Some desktop and laptop computer systems allow the user to make a tradeoff between seek performance and drive noise. Faster seek rates typically require more energy usage to quickly move the heads across the platter, causing louder noises from the pivot bearing and greater device vibrations as the heads are rapidly accelerated during the start of the seek motion and decelerated at the end of the seek motion. Quiet operation reduces movement speed and acceleration rates, but at a cost of reduced seek performance.
Reference 1: Average latency [ms].
Reference 2 (Rotational speed [RPM]): 15,000, 10,000, 7,200, 5,400 and 4,800.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_drive
Reference 2 (Rotational speed [RPM]): 15,000, 10,000, 7,200, 5,400 and 4,800.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_drive
