HDD Makers Strive to Reduce Associated Noise (for quiet digital video recorders)
nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com
January 1, 2000 (TOKYO) -- The hard disk drive (HDD) industry is channeling immense
energy into developing low-priced HDDs with more storage capacity and without any
noise.
Very quiet operation of HDD products is a new competitive advantage emphasized by
many manufacturers.
HDDs have been attracting attention for use as components in consumer electric
appliances, including digital video recorders, set-top boxes, home servers, audio-video
jukeboxes and television receivers. For these products, acoustic noise is definitely an
issue.
HDDs have various noise sources, such as a spindle motor or the bearing set. The
movements of the head in seek operations also generates some noise.
Outside of noisy offices, many people have become somewhat nervous about noises
associated with HDD products in living rooms or bedrooms. A new goal of makers of
electric appliances featuring HDDs is to reduce the noise level as much as possible.
For example, Western Digital Corp. of the United States has succeeded in eliminating
about 50 percent of its sound power acoustics in seek operations with its technology
called "WhisperDrive" .
And Quantum Corp. of the United States made an announcement that its HDD generates
the least sound based on the results of HDD noise measurements performed by Charles
M. Salter Associates (CSA), which specializes in sound-related consulting.
In a recent measurement test, CSA conducted a comparison of 3.5-in. HDDs and 5,400 rpm
HDDs of the following companies. Fujitsu Ltd., IBM Corp., Maxtor Corp., Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd., Seagate Technologies Inc., Western Digital Corp. and Quantum.
CSA used Quantum's Design Assurance Facility in Milpitas, Calif., for the measurement
test.
According to the announcement , Quantum's 10GB "Fireball lct" made the least noise -- at
just 27.8dB in waiting mode and 32.5dB in seeking.
Following the Fireball lct was the 8.45GB HDD with 31.9dB of noise in waiting mode and a
6.4GB HDD with 35.3dB of noise in operation.
Quantum has not revealed the names of the products made by other manufacturers.
It is said that the noise level of a quiet living room is 30dB on average and that of a
whispering voice is 28dB.
(BizIT) |
