Seagate BarraCuda 4TB 3.5" Internal HDD

Neither PB Tech nor Seagate's official spec sheet let on that this drive is a SMR (shingled magnetoresistance) model which means writing performance is awful beyond a couple of Gb, particularly random writes. See:
https://old.reddit.com/r/Seagate/comments/foach9/i_feel_cheated_by_seagate_barracuda_2tb_2016_vs/
Drive does work but 2 stars for Seagate trying to hide this. Don't even think about trying to RAID this.
If write performance is important to you, consider the Western Digital Blue WD40EZRZ 4Tb instead, which is a PMR drive (like older hard drives). Both manufacturers are sneaking SMR drives into their lineup though without disclosin...view more Neither PB Tech nor Seagate's official spec sheet let on that this drive is a SMR (shingled magnetoresistance) model which means writing performance is awful beyond a couple of Gb, particularly random writes. See:
https://old.reddit.com/r/Seagate/comments/foach9/i_feel_cheated_by_seagate_barracuda_2tb_2016_vs/
Drive does work but 2 stars for Seagate trying to hide this. Don't even think about trying to RAID this.
If write performance is important to you, consider the Western Digital Blue WD40EZRZ 4Tb instead, which is a PMR drive (like older hard drives). Both manufacturers are sneaking SMR drives into their lineup though without disclosing them, even some WD RED drives now.

Good disk for archival purposes, but shouldn't be used as a general purpose hard drive for many use cases.

This drive uses SMR ("shingled" magnetic recording) that makes it unsuitable for sustained write loads. The drive can experience severe pauses (e.g. for upwards of 60 seconds) if the CMR zone fills up, making it fail during "resilvering", so should not be used for RAID. You shouldn't put these disks in e.g. a NAS box. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has chosen not to explicitly mention the disk uses SMR in their specifications. Good disk for archival purposes, but shouldn't be used as a general purpose hard drive for many use cases.

This drive uses SMR ("shingled" magnetic recording) that makes it unsuitable for sustained write loads. The drive can experience severe pauses (e.g. for upwards of 60 seconds) if the CMR zone fills up, making it fail during "resilvering", so should not be used for RAID. You shouldn't put these disks in e.g. a NAS box. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has chosen not to explicitly mention the disk uses SMR in their specifications.

I have this in raid with an SSD cache and it performs below expectations, this is most likely due to it being an SMR drive which wasn't listed on spec sheet. If you want mass storage and don't mind slow write speeds, this will suffice. However if you wanna put it in raid, you'd be better with a different drive. I have this in raid with an SSD cache and it performs below expectations, this is most likely due to it being an SMR drive which wasn't listed on spec sheet. If you want mass storage and don't mind slow write speeds, this will suffice. However if you wanna put it in raid, you'd be better with a different drive.

This is an SMR drive so the write performance is a lot less than you would expect. Appallingly bad in a NAS setup - I wish I'd known before buying two of them.
See https://blocksandfiles.com/2020/04/15/seagate-2-4-and-8tb-barracuda-and-desktop-hdd-smr/ This is an SMR drive so the write performance is a lot less than you would expect. Appallingly bad in a NAS setup - I wish I'd known before buying two of them.
See https://blocksandfiles.com/2020/04/15/seagate-2-4-and-8tb-barracuda-and-desktop-hdd-smr/

This HDD failed me three times. Constant ticking noise (ticks every 3-5 seconds) when it's in idle status will drive you mad if you're trying to concentrate in a quite room.
Highly not recommended unless you're ok with tick/beep noise.
wasted petrol/time - had to get it replaced three times and each one of them were making noises. Got it refunded at the end but it was such a bad experience overall This HDD failed me three times. Constant ticking noise (ticks every 3-5 seconds) when it's in idle status will drive you mad if you're trying to concentrate in a quite room.
Highly not recommended unless you're ok with tick/beep noise.
wasted petrol/time - had to get it replaced three times and each one of them were making noises. Got it refunded at the end but it was such a bad experience overall

Perfect for storing stuff I'll probably never need again. Perfect for storing stuff I'll probably never need again.

Currently using this as bulk storage for all my Steam games (plenty big enough so far), and it's definitely fast enough to play said games from. Currently using this as bulk storage for all my Steam games (plenty big enough so far), and it's definitely fast enough to play said games from.

It's a great price for the storage capacity however I'm disappointed that the drive is SMR (Shingled magnetic recording) without there being any information on the product page regarding this, aside from that it makes a great dedicated Plex drive but I wouldn't dare attempt using an SMR for anything outside of archival purposes It's a great price for the storage capacity however I'm disappointed that the drive is SMR (Shingled magnetic recording) without there being any information on the product page regarding this, aside from that it makes a great dedicated Plex drive but I wouldn't dare attempt using an SMR for anything outside of archival purposes

By: LXGaming 24/01/21

Verified Owner

Bought this hdd as it was this best for the price but when I put it in it made a weird noise because the header ended up being broken, once I got it replaced and put the new one my pc it was fine for a couple weeks but has just started making the same sound. I will be getting a refund and not buying this brand again. If you arent happy replacing a few times I would recommend spending a little more on a better brand. Bought this hdd as it was this best for the price but when I put it in it made a weird noise because the header ended up being broken, once I got it replaced and put the new one my pc it was fine for a couple weeks but has just started making the same sound. I will be getting a refund and not buying this brand again. If you arent happy replacing a few times I would recommend spending a little more on a better brand.

Nice drive, really big capacity, and a good price. Remember, if you want a partition larger than 2TB then the partition must be initialized GPT instead of MBR. Nice drive, really big capacity, and a good price. Remember, if you want a partition larger than 2TB then the partition must be initialized GPT instead of MBR.

Goes click and wirrrrrrrr in a very comforting fashion, you can put lots of stuff on it....and it's a loverly shade of green....
some of the screws are really shiny as well! Goes click and wirrrrrrrr in a very comforting fashion, you can put lots of stuff on it....and it's a loverly shade of green....
some of the screws are really shiny as well!

As another buyer reviewed this is a SMR drive, which is slightly cheaper than a CMR drive. HD manufacturers are somewhat reluctant to draw attention to the fact that some of their drives are SMR. The cost for the cheaper price is that the drive is slower to write.

As the drive fills up with data it gets slower. More full more slow. At approx 90% full this really become noticeable to the point where it is best to consider this a 7TB HDD (vs 8TB), which makes the 8TB Iron Wolf (CMR) cousin look somewhat better price wise.

Up to the point where it gets slow, all good. It does complete the storage to full, given time. So it is what it says ...view more As another buyer reviewed this is a SMR drive, which is slightly cheaper than a CMR drive. HD manufacturers are somewhat reluctant to draw attention to the fact that some of their drives are SMR. The cost for the cheaper price is that the drive is slower to write.

As the drive fills up with data it gets slower. More full more slow. At approx 90% full this really become noticeable to the point where it is best to consider this a 7TB HDD (vs 8TB), which makes the 8TB Iron Wolf (CMR) cousin look somewhat better price wise.

Up to the point where it gets slow, all good. It does complete the storage to full, given time. So it is what it says on the label with some small print attached.

In short there are drives more suited to being filled to capacity or placed in a NAS. After that is why Seagate, and others make different models.

Interestingly enough I bought a 4TB BarraCuda and it does not exhibit the same issue. Both are SMR HD.