How to set AAM on WD6400AAKS 640GB Drive ?

P

pg

Hi, all !

My WD 640GB drive is running at 7200 rpm and it's noisy and it's
scorching hot !

I ran some test and found out that the drive's AAM (automatic acoustic
management) setting is set at the max --- 254 --- and I would like to
find a way to set the AAM down so that the drive is not so noisy nor
giving out so much heat.

I've ran several AAM setting utilities in Linux and Windows trying to
do that, but to no avail.

For example: in HDTunePro 3.10 on Windows, I got the "Error setting
AAM" error.

The info I got from the Net tells me that Seagate's drive got their
AAM setting locked, and that people using ASUS mobo cannot do any AAM
setting change as well.

However, I am using WD's drive and my mobo isn't from ASUS.
Theoretically I am supposed to be able to change the drive's AAM
setting, but all my efforts so far failed miserably.

Can anyone tells me a way to change the AAM setting for my WD6400AAKS
drive, please?

Thank you !!
 
J

Jason Bourne

pg said:
Hi, all !

My WD 640GB drive is running at 7200 rpm and it's noisy and it's
scorching hot !

I ran some test and found out that the drive's AAM (automatic acoustic
management) setting is set at the max --- 254 --- and I would like to
find a way to set the AAM down so that the drive is not so noisy nor
giving out so much heat.

I've ran several AAM setting utilities in Linux and Windows trying to
do that, but to no avail.

For example: in HDTunePro 3.10 on Windows, I got the "Error setting
AAM" error.

The info I got from the Net tells me that Seagate's drive got their
AAM setting locked, and that people using ASUS mobo cannot do any AAM
setting change as well.

However, I am using WD's drive and my mobo isn't from ASUS.
Theoretically I am supposed to be able to change the drive's AAM
setting, but all my efforts so far failed miserably.

Can anyone tells me a way to change the AAM setting for my WD6400AAKS
drive, please?

Thank you !!
Click to expand...

You might try installing smartmontools. In the man pages there will be
instructions and command switches, etc. You might also want to use
some of the various test modes and check out that drive. I have a
WD2500AAKS here that is practically silent and although it is warm it
is not "hot" at all. Your drive may be defective.

Also note that when you turn the acoustic profile down you are sacrificing
some performance. Me, I'd be concerned why it is "loud" when others
from the same model line are not. Mine is one of the quieter drives I've
had.

-Jason
 
E

Ed Light

T

Tim Greer

pg said:
Hi, all !

My WD 640GB drive is running at 7200 rpm and it's noisy and it's
scorching hot !

I ran some test and found out that the drive's AAM (automatic acoustic
management) setting is set at the max --- 254 --- and I would like to
find a way to set the AAM down so that the drive is not so noisy nor
giving out so much heat.

I've ran several AAM setting utilities in Linux and Windows trying to
do that, but to no avail.

For example: in HDTunePro 3.10 on Windows, I got the "Error setting
AAM" error.

The info I got from the Net tells me that Seagate's drive got their
AAM setting locked, and that people using ASUS mobo cannot do any AAM
setting change as well.

However, I am using WD's drive and my mobo isn't from ASUS.
Theoretically I am supposed to be able to change the drive's AAM
setting, but all my efforts so far failed miserably.

Can anyone tells me a way to change the AAM setting for my WD6400AAKS
drive, please?

Thank you !!
Click to expand...

Just how hot is it running? Just how loud is it? Does it seem like it
might be defective? Have you ran tests on it? Also, as far as I know,
the motherboard used actually isn't a factor in being able to tune the
AAM setting.

Did you try the -M switch with hdparm? I don't know if it's something
I'd want to use, since it's officially experimental, but I can't say
I'd want to use anything else particularly in lieu of it. It nothing
is working, you might consider an RMA on the drive. Personally, I
won't ever use WD drives again (far too many problems over many years,
across many systems, both heavy usage and almost nonexistent usage).
 

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