Data Hoarder

24 readers

1 users here now

We are digital librarians. Among us are represented the various reasons to keep data -- legal requirements, competitive requirements, uncertainty of permanence of cloud services, distaste for transmitting your data externally (e.g. government or corporate espionage), cultural and familial archivists, internet collapse preppers, and people who do it themselves so they're sure it's done right. Everyone has their reasons for curating the data they have decided to keep (either forever or For A Damn Long Time (tm) ). Along the way we have sought out like-minded individuals to exchange strategies, war stories, and cautionary tales of failures.

founded 10 months ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

4TB disk advice (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hi,

I am looking to buy a 4TB SATA hard drive. Use case is backup about once a week with and external dock, looking for files every now and then.

The general idea is that I would have two of them, and use the method of storing them with one pebble to indicate where to backup next, so I have one security copy always.

Speed is not important, durability is. What should I buy?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (6 children)

If you have backups it doesn't matter much what you buy. It's not like there's much choice anyway. :)

Do you want to buy a small 2.5" one? Or a larger 3.5" one?

All the small ones are SMR these days, so that's something you should consider. Depending on exact use cases this may become very slow, and in case of error, like a sudden drop of power source which easily happens with externals, they also corrupt more easily (in other places, not just necessarily in the data you just wrote to them).

If you go for a bigger 3.5" drive go for a larger size and CMR. 4 TB is laughable and ultimately more expensive (EUR/$ per TB). I would recommend to look for 12TB and upwards with helium filled. The 18TB disks are the current price sweet spot it seems.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Thanks! It's 3.5. Where does it say whether a disc is CMR/SMR/Helium?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Typically in the specs sheet of the manufacturer. You have to read/ look closely. Best is to ask about a specific drive ID then we can tell more (out of experience).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! So I’m finally going with the wd blue 6tb cmr:

https://www.westerndigital.com/products/internal-drives/wd-blue-desktop-sata-hdd?sku=WD5000AZLX

Is it helium?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Unlikely. There used to be 8TB heliums at some point, but then WD replaced that line with air-filled ones. A process that at least went to the 10TB line too already, I believe. Your safe bet for helium is 14TB and up, I would say.

When you buy that 6TB drive make sure to get the WD60EZAX (aka CMR) and not the WD60EZAZ (aka SMR). It's one letter difference… if you buy from a random dealer they may send you the SMR.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm having trouble finding the blue where I live, so I think I'll go with the Red Plus 8TB, WD80EFZZ...is it helium or air?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

It's a 20% chance, I guess. Dunno. :) If it has a flat top surface and no air holes then it's Helium, else it's air.

That's a helium one: https://pcper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/d177-dsc00234-1280x640.jpg

That's an air one: https://cdn.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Western-Digital-WD-RED-8TB-Photo-view-angle-1-880x850.jpg

load more comments (2 replies)