Seagate Ironwolf 8TB HDD Making "Thumping" Vibrations and Noise

Hellcrusher3304 on 31/08/2021 - 11:29
Last edited 31/08/2021 - 11:38 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I recently installed a new Seagate Ironwolf 8TB HDD to my PC. However, I've noticed that whenever I access files from this drive, it makes a "thumping" or "heartbeat" like vibration and noise. The noise itself is very low frequency and not very loud, but the thumping vibration can felt through the case and even onto my desk, which is especially annoying at night.

I've only had 5400rpm drives previously and I know that these 7200rpm drives are supposed to be louder. My other drives do not make these sorts of vibrations. So I'm not sure if the current symptoms of this particular drive is normal. I have ran CrystalDiskInfo and the results seem normal.

I bought it through this deal sold by Harris Technology. The packaging was very lacking as there was only 1 layer of bubble wrap and inside a plastic satchel. So I'm kinda paranoid that it might have been damaged through shipping.

The sound is rather hard to record, as it's mainly a low freq thumping vibration. Here is the sound, might have to increase the volume and ignore the background fan noises.
https://soundcloud.com/ashhcsah-86304553/hdd-noise

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks for your time :)

• 

  garetz on 31/08/2021 - 11:37

  +1

  That is not a normal noise, i would do a full scan of the disk using extended mode using sea tools which is provided free by seagate.

  I have the identical disk and it doesnt sound anything like that.

  • 

    Hellcrusher3304 on 31/08/2021 - 12:05

    Thanks for your response!

    Yes I forgot to add that I've also done a full bad sector scan through Disk Genius and the results were:

    Excellent: 878533
    Good: 94267
    Normal: 0
    General : 0
    Poor: 0
    Severe: 0
    Damaged: 0

    • 

      keo on 31/08/2021 - 12:16

      +2

      Noise issues don't always cause bad sectors. Sounds like a bad hard drive, but to be sure, run drive while just connected to computer and not screwed into case to be sure no installation errors. If still excessively noisy just get a new one under warranty.

      If still not sure, send email to Seagate support.

      • 

        Hellcrusher3304 on 31/08/2021 - 12:22

        Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's no installation errors. I've ran the drive with the PC case open and can feel that it definitely comes from this drive.

        I've already opened a case to Harris Technology, still waiting for their response.

        But yeah, I might also contact Seagate support.

        Cheers

        • 

          dealhunter-007 on 05/09/2021 - 16:32

          @Hellcrusher3304: Have you heard back anything from HT?

          • 

            Hellcrusher3304 on 05/09/2021 - 16:44

            @dealhunter-007: Yeah, they asked me to send it back for a replacement. Their CS has been supportive so far.

            • 

              dealhunter-007 on 05/09/2021 - 23:17

              +1

              @Hellcrusher3304: Cool. That's good to hear.
              I hope they will pay the cost of return as well if that drive is really faulty.

• 

  gromit on 31/08/2021 - 12:24

  +1

  Not a good sound, I would be returning it for testing/warranty. I did have a similar issue on a NAS drive once, turned out to be a power issue where poor connector was causing the drive to spin up and down every few seconds but wasn't bad enough to cause errors, replacing the cable fixed that one.

  • 

    Hellcrusher3304 on 31/08/2021 - 12:27

    That's interesting. Unfortunately I've already tried different Sata and power cables but still no luck. Thanks for the suggestion!

• 

  QuickdraW on 31/08/2021 - 12:39

  +1

  unusual sounds/behaviour are often indicators that a drive prone to failure before software shows warnings. I would be moving off any wanted data and replace before it ceases to operate.

  • 

    Hellcrusher3304 on 31/08/2021 - 12:49

    Will do, thanks!

• 

  mickyb80 on 31/08/2021 - 13:02

  +1

  STOP USING NOW!!!

  Take it to a data recovery provided if the data is of concern.

  Having said that - from the recording you have provided, it 'seems' normal to me.
  I can hear what sounds like the arm heads and R/W heads moving around on the platters, but nothing else other than the drive spinning.

  Head back to HT if you can, or stop using it until you can get it checked if you are unsure and worried.

  • 

    dealhunter-007 on 01/09/2021 - 00:07

    Yeah that sounds like very typical Ironwolf noise to me. I have 3 Ironwolf drives in NAS and they all make this noise. There are various posts on internet about this noise and this seems to be normal for Ironwolf.

• 

  viper8548 on 01/09/2021 - 21:08

  The noise sounds normal, however if you can feel the thump and vibration maybe you didn't install it with the rubber dampeners? Those would help reduce the audible noise as well.