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Mac Forum / Country Specific / UK Mac Group / January 2008Lacie mini hard drive
My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. I've seen some reviews of this drive (although I think mainly for the 500 GB version) which complain that the drive is very noisy. (e.g. on this page: http://tinyurl.com/37ha4a). Other reviews though say it's very quiet. This is a bit disturbing as in her circumstances any continuous and/or obtrusive noise would be quite unacceptable. Does anyone have any actual experience of using this drive? Also where would be a good place to order it from? I've had very good experiences with Jigsaw, but maybe in this case it would be better to go through the Apple Store. I'm thinking mainly of how easy it would be to return it if it did turn out to be too noisy. All advice gratefully received.  SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane >My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB >version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Does anyone have any actual experience of using this drive? I've used several of the Iomega equivalent, though I can't tell if the Lacie has a fan like the Iomega does. If it doesn't, I wouldn't touch it - 3.5" hard drives get *hot*. The main noise generation in the Iomega is the hard drive itself, due to the surface that you put the device on acting as a sounding board. Which would explain why people get different results. I find the foam disks that you get in the top of blank CD/DVD packs make great vibration-absorbent feet, though if you do stack the Mini on top they'll just crush. My sister drilled a hole through the wall and put her slightly noisy firewire backup hard drive in the cupboard under the stairs - a very effective solution if the house is arranged right. Another thing to think about is if backup to NAS is possible - then you can tuck the NAS box somewhere hidden away. >Also where would be a good place to order it from? I've had very good >experiences with Jigsaw, but maybe in this case it would be better to go >through the Apple Store. I'm thinking mainly of how easy it would be to >return it if it did turn out to be too noisy. Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. Cheers - Jaimie SignatureActually, the Singularity seems rather useful in the entire work avoidance field. "I _could_ write up that report now but if I put it off, I may well become a weakly godlike entity, at which point not only will I be able to type faster but my comments will be more on-target." - James Nicoll > Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, > so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. Are you sure distance selling applies? I know most places *will* let you return goods, but I'm not sure distance selling in this case allows it as a matter of right. MST > > Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, > > so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. > > Are you sure distance selling applies? I know most places *will* let you > return goods, but I'm not sure distance selling in this case allows it as a > matter of right. As a small trader with an online shop I can say It allows it as a matter of right. SignatureWoody Alienrat Design Ltd >> Are you sure distance selling applies? I know most places *will* let you >> return goods, but I'm not sure distance selling in this case allows it as a >> matter of right. > > As a small trader with an online shop I can say It allows it as a matter > of right. Thanks, that's good to know. It's clearly too long since I studied consumer law. > Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, > so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. The Apple Store's T&Cs state "If the total purchase price of the Product(s) returned is less than £300 excluding VAT the charge payable by you for the return is £20.00 (inclusive of VAT)" Will they (can they) make this charge even if one returns the goods within 7 days, or whatever the time limit is? SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane >> Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, >> so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Will they (can they) make this charge even if one returns the goods within 7 >days, or whatever the time limit is? No, consumer rights outweigh corporate T&Cs. Though they'll no doubt try. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei > > Mail order will be subject to the usual distance selling regulations, > > so you can always return it - use anyone without a bad rep. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Will they (can they) make this charge even if one returns the goods within 7 > days, or whatever the time limit is? They can say whatever they want in their T&C, it doesn't make a difference. Not only do they have to refund, they have to refund the postage as well. The only thing they can charge is a 'small restocking fee' if they say that before hand. SignatureWoody www.alienrat.com > My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > a bit disturbing as in her circumstances any continuous and/or obtrusive > noise would be quite unacceptable. The mini is very quiet (I'm basing this on a G4 but I assume the Intels are similar). I think she will be disappointed if she hopes to get a 3.5" based hard drive that won't add significantly to the noise level. The Lacie drives I've used (I don't know about this one) can all spin down the disk when it's not in use so if it is only a backup drive then the noise may only be an issue when backing up. As Jaimie suggested, putting the drive further away from you is a simple way of reducing the annoyance, it also allows you to choose a quieter drive that doesn't match the mini. Firewire works fine over several meters so hopefully there is somewhere suitable to put it. Arthur >The mini is very quiet (I'm basing this on a G4 but I assume the Intels >are similar). Impressively, they're actually quieter. The G4/1.5GHz would ramp up the fan as soon as a Flash-bearing web page shows up, while it takes concerted effort and at least 120% CPU to get a Core2Duo Mini noisy. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it for themselves." - Joseph Lane Kirkland > On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:38:13 +0000, Arthur > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the fan as soon as a Flash-bearing web page shows up, while it takes > concerted effort and at least 120% CPU to get a Core2Duo Mini noisy. That's good to know. Near-silence is one of the features of the mini that is often forgotten. Arthur >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB >> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > down the disk when it's not in use so if it is only a backup drive then > the noise may only be an issue when backing up. Occasional noises when the drive is actually doing something would not be a problem. The suggestion is though that the noise is continuous and irritating. That definitely would be a problem. > As Jaimie suggested, putting the drive further away from you is a simple > way of reducing the annoyance, it also allows you to choose a quieter > drive that doesn't match the mini. Firewire works fine over several > meters so hopefully there is somewhere suitable to put it. Well yes, but placing the drive far enough away so it can't be heard isn't really a feasible option in this case if it really is noisy. In any case the whole point of the mini drive is that it supposedly stacks under the Mac mini and so takes up no more desk space. SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane > My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > All advice gratefully received. I bought a 500GB LaCie Mini which I had to return because the fan noise was so loud as to be unbearable and once it started went on for ever. I got a 320 GB LaCie Quadra instead which is very good. As you say there are quite a few reviews online that mention this fan noise so I would think twice about getting the 500 GB version, but the 320GB which doesn't have a fan may well be quiet but I couldn't say for sure. HTH Ivor > I bought a 500GB LaCie Mini which I had to return because the fan noise > was so loud as to be unbearable and once it started went on for ever. That bears out what I have read. As I said that would not be acceptable so I'll advise against the 500GB. [snip] > but the 320GB which > doesn't have a fan may well be quiet but I couldn't say for sure. Aha, is that a definite fact? (That it doesn't have a fan, I mean.) I suspected that something like that might be going on but I can't find anywhere (including the LaCie website) that actually confirms which models of this drive have a fan and which don't. Could you tell me where you got the information from? I'd very much like to hear from anyone who has actually used the 320GB version of the LaCie mini drive. SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane > > I bought a 500GB LaCie Mini which I had to return because the fan noise > > was so loud as to be unbearable and once it started went on for ever. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > this drive have a fan and which don't. Could you tell me where you got the > information from? I think I got the info from the LaCie website when they had the full range listed. Just looked and now only the 320 GB is there so can't confirm. Likewise with the Quadra it's only 500GB and upwards that has a 'smart fan'. Ivor > My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. <snip> > Does anyone have any actual experience of using this drive? I use this (500Mb version) as the back-up device for my Intel mini. I split it into three volumes for my convenience and use one the same size as the mini's HD for Time Machine. It has a noticeable whirring noise when it powers up and it seems to do that quite often - certain apps and system things seem to want to have a quick look at all mounted devices when they start and mine takes about five minutes to spin down again after being checked. It is connected by firewire only - my choice. I have not worked out which apps actually set it going because it does not bother me that much. It is considerably quieter than the previous AMD-based Shuttle I used before as my main machine and I could always move it from the top of my desk onto a desk shelf if it does start to bug me. For 95%+ of the time it sits silently. I have no particular suggestion where to source it. I did get mine from the Apple store and it was fairly priced. > All advice gratefully received. Hope this helps you and or your sister. SignatureMike Edwards Remove the obvious five characters to mail me > My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > a bit disturbing as in her circumstances any continuous and/or obtrusive > noise would be quite unacceptable. The earlier 250 GB version doesn't have a fan. It's very quiet, Jan >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB >> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > The earlier 250 GB version doesn't have a fan. > It's very quiet, OK, thanks for that information. It appears to me now that versions of this drive which don't have a fan Like your 250GB are quiet, whilst the larger version 500GB has a fan and is quite noisy. What I can't establish for certain is whether the 320GB version (apparently the only one they produce now) does, or doesn't have a fan. The LaCie website doesn't say. It does however describe the drive as 'ultra-quiet', which I suppose would indicate it doesn't have the noise problems of the 500GB. SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane > >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > >> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > doesn't say. It does however describe the drive as 'ultra-quiet', which I > suppose would indicate it doesn't have the noise problems of the 500GB. If you haven't already done so it's worth trawling through the 123macmini.com forums for comments. Look in the Accessories section. Here's one: http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16680 Ivor >>>> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB >>>> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16680 I'll try that. Thanks SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane > >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > >> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > doesn't say. It does however describe the drive as 'ultra-quiet', which I > suppose would indicate it doesn't have the noise problems of the 500GB. Just look for the vent holes. Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. Just disconnect it. I'll be installing a 500 GB in a fanless enclosure sometime soon, and don't expect any problems, Jan >> What I can't establish for certain is whether the 320GB version (apparently >> the only one they produce now) does, or doesn't have a fan. The LaCie [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Just look for the vent holes. Unfortunately I don't know anywhere I can examine one of these drives before I buy it. If I could, the decision would be much easier. > Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. > Just disconnect it. I'm afraid I would not feel confident to open a new drive unit and start tinkering with the circuitry. SignatureMike Lane (UK North Yorkshire) To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane >> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. >> Just disconnect it. > > I'm afraid I would not feel confident to open a new drive unit and start > tinkering with the circuitry. It is likely just a question of pulling out the obvious wires, but of course this will immediately void your warranty with Lacie. Cheers, Chris > >> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. > >> Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It is likely just a question of pulling out the obvious wires, but of > course this will immediately void your warranty with Lacie. OTOH, if you put them back before sending it in it will be hard to tell. Those ridiculous rubber feet hiding the screws are falling off all the time even without opening the drive. Best, Jan >>>> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. >>>> Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > are falling off all the time > even without opening the drive. They're sneakier than that - they put a "void if removed" unremovable sticker over one of the screws. Cheers, Chris > >>>> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. > >>>> Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > They're sneakier than that - they put a "void if removed" unremovable > sticker over one of the screws. Not on the one I have. Perhaps it went with the irretievably lost little rubber feet? Miracles happen, Jan An older LaCie I own did have such a sticker. Must save them some money from all those people who don't dare to send in all their porn (excuse me, valuable private data of course) for repair. > An older LaCie I own did have such a sticker. > Must save them some money from all those people > who don't dare to send in all their porn > (excuse me, valuable private data of course) for repair. I haven't bought a drive for a couple of years, so maybe they've given up with those stickers. Cheers, Chris > > An older LaCie I own did have such a sticker. > > Must save them some money from all those people [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I haven't bought a drive for a couple of years, so maybe they've given > up with those stickers. Mine was on a blue plastic LaCie box, still with the 128 GB limit, bought with the sticker already broken, Jan > >> What I can't establish for certain is whether the 320GB version (apparently > >> the only one they produce now) does, or doesn't have a fan. The LaCie [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > I'm afraid I would not feel confident to open a new drive unit and start > tinkering with the circuitry. If new, you probably void the warrantee. Disconnecting is simple: just pull a plug, it isn't soldered in usually, Jan >> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. >> Just disconnect it. > >I'm afraid I would not feel confident to open a new drive unit and start >tinkering with the circuitry. I wouldn't feel confident with a normal 3.5" drive in a plastic container not cooking itself. They're not designed for passive cooling, even stood up on edge with no surround at all they can go beyond their rated 55-60'C. Jan has this fascination with running drives hot. Or at least encouraging others to do so. I'll also note that 500gig drives don't run hotter than 320/250gig drives, so I've no idea why they would get fans when the smaller capacity ones don't. My current NAS box has just been switched from 4x320gig to 4x500gig drives and is now about 5'C cooler than it was before. Cheers - Jaimie SignatureFord carried on counting quietly. This is about the most aggressive thing you can do to a computer, the equivalent of going up to a human being and saying "Blood... blood... blood... blood..." -- Douglas Adams > >> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. > >> Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I wouldn't feel confident with a normal 3.5" drive in a plastic > container not cooking itself. It isn't a plastic container: solid Alu on four sides. > They're not designed for passive > cooling, even stood up on edge with no surround at all they can go > beyond their rated 55-60'C. > > Jan has this fascination with running drives hot. Just a dislike wasting good energy into useless noise. > Or at least encouraging others to do so. I take my own medicine. It also turns out the fan doesn't have any effect. The presence of it is symbolic. There just isn't enough air around to circulate. No doubt the noise is reassuring to the true believers in internet folklore. Hear? Air is being moved for your benefit! Don't worry, be happy. > I'll also note that 500gig drives don't run hotter than 320/250gig > drives, so I've no idea why they would get fans when the smaller > capacity ones don't. To much internet folklore about it, and people start to believe in it. Next it becomes a sales argument, so everybody has to suffer. Which again reinforces the folklore, for they wouldn't put those fans in if they didn't serve a purpose, now would they? > My current NAS box has just been switched from > 4x320gig to 4x500gig drives and is now about 5'C cooler than it was > before. Haven't foud the time to open my 4 x 500 box. Less reason to, it is very quiet, but I'll have a look soon, Jan >> >> Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. >> >> Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >It isn't a plastic container: solid Alu on four sides. Oops - are we on a different case now? I thought we were still on the plastic LaCie sits-under-a-Mini one mentioned in the subject. >> They're not designed for passive >> cooling, even stood up on edge with no surround at all they can go [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Just a dislike wasting good energy into useless noise. 0.35W for a fan, 12W for a hard drive. And if the hard drive burns out, what's the energy footprint for getting a new one? Tens of kilowatts minimum. >I take my own medicine. >It also turns out the fan doesn't have any effect. >The presence of it is symbolic. >There just isn't enough air around to circulate. In which case that is truly rubbish product design, but not evidence that it shouldn't have airflow. The similar looking Iomega sits-under-a-Mini case has a flat axial fan that makes an actual airflow pass over the drive, and a hard-drive-sized alu heatsink underneath which the drive bolts directly onto. >> My current NAS box has just been switched from >> 4x320gig to 4x500gig drives and is now about 5'C cooler than it was [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Less reason to, it is very quiet, >but I'll have a look soon, Mine (Infrant NV+) has (amongst many other things) hard drive and airflow temp sensors. And proper airflow, straight from the front through the drives and pushed out the back. Very very quietly, since it's a 80mm fan running as slowly as it needs to. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"Hard as nails, hard as nails - So would you be if you lived one hundred and eighty years on sunflower seeds and biscuit crumbs." - Polynesia > > >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the 320 GB > > >> version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > I'll be installing a 500 GB in a fanless enclosure sometime soon, > and don't expect any problems, Oh, I do love people with your attitude. Sound practice, that - keeps the recoveries coming in at a substantial rate. Drives _need_ active cooling - not necessarily always 2.5" drives, although one I worked with in a small enclosure today reached temperatures that were uncomfortably hot when pressed against my cheek - but certainly 3.5" drives need cooling. Don't believe this business of "passive" cooling - it's marketing drivel. Duncan SignatureRetrodata www.retrodata.co.uk Globally Local Data Recovery Experts snip > > Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. > > Just disconnect it. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Sound practice, that - keeps the recoveries coming in at a substantial > rate. Not mine. And people who need recoveries are fools anyway. No doubt there are enough of them around to feed you. > Drives _need_ active cooling - not necessarily always 2.5" drives, > although one I worked with in a small enclosure today reached > temperatures that were uncomfortably hot when pressed against my cheek - > but certainly 3.5" drives need cooling. Sure. Nonsense if you insist that only active cooling will do. > Don't believe this business of "passive" cooling - it's marketing > drivel. Just the other way round. Useless fans are needed to assuage fears generated by internet folklore, Jan > snip > > > Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Useless fans are needed to assuage fears > generated by internet folklore, Oh, the the mindless meanderings of the misguided. But then I suppose you have infinitely more experience of these issues than this poor soul... Duncan SignatureRetrodata www.retrodata.co.uk Globally Local Data Recovery Experts > > snip > > > > Anyway, the fan is probably not necessary anyway. [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > But then I suppose you have infinitely more experience of these issues > than this poor soul... We have covered this ground several times already. You want to go round once more? Jan > > > >> My sister is planning to get a Lacie mini hard drive (probably the > > > >> 320 GB version) to use as a back-up drive with her Mac mini. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Duncan so far our icey box's don't seem to burning drives up, the once connected to the imac's drive has lasted since 2000ish now has a new drive in it, attaully the drive still works just makes a worring noise. the newer one is 2ish years again no problems so far. both run 24/7. for heavy server/workstations yes fans make sence for drives in the home no. roger Signaturewww.rogermerriman.com |
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