[sandman]

I bought a G4 Cube 500 in August 2000. Since then the HD or whatever else in there is churning has become progressively loud. And as I sit here in silence, which is rare because I usually listen to music, I'm realizing that it has gotten pretty bad. What are the chances of Apple replacing whatever needs to be replaced on this old of a machine?

Thanks.

[jfdonahue]

Your chances are slim to none. The Cube is out of warranty (unless you bought Applecare), and I doubt your warranty would cover noise level anyway. If you are looking for a real quiet hard drive, I just put a 40 gig Seagate Barracuda in my Cube. This drive is real silent. I would be opted for a bigger drive, but this was the biggest single platter Seagate drive I could find. I figured two platters would make more noise than one.

[sandman]

Originally posted by jfdonahue:
<STRONG>Your chances are slim to none. The Cube is out of warranty (unless you bought Applecare), and I doubt your warranty would cover noise level anyway. If you are looking for a real quiet hard drive, I just put a 40 gig Seagate Barracuda in my Cube. This drive is real silent. I would be opted for a bigger drive, but this was the biggest single platter Seagate drive I could find. I figured two platters would make more noise than one.</STRONG>

What model number is your new drive?

[joe]

Originally posted by sandman:
<STRONG>

What model number is your new drive?</STRONG>

For an excellent run down of replacement Cube hard drives, check out the drive compatibility database at www.xlr8yourmac.com Just select Cube and hard drive before you do the search. There must be several dozen listed. I bought a 7200rpm 100gig Western Digital last month for my Cube. Works great!........joe

[j3kyll]

Same here, Deskstar sux dogs balls.


Barracuda ATA IV ST340016A

[j3kyll]

Originally posted by joe:
<STRONG>

For an excellent run down of replacement Cube hard drives, check out the drive compatibility database at www.xlr8yourmac.com Just select Cube and hard drive before you do the search. There must be several dozen listed. I bought a 7200rpm 100gig Western Digital last month for my Cube. Works great!........joe</STRONG>

Nope, don't bother, the Seagate Barracuda is the quietest drive on the market. (Deskstar = 3.1 bells, Seagate = 2 bells -&gt; idle) Also they are much cooler because of fewer platters/heads.

[seanyepez]

Make sure not to get a 7200 RPM drive. It might generate too much heat and damage your G4 Cube.

[joe]

Originally posted by seanyepez:
<STRONG>Make sure not to get a 7200 RPM drive. It might generate too much heat and damage your G4 Cube.</STRONG>

Or it might not. My 7200rpm Western Digital runs quiet and cool. And mine is a Radeon Cube (500Mhz) - hotter than most. Maybe your negative experience is with older model 7200rpm drives? It's possible the latest 7200rpm drives run cooler and quieter.........joe

[Cipher13]

A 7200 rpm drive is fine for a Cube.

I also recommend the Seagate Barracuda IV.

[Macanoid]

Originally posted by sandman:
<STRONG>I bought a G4 Cube 500 in August 2000. Since then the HD or whatever else in there is churning has become progressively loud. And as I sit here in silence, which is rare because I usually listen to music, I'm realizing that it has gotten pretty bad. What are the chances of Apple replacing whatever needs to be replaced on this old of a machine?

Thanks.</STRONG>

I don't want to get you too worried, but I bought my Cube around the same time, and had the same noise problem as you. Just as I was thinking of doing something about it, my HD died completely I lost everything because it could not be repaired and I had no backups.
So, whatever you do, make backups first, now that it's still working, and worry about the noise or a replacement HD later!!

My new HD, a Maxtor 60Gb 7200 rpm, was replaced within the week (way too much noise, and my current HD, an IBM Deskstar, is not to quiet either - irritates the hell out of me. Might just follow everyone's advice and get a Barracuda.

Good luck with you HD problem.

[ 12-29-2001: Message edited by: Macanoid ]

[you_are_right]

Have a Barracuda IV 40GB in my Cube 450 MHz with a Radeon graphic card. Works without any problems. Tested several 7200 rpm IDE drives, also in external fire wire enclosures. Regarding the (not) generated noise - the Barracuda is in a league of its own. Get it.