Is this HD noise normal?

[Vernotheinferno]

Hey, the first imac I purchased (i5 with 1 TB Seagate) was making a lot of HD noise. It was like a rhythmic tapping noise; every two seconds it would make three loud taps. Even when I would close all programs it just kept tapping away. So, I called AppleCare and they said it was abnormal and they suggested I return it. Well, my replacement sounded exactly the same, so again I called AppleCare and this time they asked me to take it into the local store. The guy at the genius desk said it sounded like a failing HD, so again it was replaced. Now, my third imac is making the same exact noise. Apple keeps telling me it shouldn't be making this noise, but you cant tell me that all three computers had failing HD's right out of the box.

So, are these seagate HD's just incredibly noisy or what? I suppose I can live with it even though I think its unacceptable that a $2500 computer sounds like this. I just don't understand why apple keeps telling me that all the noise is suggestive of a failing drive. Is everyone experiencing this, or should I keep returning until i get a drive that isn't making these noises? Thanks.

 

[ITS ME DAVID]

Heard only way around this was to upgrade to the 2tb made by a different manufactor.

 

[Felias]

Can you record it somehow? It's hard to tell... The Seagate does indeed have a pretty noisy usage sound, but it shouldn't be constantly rythmical. Mine also has phases where it is rythmical for half a minute or so, but then it gets back to the normal "noise".

 

[Vernotheinferno]

Can you record it somehow? It's hard to tell... The Seagate does indeed have a pretty noisy usage sound, but it shouldn't be constantly rythmical. Mine also has phases where it is rythmical for half a minute or so, but then it gets back to the normal "noise".

I'm actually away from home for a week so I can't. All I can say is that I can sit at he computer for more than an hour and the entire time it will make anywhere from 2 to 3 taps every 2 or 3 seconds. All three computers have sounded exactly the same. There are times when it wont do it, but once it starts it goes on for along time, hours or more.