Not that poster but I can also tell the difference in sound between filesystems, likely due to how they store their metadata and the resulting seek patterns. Th

Not that poster but I can also tell the difference in sound between filesystems, likely due to how they store their metadata and the resulting seek patterns. This is my subjective experience: Linux ext* series - mostly silent, but even periods of high disk usage tend to be on the quieter side - probably due to lots of caching MacOS - continuous, low-pitched "gritty" sound Windows FAT - periods of silence punctuated by occasional intermittent groans Windows NTFS - low rhythmic grunting, more continuous than FAT Windows 9x - rather quiet, although periods of heavy activity can produce quite high-pitched seeking sounds