I am interested in getting a Topfield TF5800 250GB (not the 160GB as I want to store MP3s as well).

I have heard that the Samsung HA250JC 250GB hard drive is a quiet drive. Is this true?

One supplier is selling the 250GB with a Seagate Drive. Is this any good or should I try and find a Samsung?

Thats interesting I thought all the 250s where Samsung. If it is any help I have a Seagate 160 and a Samsung 160. The only difference is the Samsung is very quiet indeed. Not that I find the Seagate noise enough to be a problem either.

I had a Seagate 160 in my Toppy but I have since changed it for an HA250JC. The Sammy is quieter, but if you have two boxes (of any type) and have a Sammy 250 in both of them you'll probably notice a sort of rhythmic whine modulated. Turn off one of the boxes and it'll stop.

Interestingly, or maybe not, I have since reused the Seagate 160 and formatted it in another Toppy I bought diskless for my father in law. Happy to relate that the Seagate is much quieter for having been reformmatted.

I'm not aware of the 250 being shipped with a Seagate drive... how odd...

Nigel.

I'm not even sure there is a Seagate 250GB CE drive, is there?

I asked the supplier if it was a Samsung drive and he said that he 'thought' it was a Seagate.

After reading your replies it may be the case that he was wrong.

If I had been aware that there may not even be a Seagate 250GB drive I would have asked him to confirm it but I just took what he said on face value.

Thank you for all your help.

It's not the end of the world, whatever it is. You can see the label on the drive though the vent holes, IIRC.