Is it normal for some types/brands of PC hard drives to make noise? See below?

Question

I have a NEW Dell xps 8940 special edition.  The Seagate Barracuda 2TB makes an almost constant Clickity-click, Clickity-Click, Clickity-Click noise and it is a bit on the loader side.  I contacted Dell about it, in trying to make a long story short; the Dell/ chat tech said it was a fan issue- sent out two new fans and a Tech and replaced fans, noise continued, 1st onsite tech said that noise is NOT normal - connected with Dell rep, trouble shot, scans, settings....all normal - sent out a new hard drive with new tech.  Second tech replaced HD, noise continued and 2nd tech said noise is normal.

I contacted Dell just to confirm because I'm now confused, one Tech said its normal (and obviously Dell must not think it is normal as they sent out the new hard drive) and then being told by a 2nd Tech sent out by (World Wide Tech Support) being told something different.

All of the computers I've ever owned have never made this type of noise/sound?  I realize I can still return the computer but what a pain in the butt.

HELP, any thoughts, Option's, Suggestions?

Noah · Answer

no, thats really bad! get rid of it asap! my old computer did that and it exploded

Anonymous · Answer

It is nothing more than the noise of a cheap fan! That has nothing to do with the computer in general  *insert eye roll here!*

L.N. · Answer

Download a S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic program and run the tests on the drive in question. Pay close attention to 'Pending Sectors' and 'Relocated Sectors'. Both should be zero on a new drive. Constant clicking can indicate read retries on defective media or it could be a program writing to the drive. the S. M. A. R. T. information will give you a better picture of what is happening.

Spock (rhp) · Answer

plainly, something is hitting something else, but why you think it is the HDD is a mystery.  careful detection is in order -- which neither tech did.  RMA this sucker -- their 'service' is a bad joke.

keerok · Answer

Hard disks make sound. That is normal. IF the sound however is like that of rattling marbles then the hard disk is failing. If it isn't something like that then in Settings, Disable the hard disk from Sleeping.

m8xpayne · Answer

Food for thought, a 2tb Hard Drive costs $50. So if you have to pay any more than that to ship it back then it isn't worth it.

But NO!.............. A Clicking hard drive isn't good. Have you tried to save anything to the hard drive of use a benchmarking program like Crystal Disk Mark on the drive? I've bought several 2tb Drives within this last year because they go great in the PC's I refurbish and they are pretty quiet.... except for the couple drives that were bad.

DeMoNsLaYeR575 · Answer

ALL Hard drives make noise... thats perfectly normal. They are mechanical and have moving parts.

if you want silence get an ssd

David K · Answer

Return it while you can. The drive should be silent. Any sound indicates a mechanical part that is wearing away.

David · Answer

The Seagate Barracuda is a mechanical drive. Almost certainly the clicking noise is coming from the Read/write heads above the spinning platter. Some models of hard drive are quieter than others.
If it is really bugging you, the mechanical drive could be replaced with an SSD - these have no moving parts at all, but they cost a lot more.

Is it normal for some types/brands of PC hard drives to make noise? See below?

9 Answers