I’m not anywhere close to the point where I’ll be constantly transferring data. I’ll be using it mostly as a plex server, not yet remotely for other people or myself either. Is the premium for NAS drives truly warranted for the average user? Or at that point, are NAS rated drives more just the only way to get drives over 5TB~ capacity in the first place?

  • HTWingNutBEnglish
    2·
    11 months ago

    WD Blue 8TB is a CMR drive and just as good as any NAS drive. But I’d avoid any consumer grade hard drives 8TB and under:

    • Seagate Barracuda / Barracuda Compute
    • WD Blue (except 8TB)
    • WD Red (Red Plus and Red Pro are fine tho)
    • Toshiba DT02
    • Toshiba P300
    • Far_Marsupial6303BEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      For completeness, the external Seagate FireCudas, 3.5" 8TB and 2.5" 5TB are SMR.

    • Far_Marsupial6303BEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      +1

      You’ve listed all the 3.5" consumer drives. Though WD Red is listed as a NAS drive.

      Barring an unfounded conspiracy, there is no >8TB DM-SMR drive drives. There are >8TB HM-SMR drives in the NAS and Enterprise lines, but they require specialized hardware and software.

      In addition for completeness, all consumer 2.5" Seagate and WD drive >500GB are SMR. The 9.5mm Toshiba L200 1TB is CMR, but the 7mm model is SMR.

  • avebelleBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I think it depends on your needs and use case. Are you housing critical data? Using in a harsh environment? Are you okay taking on a little risk? Only you can determine if it’s worth it.

  • Far_Marsupial6303BEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Two thumbs up to those who are posting that NAS and by inferred extension, Enterprise drives aren’t necessarily any better for home use.

    However, since NAS/Enterprise labeling is now 98% marketing, there really isn’t much of a decision necessary today. Other than the handful of drive lines HTWingNut posted and another handful of specialized surveillance drives, everything else is NAS or Enterprise.

  • darkfiremp3@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I am the guy running used enterprise drive for $5 a TB. I do raid z2 and keep an extra on hand. I am not the right person to say…

  • Far_Marsupial6303BEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    For completeness, I’ll add the only other type of generally available drive category currently available, surveillance drives, which are designed/tweaked for 24/7 writes.
    Seagate Skyhawk - All CMR
    Seagate Skyhawk AI - All CMR
    Seagate Skyhawk Lite - All SMR

    WD Purple - All CMR
    WD Purple Pro - All CMR

    Toshiba S300 - All CMR