The 10 Best Hard Drives For Raid, Tested And Researched

Dan Simmons By, Dan Simmons
Updated
Best Hard Drives For Raid
Best Hard Drives For Raid

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: Seagate ST4000VN008 Hard Drive

Seagate IronWolf hard drives are designed for NAS environments to ensure that you get maximum performance and reliability. With a 4TB capacity, IronWolf hard drives deliver less wear, and little or no sound noise/vibration. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: WD WDBFBE0160JBK Hard Drive

WD WDBFBE0160JBK Hard Drive with 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption and password protection. WD Purple drives are designed to provide performance and reliability with a design that’s trusted by professionals. This hard drive features automatic system backup, compatibility with USB 3.0 compatibility, and more. Read Review

3. Best Quality: TERRAMASTER Hard Drive

The TERRAMASTER Hard Drive is a rugged, reliable storage device with the capacity to store up to 100TB of data. The transfer speed of this disk can reach 220MB/s which is up to five times faster than standard hard drives. This drive features multiple RAID modes and can be used with any system that supports SATA 3.5 interface." Read Review

4. Best Efficient: Yottamaster Hard Drives

Yottamaster is a flexible, movable storage solution for 32TB enterprise-class storage. With the Ultra-durable aluminum housing, Yottamaster is designed to provide effective heat dissipation during high-performance computing. Read Review

5. Best Reliable: Western Digital(WD) BLUE Hard Drives

With WD Blue, you get the best of both worlds. You get a hard drive that looks good but also has the performance you need to meet your demanding computing needs. Each hard drive is optimized for 3D gaming and video editing with IntelliSeek technology, Data LifeGuard for advanced health monitoring, and NoTouch Ramp Load technology for safety. Read Review

Do you ever have problems with your computer’s storage? Maybe you have a bunch of photos that you want to save or maybe you store your music and movies on an external drive. Whatever the case may be, if you’re having trouble finding enough storage space for all of your files, a hard drive upgrade could be just what you need. A good hard drive can greatly increase the performance of your computer and one that’s specifically designed for use in a RAID system can even improve its reliability as well.

Hard drives are used to store everything from programs, photos, music, and movies to documents, spreadsheets, and other files that we need access to. Most computers come with only one internal hard drive but if yours is old or broken, it might not be enough to store all of your data. Fortunately upgrading your internal hard drive isn’t difficult at all and there are plenty of great options out there right now that will help free up space for other uses. In this article, we take a look at some of the best hard drives for adding additional storage space and speeding up your computer as well as some tips on how to find the best upgrade for your needs.

You can count on our team of experts who have spent over 17 hours conducting results through 3,068 real customer reviews. Because of this, We came to the conclusion that the best hard drives for raid is Seagate ST4000VN008 Hard Drive. Seagate IronWolf offers powerful performance, adaptability, and reliability. With less wear, little or no sound noise/vibration, and the ability to easily monitor drive health. With an extremely affordable price, this is the ideal choice for you a WD WDBFBE0160JBK Hard Drive is another choice for you while keeping the product's quality and functionality.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Seagate ST4000VN008  Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.9
Seagate

Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise/vibration, no lags or down time, increased file sharing performance, and much more

IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8 bay, multi user NAS environments craving powerhouse performance

Store more and work faster with a NAS optimized hard drive providing 4TB and cache of up to 64MB

Easily monitor the health of drives using the integrated IronWolf Health Management system and enjoy long term reliability with 1M hours MTBF

TOP Choice #2 WD WDBFBE0160JBK  Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.7
Western Digital

256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection

2x USB 3.0 hub ports

Massive capacity storage with auto and system backup

RAID-0 ready out of the box

USB 3.1 Gen 1-ready, USB 3.0 compatibility

TOP Choice #3 TERRAMASTER  Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.6
TERRAMASTER

Various applications. Great for video editing, photo backup, storage of R&D technical documents, archival backup, music libraries, financial records, storage of video surveillance recordings and corporate data storage. Featuring an aluminum-alloy shell and low-noise fans, D5-300 is extremely solid and reliable with good heat dissipation capabilities and low noise production.

D5-300 is equipped with brand new USB 3.1(Gen1) type-C high-speed interface and compatible with Mac (not compatible with macOS Monterey), Windows and Linux computers, and also works with the computers possessing the Thunderbolt 3 interface.

Supports multiple RAID modes: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, CLONE, JBOD, and Single Disk. RAID 5 is recommended as the best option for D5-300, which balances between data security and storage capacity.

Relying on the USB 3.1 Gen1 super speed protocol, the D5-300’s transmission speeds can reach up to 220MB/s (Tested with dedicated NAS drives 4TB RAID 0).

Up to 100TB storage capacity. D5-300 can support five (5) SATA hard drives, is compatible with 20TB 3.5 inch SATA hard drive, and has a total storage capacity up to 100TB ( in RAID0). Compatible with various hard drives including 3.5" SATA hard drives, 2.5" SATA hard drives and SSD. (Note: users need to purchase their own hard drives. HDD's are not included.)

4 Yottamaster Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.4
Yottamaster

【Support 2.5"/3.5" HDD & SSD】Yottamaster 2 bay hdd enclosure raid is designed for both 2.5" SSDs where speed is the priority and for 3.5" HDDs when it's important to maximize the storage capacity.The removable aluminum trays allow for easy installation and replacement of the drives. Your hard drives can be firmly fixed on the tray by provided screws, which can effectively protect your hdds from shock and interface damage.

【32TB Enterprise-class Storage Capacity】This dual bay raid enclosure supports 2 hard drives(2.5"/3.5") with a maximum capacity of 32 TB and 16 TB for single disk. With two indicator lights to monitor the operating status of each hard drive. Plug-and-play hot swapping. Manage media from multiple cameras on location or in the studio with up to 32TB of RAID storage in one system.

【6Gbps Transfer Rate】This raid hard drive enclosure adopt SATA III protocol, with a transfer speed up to 5Gbps(MAX). Support UASP, which makes it 20% faster than conventional USB 3.0. Compatible with most Windows and Mac and Linux systems. Provide flexible storage for demanding workflows.

【40mm Silent Fan Inside】The 2 Bay USB 3.0 SATA hard drive enclosure is all Aluminum design. With front and rear cooling holes. An ultra durable aluminum enclosure provides efficient heat dissipation, plus an extra 40mm rear fan accelerate air convection and keeps your drives cool during long hours of operation. Meanwhile supported 10mins Intelligent Sleep(Note: The Auto-sleep time can be adjusted/canceled.)

【Transportable, Flexible Storage Solution】The transportable 2 bay hard drive enclosure hardware RAID solution with SATAIII 6Gbps transfer offering content creators large capacity and high-powered performance. Supports RAID 0/1/JBOD/CLONE/PM RAID modes. Featuring a versatile USB 3.0 Type-B interface to meet the needs of the flexible storage.

1 Year Seller Warranty

NoTouch Ramp Load Technology: Safely positions the recording head off the disk surface to protect your data.

Actual Drive might be different from the picture. Package includes a hard drive only - no screws, cables, manuals included. Please purchase mounting hardware and cables separately if necessary.

IntelliSeek: Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise and vibration.

Data LifeGuard: Advanced algorithms monitor your drive continuously so it stays in optimum health.

6 OWC  Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.1
OWC

Supports 2 x SATA HDDs. All Cables included

1 Year OWC Limited Warranty

Hardware RAID 0, 1, span, and independent modes

Fast USB 3.1 Gen 1 & eSATA connectivity-Accelerate your workflow with transfer speeds up to 407MB/s

0 GB Dual bay USB 3.1 Gen 1 and eSATA equipped performance RAID enclosure

7 Seagate IronWolf 8TB Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.0
Seagate

Store more and work faster with a NAS-optimized hard drive providing 8TB and cache of up to 256MB

IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8-bay, multi-user NAS environments craving powerhouse performance

Easily monitor the health of drives using the integrated IronWolf Health Management system and enjoy long-term reliability with 1M hours MTBF

Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise/vibration, no lags or down time, increased file-sharing performance, and much more

8 Western Digital 28 TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.9
Western Digital

The My Book Duo drive has massive capacity ideal for storing photos, videos, documents, and music. It’s super-fast when using the USB Type-C port and is universally compatible (supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 / USB 3.0 / USB 2.0) with all cables included. Two USB Type-A hub ports deliver flexibility for additional accessories.

USB 3.2 GEN 1/3.0 HUB PORTS. The My Book Duo drive can serve as a quasi-docking station with 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1/ USB 3.0 Type-A hub ports for accessories, including additional storage, keyboard, mouse, card readers, and USBs, or phone sync and charge..256-BIT AES HARDWARE ENCRYPTION AND PASSWORD PROTECTION. The My Book Duo drive comes with 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption built in to help keep private content secure. Set a personalized password to activate hardware encryption and data protection.

USB 3.2 GEN 1-READY, USB 3.0 COMPATIBILITY. Compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.0, the My Book Duo drive works to deliver high-speed connectivity no matter the interface. Includes both SuperSpeed USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables.

MASSIVE CAPACITY. The My Book Duo drive has up to 36TB capacity with a single cable. Free up valuable space on all your computers. Store and back up your photo, video, and music collections, and important documents in one reliable place.

RAID 0 READY OUT OF THE BOX. Ready to perform at maximum speed and capacity in default mode, RAID-0. Reconfigure the drive to RAID-1 for redundancy (data mirroring), or use it as two independent drives (JBOD) with the included software.

9 Seagate ST6000VN0033 Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.8
Seagate

IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8-bay, multi-user NAS environments craving powerhouse performance

Easily monitor the health of drives using the integrated IronWolf Health Management system and enjoy long-term reliability with 1M hours MTBF

Store more and work faster with a NAS-optimized hard drive providing 6TB and cache of up to 256MB

Three-year limited warranty protection plan included

Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise/vibration, no lags or down time, increased file-sharing performance, and much more

10 Oyen Digital  Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.6
Oyen Digital

Bus-powered or external adapter power (included)

Configurable for JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, & BIG modes. No software required.

Supports two 2.5-inch SATA drives (HDD or SSD) up to 15mm height

Interface: USB-C (Compatible with USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3). It is not compatible with Thunderbolt 2 or earlier.

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What To Know About The best hard drives for raid Before Purchasing It

There are numerous factors to consider buying a product. In the section below, we will give you some key points to pay attention to prior to buying a best hard drives for raid. Of course, It’s indispensable for buyers to do some research before making a purchase so that they won’t end up with something that can’t meet their expectations.

In this post, with our useful and available tips for shopping, we will make it easier for you to select and make the best decisions when tending to own the best hard drives for raid. Here is your area! Give it your attention and make it your assistant.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

FAQs

What is the best hard drive to use for RAID?

The best hard drive to use for RAID will depend on your specific needs. Generally, SATA drives are reliable and cost-effective for most scenarios, although SAS drives are often used for applications that require higher performance. When considering RAID, it is important to choose drives that are designed for RAID and have the same specifications, such as spindle speed and capacity. Additionally, some drives are optimized for RAID, so it is important to research the specific drive to ensure it is suitable for your needs.

What is RAID?

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a storage technology that combines multiple hard drives into a single storage system. RAID provides redundancy, improved performance, and increased storage capacity by combining multiple hard drives into a single array.

What are the different types of RAID?

The most common types of RAID are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10. RAID 0 provides improved performance but no redundancy. RAID 1 provides redundancy but no improved performance. RAID 5 provides both improved performance and redundancy. RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1 and provides both improved performance and redundancy.

Conclusion

Hopefully, our sharing above will take you much closer with your best hard drives for raid. The model we suggested for you is equipped with all things you may need. Nevertheless, suppose you have a fancy for another one, we highly recommend BUFFALO Hard Drives. To conclude, we wish you a pleasant shopping time. And if there is any problem related to this article that you wonder about, please contact us soon for timely answers. It's our pleasure to serve you!


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About Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons is a writer who loves home theater and HiFi audio. As the editor of TheAudioInsights, he has helped countless people enjoy the best possible sound quality in their homes. He is an audiophile who takes great pleasure in helping others find the perfect audio equipment for their needs. When he's not writing or editing, Dan enjoys listening to music and spending time with his family.