Drives for NAS

keikeimok · 14 Feb 2015 at 21:07

I was wondering if there are real differences in the make of those RED WD drives vs GREEN or Purple.

Any Ideas? My oldest HDs been working fine for 6 years .... :rolleyes:

Meddling-Monk · 14 Feb 2015 at 22:22

If you're talking about actual functional difference, there's very little overall. The little extends to changes such as different warranty periods, firmware differences that supposedly enhance compatibility, Spatial balance checks, etc. Which all in little bits help in a unit that's running 24x7 etc.

If you're talking about if they're more likely to fail over another. Well... That's just based on luck.

I have a Quantum Sirroco and Fireball (2.5GB and 8GB) from 96 and onwards. Nearly 20 years old. Still going. On the other hand, I had some Maxtor's that failed in moments. And in another thread, there was a forum member who had some Red's die in unison for them. Despire the chances of that being highly remote.

Personally, I'd stick to the Red if using as NAS. The warranty would be the big thing for it compared to the others IMO.

keikeimok · 15 Feb 2015 at 07:52

I see...thank you so much for your input...Red it is then....now is the price...LOL

snips86x · 15 Feb 2015 at 07:55

+1 for reds. Designed for NAS units & you can't go wrong!

bledd · 15 Feb 2015 at 09:48

WD Red 6tb are only ~£3 per TB more expensive than the 4tb

Meddling-Monk · 15 Feb 2015 at 09:49

One last thing. If you are definitely getting the Red's, make sure when you get them that they are the NASware 3.0 variety. It'll say so on the packaging (and on sticker on drive). If it's not, send it back as wrong product and make sure you get the 3.0 variety (Unless you brought the 2.0's variety and knew of it). Apparently some retailers and vendors still had stock of 2.0's and were sending them off as 3.0's.

:: edit ::

This only applies to the 4GB and lower versions only. The larger versions (5+GB) don't have this issue as they weren't around during the 2.0 editions.

Quartz · 15 Feb 2015 at 09:52

Meddling-Monk said:
One last thing. If you are definitely getting the Red's, make sure when you get them that they are the NASware 3.0 variety.

Do tell.

keikeimok · 15 Feb 2015 at 20:01

wow...Thanks for the heads up!!!

There are 4 bays in the NAS. Max for 16 TB. Should I buy 4 TB now and expand the storage with time or just fill them up with 2 TB ?

bledd · 16 Feb 2015 at 12:51

Buy 6tb drives.

keikeimok · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:14

10 quid difference for the WD and Seagate 4 TB.....any idea? I think I will buy 2X 4TB first and later another 2X 4TB..

bledd · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:18

WD Red, 6TB

ED209 · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:20

I would go for the WD Reds, my work supply the sinology DS214J nas drives and they come with 2 x 2TB WD reds and they are not bad drives at all.

keikeimok · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:49

Thanks!

keikeimok · 17 Feb 2015 at 10:18

One more question..I was wondering if I add more HDD in the future, do I need to format the old ones?

Prophet · 17 Feb 2015 at 10:21

keikeimok said:
One more question..I was wondering if I add more HDD in the future, do I need to format the old ones?

Not unless you have them in a RAID setup.

keikeimok · 17 Feb 2015 at 10:40

I see... Cheers

KIA · 17 Feb 2015 at 10:49

keikeimok said:
One more question..I was wondering if I add more HDD in the future, do I need to format the old ones?

You can expand the array in the future if you use Synology hybrid RAID.

div0 · 17 Feb 2015 at 11:45

bledd. said:
WD Red 6tb are only ~£3 per TB more expensive than the 4tb

bledd. said:
Buy 6tb drives.

bledd. said:
WD Red, 6TB

You sound a bit unsure. Can you clarify which drive it is that you'd recommend?

shaf · 17 Feb 2015 at 12:10

I've bought 2x6tb WD Reds for my NAS recently.

I thought hard about which ones to get (3tb, 4tb or 6tb) and what quantity. In the end decided the extra space of the 6TB was worth the extra money.

bledd · 17 Feb 2015 at 13:28

div0 said:
You sound a bit unsure. Can you clarify which drive it is that you'd recommend?

1tb greens