Default setting for Automatic Acoustic Management and HD TUNE

[Sam]

I noticed my WD 1TB SATA 3 HD was louder. I noticed in HD TUNE that
the setting was enabled and set to the max 254 (high performance). I
tried to untick the enabled feature and it keeps on coming back. The
only option is 128 (low noise) or 254 (high performane).

How is it possible that a Windows Utility can adjust AAM? I recall a
DOS utility, iirc, Hitachi was only able to do that with the DFT
tool?

 

[Franc Zabkar]

I noticed my WD 1TB SATA 3 HD was louder. I noticed in HD TUNE that
the setting was enabled and set to the max 254 (high performance). I
tried to untick the enabled feature and it keeps on coming back. The
only option is 128 (low noise) or 254 (high performane).

How is it possible that a Windows Utility can adjust AAM? I recall a
DOS utility, iirc, Hitachi was only able to do that with the DFT
tool?

HDDScan and hdparm can do it.

See the links at the end of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_acoustic_management

- Franc Zabkar

 

[Sam]

HDDScan and hdparm can do it.

See the links at the end of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_acoustic_management

Thanks Franc! I missed seeing the links below the article. I was able
to disable AAM with HDDSCAN but the disabled mode of AAM is set to
254. Is this normal because I dont recall the access time or
acoustics of the drive this loud when I got my system in June.

 

[Ed Light]

You want AAM on and at maximum quiet/lowest performance.


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[Sam]

You want AAM on and at maximum quiet/lowest performance.

In otherwords, the setting should be at 128 (low noise)?

 

[calypso]

In otherwords, the setting should be at 128 (low noise)?

Yup...

--
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Damir Lukic, calypso@_MAKNIOVO_fly.srk.fer.hr
http://inovator.blog.hr
http://calypso-innovations.blogspot.com/

 

[Franc Zabkar]

I was able
to disable AAM with HDDSCAN but the disabled mode of AAM is set to
254. Is this normal because I dont recall the access time or
acoustics of the drive this loud when I got my system in June.

See Table 56 in section 7.48.11 of the following document.

Working Draft AT Attachment 8 - ATA/ATAPI Command Set (ATA8-ACS):
http://www.t13.org/documents/UploadedDocuments/docs2008/D1699r6a-ATA8-ACS.pdf

- Franc Zabkar

 

[Sam]

See Table 56 in section 7.48.11 of the following document.

Working Draft AT Attachment 8 - ATA/ATAPI Command Set (ATA8-ACS):
http://www.t13.org/documents/UploadedDocuments/docs2008/D1699r6a-ATA8-ACS.pdf

I have looked at table 56 and I am somewhat confused with the numbers.
I do realize the higher the AAM the better the performance.

Just the other day I got an email from WD Tech support and they didnt
really answer my queston:

"The acoustic management is not required to use your drive
effectively. Also, we do not recommend that you use this third party
software {HDTune] on your external hard drive. "

If I disable AAM the drive defaults to 254 using HDDScan. However, if
I keep the setting at 254 the HD is terribly noisy and nice and quite
at 128. Me so confused now. :-/

 

[Arno]

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:48:16 +1100, Franc Zabkar


I have looked at table 56 and I am somewhat confused with the numbers.
I do realize the higher the AAM the better the performance.

Just the other day I got an email from WD Tech support and they didnt
really answer my queston:

"The acoustic management is not required to use your drive
effectively. Also, we do not recommend that you use this third party
software {HDTune] on your external hard drive. "

If I disable AAM the drive defaults to 254 using HDDScan. However, if
I keep the setting at 254 the HD is terribly noisy and nice and quite
at 128. Me so confused now. :-/

There are some fundamental problems with acousic management.
The main one is that it is a vendore xtension and patented.
Some drives do not have it at all for that reason, some
have limited versions. Another triumpf for triviality
patends (which should be made criminal a.s.a.p.).

Set for what works for this disk and expect the next one to
work differently.

Arno

 

[Sam]

There are some fundamental problems with acousic management.
The main one is that it is a vendore xtension and patented.
Some drives do not have it at all for that reason, some
have limited versions. Another triumpf for triviality
patends (which should be made criminal a.s.a.p.).

Set for what works for this disk and expect the next one to
work differently.

I'm still confused...I am getting mixed info. WD tech implies that no
changes in setting is required yet, like the majority of posts so far,
the concensus seems to be to ENABLE AAM to the lowest performance
setting.

My primary concern is two fold: hardware damage and noise level.
Performance is not a big deal for me at this point.

 

[Ed Light]

I'm still confused...I am getting mixed info. WD tech implies that no
changes in setting is required yet, like the majority of posts so far,
the concensus seems to be to ENABLE AAM to the lowest performance
setting.

My primary concern is two fold: hardware damage and noise level.
Performance is not a big deal for me at this point.

128 will be easiest on the drive, due to softer, slower, seeks.
--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:
http://realnews.com

Iraq Veterans Against the War and Related:
http://ivaw.org
http://couragetoresist.org
http://antiwar.com

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

 

[Arno]

I'm still confused...I am getting mixed info. WD tech implies that no
changes in setting is required yet, like the majority of posts so far,
the concensus seems to be to ENABLE AAM to the lowest performance
setting.

My primary concern is two fold: hardware damage and noise level.
Performance is not a big deal for me at this point.

Ignore WD. Hardware damage is not a concern with regard to AAM.
Set the noise level that suits you.

Arno