and they are much quieter. The only issue with the P300 series is they dont come in bigger sizes so 3TB is the largest you can get.

I have two P300s in my current PC

 

[eidairaman1]

If hitachi updates disk fitness test, get it and test the drive, if it passes that test there is nothing to worry about

 

[lexluthermiester]

A few places around me have a period for a "satisfaction guarantee" or similar.

I've never seen something like that before. I'm certain FRY's doesn't have that kind of policy for something like hard drive noise.

 

[eidairaman1]

I've never seen something like that before. I'm certain FRY's doesn't have that kind of policy for something like hard drive noise.

Noise is typically not covered in most places.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Noise is typically not covered in most places.

Right. If the drives were advertised as being ultra quiet and was then noisy, that would be a different and valid reason. But Toshiba does not advertise such on their performance drive ranges, or even their standard lines, that I can find.

 

[Flogger23m]

You both are over-reacting somewhat. So they're a bit noisy.

But is that kind of clicking supposed to be normal? That is what I am worried about.

As for the idle noise, I wouldn't consider a ~100% noise increase to be "a bit". It isn't deafeningly loud, but you certainly do notice it. I know the WD Blacks were more pricey and maybe I should've went with another to keep a quiet PC.

The only issue with the P300 series is they dont come in bigger sizes so 3TB is the largest you can get.

I have two P300s in my current PC

I was certainly satisfied with my P300 in terms of performance / noise. It was going to replace my WD Black 2TB and the X300 the 3TB P300.

 

[eidairaman1]

But is that kind of clicking supposed to be normal? That is what I am worried about.

As for the idle noise, I wouldn't consider a ~100% noise increase to be "a bit". It isn't deafeningly loud, but you certainly do notice it. I know the WD Blacks were more pricey and maybe I should've went with another to keep a quiet PC.



I was certainly satisfied with my P300 in terms of performance / noise. It was going to replace my WD Black 2TB and the X300 the 3TB P300.

Try this tool

https://www.hgst.com/support/hard-drive-support/downloads

WinDFT, if it detects your drive run it.

I used IBM DFT then and it would do a thorough test of a drive, could do some repairs too.

If your drive is supported you can run this tool, if it turns up nothing on the test it is fine.

 

[R-T-B]

Right. If the drive were advertised as being ultra quiet and was then noisy, that would be different and valid reason. But Toshiba does not advertise such on their performance drive ranges, or even their standard lines, that I can find.

Fair point.

 

[MrGenius]

Fry's has a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. It applies to hard drives and a lot of other things. They take a certain percentage off the price you paid and refund you the rest. They then put a new lowered price tag on it and put it back on the shelf for sale. The next guy comes in and sees that he can get it at a bargain price, or pay full price. People, including myself, know that the product is only very slightly(if at all) used, was then returned because somebody didn't like it for whatever reason, and choose to buy it for the bargain price. It's a win win win. Everybody's happy. The ethics of the perfect world survive untarnished.

 

[Flogger23m]

Try this tool

https://www.hgst.com/support/hard-drive-support/downloads

WinDFT, if it detects your drive run it.

I used IBM DFT then and it would do a thorough test of a drive, could do some repairs too.

If your drive is supported you can run this tool, if it turns up nothing on the test it is fine.

Giving that tool a try. Doing the SMART Extended Test. Been stuck on the 3rd bar for a while. Roughly how long should the test take? I can leave it running over night.

 

[Upgrayedd]

I have two of the 5TB X300's and when I put them in and installed a few games on them I never noticed any unusual noise levels while writing or reading. I actually thought mine were pretty damn quiet. Nothing out of the usual as for HDD noises.

 

[Readlight]

Hard drive prices dropped 30-40 euro

 

[cucker tarlson]

totally normal, I have used the 4TB and have two 6TB versions in my NAS. Yes they are LOUD because the 'X' series of drives are built for performance If you want quieter drives go with the 'P' series of Toshiba drives. I have a lot of the P series and they are much quieter. The only issue with the P300 series is they dont come in bigger sizes so 3TB is the largest you can get.

I have two P300s in my current PC

Agreed. P300 is acceptable as far as noise and plenty fast (for a HDD).

I'm looking forward to replacing two 7200rpm HDDs with a 5900rpm IronWolf, unless the OP really requires 7200rpm HDDs in his rig, I suggest returning the X300 and doing the same thing. They're much quieter and not so much slower. If you're after speed, the new helium barracuda pro's just eat the traditional competition
they don't produce less noise than traditional 7200 hdds though.

de:md loading a savegame

https://www.purepc.pl/pamieci_masow...eagate_barracuda_pro_10_tb_hel_yeah?page=0,10

file copy

https://www.purepc.pl/pamieci_masow...seagate_barracuda_pro_10_tb_hel_yeah?page=0,5

game install

https://www.purepc.pl/pamieci_masow...seagate_barracuda_pro_10_tb_hel_yeah?page=0,9

multitasking (file copy + game install)

https://www.purepc.pl/pamieci_masow...seagate_barracuda_pro_10_tb_hel_yeah?page=0,8

 

[yotano211]

I have 2 of the 8tb model x300, I have the same issue with noise. But my sit in a external drive so I dont really care about the noise.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Fry's has a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. It applies to hard drives and a lot of other things. They take a certain percentage off the price you paid and refund you the rest. They then put a new lowered price tag on it and put it back on the shelf for sale. The next guy comes in and sees that he can get it at a bargain price, or pay full price. People, including myself, know that the product is only very slightly(if at all) used, was then returned because somebody didn't like it for whatever reason, and choose to buy it for the bargain price. It's a win win win. Everybody's happy. The ethics of the perfect world survive untarnished.

Did not know that. It's been a while since I've last been to a FRY's. Personally would just live with it rather than take the loss, but that's me. Then again, noise isn't a big deal here.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I personally would not be too concerned with the writing noise, although it is too loud. It reminds me of the noise of HDDs back in the 1990s/early 2000s, they were really noisy when writing and the noise they produced was very similar/the same. Well, at least the drive is very fast (for a HDD) so you got something to show for the amount of noise it makes. I'm more conerned with what you said about the drive making a lot of noise in general, that is a real pain in the ass with those 7200rpm drives, they produce a lot noise when spinning.

 

[eidairaman1]

Giving that tool a try. Doing the SMART Extended Test. Been stuck on the 3rd bar for a while. Roughly how long should the test take? I can leave it running over night.

It may take awhile, its not a fast test, it is a pretty thorough one though