Noob question:

Looking at 2Tb drives @NewEgg and the NAS drives from Seagate and WD all say that they are optimized for 1-5 bays.  What does this mean if one had a server with 7 or more of these drives?  Is it just marketing speak, or warranty protection?

It means that it's meant to be used in those NAS devices that hold 5 hard drives (like the Synology Disk Station).  Those enclosures typically run hotter and Seagate and WD have designed their NAS drives with that (and RAID use) in mind.  Otherwise, the NAS drives run great in normal PC cases and should run cooler, since there is usually more room and more airflow in a traditional case.  It shouldn't have any bearing on the drive's warranty.

Thanks.  So if I were 7 hard drives in a mid-tower modded case (no backplane box, just open frame mounting), are these better/worse/same than the "AV" drives which they mention are for 24/7 use?

Thanks.  So if I were 7 hard drives in a mid-tower modded case (no backplane box, just open frame mounting), are these better/worse/same than the "AV" drives which they mention are for 24/7 use?

 

Neither.  Both are designed for 24/7 use ... and both have optimizations that minimize reset times, which can cause dropouts on RAID systems.    The difference between the two is largely a marketing issue.

 

    The difference between the two is largely a marketing issue.

 

Thanks Gary, that's what I thought. 

And perhaps more importantly - the amount of warranty each drive provides. Most 'NAS' drives offer 3 year warranty, some of the 'A/V' drives only offer 2 year warranty

 

Thanks.  So if I were 7 hard drives in a mid-tower modded case (no backplane box, just open frame mounting), are these better/worse/same than the "AV" drives which they mention are for 24/7 use?

 

Neither.  Both are designed for 24/7 use ... and both have optimizations that minimize reset times, which can cause dropouts on RAID systems.    The difference between the two is largely a marketing issue.

And perhaps more importantly - the amount of warranty each drive provides. Most 'NAS' drives offer 3 year warranty, some of the 'A/V' drives only offer 2 year warranty

 

Not sure which A/V drives you're referring to.  The only A/V drives I ever buy are the WD AV-GP units ... and they have 3 year warranties, just like their NAS units.    The Seagate SV series units are also marketed for A/V use, and also have 3 year warranties.

 

 

The point I was really trying to make is: A/V or NAS or .. whatever ... is just marketing BS.

 

There is no real difference between them. Sure they claim the drives are designed for 12 simultaneous streams of HD (woo, they can read at 48 megs a second!) ...

 

They're just HDs.

 

Until you get into enterprise, the only real defining factor on a HD is warranty.

Until you get into enterprise, the only real defining factor on a HD is warranty.

 

Don't agree.  The firmware is different, with tweaks to avoid drive recalibration activities that can cause dropped frames in A/V use or RAID dropouts in NAS use.  In addition, they are designed with excellent thermal control, so they tend to run cooler than their consumer "cousins."

 

While there's certainly some "marketing" aspect to warranties, it's also true that the manufacturers warrant some drives longer because they're simply designed to last longer.

 

But my comment was simply a question r.e. your statement that "some of the 'A/V' drives only offer 2 year warranty"  ==>  I'm not aware of any where that's true -- are you?

 

They made drives 7 years ago that could handle the stream of 12 simultaneous A/V streams at once ... aka 48 mbs a second.

 

yes, you are correct, any drive marketed as a 'a/v' drive is ... western digital. Those drives offer a 3 year warranty.

Thanks.  So if I were 7 hard drives in a mid-tower modded case (no backplane box, just open frame mounting), are these better/worse/same than the "AV" drives which they mention are for 24/7 use?

 

The NAS drives would be better as the AV drives lack the vibration enhancements made to NASworks for the multidrive installation. AV and NAS are not the same.

Very helpful info, thanks.  I'll go with the NAS drives rather than the AV drives.