What's your latest tech purchase?

[X71200]

Sound is good as well... for what it's worth.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Got two 8TB WD Elements external drives, and...

I don't know what happened, but they just sort of fell to pieces in my hands?


All joking aside, shucking these drives was ridiculously easy once I figured out exactly where the clips are. The outer shell sits on rails, held in place with four clips along the back, the drive and controller pcb are screwed together and held in place in the casing with four rubber blocks. Literally had the second one entirely disassembled in two minutes. This iFixit guide was great help. And with plastic pry tools, at least one of the casings has zero visible disassembly markings, meaning I could RMA the drive in the future should it fail prematurely. And, of course, I got two decent-looking SATA-to-USB controller boards and two 12V power bricks for my trouble as well.

But do they spin up on system boot? I tried to shuck a drive some time ago, and while getting the drive out was easy, when it was installed into the system as a sata drive is refused to spin up and show up in Windows. Put it back into the enclosure and it works perfectly. I think WD might have baked so magic sauce into their firmware to prevent the drive for working without their SATA/USB adapter attached..

 

[Solaris17]

But do they spin up on system boot? I tried to shuck a drive some time ago, and while getting the drive out was easy, when it was installed into the system as a sata drive is refused to spin up and show up in Windows. Put it back into the enclosure and it works perfectly. I think WD might have baked so magic sauce into their firmware to prevent the drive for working without their SATA/USB adapter attached..

You have to tape off a pin on the drive. For some models. The controller in the enclosure is doing the magic. The drives themselves that are affected usually only work on server backplanes otherwise

 

[sam_86314]

Got a 128GB microSD card to run Windows on my Steam Deck.

Performance has been much better than expected.

 

[lexluthermiester]

You have to tape off a pin on the drive. For some models. The controller in the enclosure is doing the magic. The drives themselves that are affected usually only work on server backplanes otherwise

I might have missed this, is there a walkthru for this procedure?

 

[sam_86314]

I might have missed this, is there a walkthru for this procedure?

I shucked a WD EasyStore a few years ago and got a white-label helium-filled drive.

Here's the tape mod I did. Basically, you need to cover the third pin from the key on the power connector (which receives 3.3v), or else the drive won't power on. You should use Kapton tape, but since I don't have any, I just used electrical tape.



Or you can take the nuclear option and cut that pin with a craft knife. That pin seems to serve no purpose other than disabling the drive.

 

[Calenhad]

I recently bought a Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 12 1500W power supply. Because my Corsair HX1000 was causing me grief. And there is nothing better than overkill.

 

[Palladium]

My new toys: iLoud Micro Monitor, Topping D50s DAC, JBL 305p Mk2, Topping D10 Balanced

 

[Mussels]

You just posted that to make @Mussels jealous, didn't you...

It worked, i want to steal his PCI-E cables

I'm pretty sure its the fan in my PSU that's dying, since it doesnt spin up til ~300W it very rarely ever activates
(I think it has a thermal based option too, and it spun up since it was one of the last hot days here with high ambients, but i didnt have room fans or AC on to drown it out like in summer)

Corsair PSU's look good on paper but my big problem with them is that they are designed to a 10 year lifespan. That's plenty for a lot of users but they could easily go further with a high-quality fan running at 100% duty cycle to increase the life of electrical components. I tend to think that Be Quiet do a lot better in that regard.

The fans are what dies first in most PSU's, then the heat takes the rest out (or, dust etc makes things heat up even with the fan on)
The entire point of higher efficiency PSU's is that they need less cooling, which results in lower noise.

If you want always on, 100% screamer fans to make your PSU last longer, buy enterprise server stuff.

I'm a big fan of fanless PSU modes, no airflow means no wear and tear on the fan as well as no dust buildup

You have to tape off a pin on the drive. For some models. The controller in the enclosure is doing the magic. The drives themselves that are affected usually only work on server backplanes otherwise

Ahah! I knew i'd ran into that ages ago with one external actually being a SAS drive or something, but as it was someone elses drive i never got to find out the actual situation

 

[kapone32]

Too much like work, my corsairs have all been the victim of a dumped drink or two, the solution is to unplug as quick as possible and run the whole keyboard under hot water from the tub faucet for 30-60 seconds, just need to wait a couple days while it dries. If you don't thoroughly douse it you can end up with sticky keys.

They certainly don't make them like they used to. I have spilled everything from Water to Maple Syrup on my keyboard but it has a plate separating the PCB so just remove some keys and wipe. I guess they really don't make them like they used to Logitech G510.

 

[freeagent]

I did just buy the smaller version of the M.2 coolers I bought a few weeks back. I just have to see if it fits under my FC140;. I just might...

 

[kapone32]

You have to tape off a pin on the drive. For some models. The controller in the enclosure is doing the magic. The drives themselves that are affected usually only work on server backplanes otherwise

I shucked a WD EasyStore a few years ago and got a white-label helium-filled drive.

Here's the tape mod I did. Basically, you need to cover the third pin from the key on the power connector (which receives 3.3v), or else the drive won't power on. You should use Kapton tape, but since I don't have any, I just used electrical tape.



Or you can take the nuclear option and cut that pin with a craft knife. That pin seems to serve no purpose other than disabling the drive.

This is wny I enjoyed the Seagate Expansion series. Their USB firmware was garbage but once you broke the enclosure it became a SATA HDD. It was regular for 3 TB Expansion drives to be cheaper than buying a regular Seagate drive,.

 

[Ruru]

I shucked a WD EasyStore a few years ago and got a white-label helium-filled drive.

Here's the tape mod I did. Basically, you need to cover the third pin from the key on the power connector (which receives 3.3v), or else the drive won't power on. You should use Kapton tape, but since I don't have any, I just used electrical tape.



Or you can take the nuclear option and cut that pin with a craft knife. That pin seems to serve no purpose other than disabling the drive.

A molex to SATA power adapter should work too, as it has only ground, 5V and 12V.

 

[Shou Miko]

A molex to SATA power adapter should work too, as it has only ground, 5V and 12V.

I use this even it got catsoup and mustard cables it's just easier.

 

[Ruru]

I use this even it got catsoup and mustard cables it's just easier.

And those cables aren't usually even in sight with even a slightly modern case.

 

[Shou Miko]

And those cables aren't usually even in sight with even a slightly modern case.

True, even my Fractal Design Meshify 2 is a mess in the back it's hidden away.

Even I want to get rid of my 10TB Whitelabel WD drive get another Seagate Exos X16 16TB drive it's really solid and do a really wonderful job so far

I just don't have the cash for it lately even it's kinda cheap.

 

[Ruru]

True, even my Fractal Design Meshify 2 is a mess in the back it's hidden away.

Even I want to get rid of my 10TB Whitelabel WD drive get another Seagate Exos X16 16TB drive it's really solid and do a really wonderful job so far

I just don't have the cash for it lately even it's kinda cheap.

Personally I don't use HDDs internally any more, so I'd keep it in the enclosure if I'd get an external one. Actually I got an enclosure for my 2TB drive an year ago.

 

[Shou Miko]

Personally I don't use HDDs internally any more, so I'd keep it in the enclosure if I'd get an external one. Actually I got an enclosure for my 2TB drive an year ago.

I do because they are faster then in an external enclosure usually and I need the space.

Plus I am also rocking 6xSilverstone CP11 Ultra Slim SATA cables I broght directly from Silverstone in Germany really friendly people.

Link: https://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=445&area=en

 

[Ruru]

I do because they are faster then in an external enclosure usually and I need the space.

Plus I am also rocking 6xSilverstone CP11 Ultra Slim SATA cables I broght directly from Silverstone in Germany really friendly people.

Link: https://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=445&area=en

I could use those as I have stupid SATA placement on my motherboard so those angled slim cables would be perfect. Wonder do they sell and ship to Finland, as they cost 10EUR per cable here.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

My new toys: iLoud Micro Monitor, Topping D50s DAC, JBL 305p Mk2, Topping D10 Balanced

Good DACS, both pretty good
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...nd-measurements-of-new-topping-d50s-dac.7914/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/topping-d10-balanced-review-usb-dac.25094/

 

[Shou Miko]

I could use those as I have stupid SATA placement on my motherboard so those angled slim cables would be perfect. Wonder do they sell and ship to Finland, as they cost 10EUR per cable here.

I couldn't even find them in my country so I emailed their sales email and I got a reply for the German department so you could try that I am not sure what you will have to pay per cable doe.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Personally I don't use HDDs internally any more, so I'd keep it in the enclosure if I'd get an external one. Actually I got an enclosure for my 2TB drive an year ago.

I have a 1TB i slot in/out for my system backup, but don't keep it in all the time. Have a 4TB in a external enclosure for soring films etc.

 

[Valantar]

But do they spin up on system boot? I tried to shuck a drive some time ago, and while getting the drive out was easy, when it was installed into the system as a sata drive is refused to spin up and show up in Windows. Put it back into the enclosure and it works perfectly. I think WD might have baked so magic sauce into their firmware to prevent the drive for working without their SATA/USB adapter attached..

You have to tape off a pin on the drive. For some models. The controller in the enclosure is doing the magic. The drives themselves that are affected usually only work on server backplanes otherwise

I might have missed this, is there a walkthru for this procedure?

The iFixit guide I linked previously covers how to do this in its last steps. Not a problem for me as my NAS has custom SATA power wiring that omits the 3.3V line entirely - though for the sake of testing with a different USB adapter I went ahead and taped over the pins anyhow. This was actually more time consuming than shucking the second drive just because the tape has to be really narrow so as to not cover neighbouring pins, but not so narrow as to not cover the whole pin. Took me a few tries to get it right, but it was easy enough. Spins up and is recognized immediately in my ancient HDD dock at least.

Personally I don't use HDDs internally any more, so I'd keep it in the enclosure if I'd get an external one. Actually I got an enclosure for my 2TB drive an year ago.

Yeah, I couldn't fathom building a PC with an internal HDD today. Just not acceptable in terms of noise, and definitely not SFF-friedly (even if my Meshlicious can fit 3.5" drives, it can't with my current build). Then again we've had a HTPC/NAS in a Node 304 since ... 2014? Something like that, which has served as bulk storage for the entire household since, and which inherited my Ryzen 1600X and morphed into a proper TrueNAS NAS last year. It sits stuffed away in a hallway closet, making its HDD noises where it doesn't matter and nobody cares. My only wish for it would be hot-swap HDD bays, other than that I absolutely love it. You'd need to pay me quite a lot to go back to having HDDs in my main PC. I just need to get that 2.5G Ethernet setup that I've been planning for years set up and running properly, and they'll even be as fast as having them mounted internally.

I do because they are faster then in an external enclosure usually and I need the space.

Plus I am also rocking 6xSilverstone CP11 Ultra Slim SATA cables I broght directly from Silverstone in Germany really friendly people.

Link: https://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=445&area=en

Aren't those discontinued? I used to periodically check for those back when the NAS was still in its old configuration, and could just never find them for sale anywhere except Aliexpress for exorbitant prices. Still, after getting a proper HBA with server-style cabling, that need has disappeared, as that's the same style of cable just with a single connector at the board end for 4 drives. Nice and tidy and easy to organize, love it.

Even I want to get rid of my 10TB Whitelabel WD drive get another Seagate Exos X16 16TB drive it's really solid and do a really wonderful job so far

I just don't have the cash for it lately even it's kinda cheap.

Wow, that's a nicely priced drive for what it is - it's even roughly the same price as an external drive! For comparison, my 8TB WD Elements drives cost me 1500SEK apiece, while WD Reds run about ~2400SEK for 8TB. Too bad it's 7200rpm though - that would make for a noisy and power hungry NAS. Though I guess the extra performance could be useful.

 

[Ruru]

I have a 1TB i slot in/out for my system backup, but don't keep it in all the time. Have a 4TB in a external enclosure for soring films etc.

I have also mostly media on my HDD, I'll upgrade it for a larger drive in some point. But it's practically as fast as internally, USB3.0 is fine.

 

[Shou Miko]

Aren't those discontinued? I used to periodically check for those back when the NAS was still in its old configuration, and could just never find them for sale anywhere except Aliexpress for exorbitant prices. Still, after getting a proper HBA with server-style cabling, that need has disappeared, as that's the same style of cable just with a single connector at the board end for 4 drives. Nice and tidy and easy to organize, love it.

Wow, that's a nicely priced drive for what it is - it's even roughly the same price as an external drive! For comparison, my 8TB WD Elements drives cost me 1500SEK apiece, while WD Reds run about ~2400SEK for 8TB. Too bad it's 7200rpm though - that would make for a noisy and power hungry NAS. Though I guess the extra performance could be useful.

I am don't think so they just ain't selling that properly why not may store have them in stock who wants to pay double or triple for ultra slim sata cables?

Well the exos drivers are server grade that's why they are 7200rpm with 256mb cache and they are perfect for my Plex