Best NAS Hard Drives in 2024 (For Home & Office Users)

Best NAS Hard Drives in 2024 (For Home & Office Users)

NAS stands for network-attached storage, which means that these hard drives are connected to a network device (such as a router or a NAS enclosure) and can be accessed by multiple users or devices. NAS hard drives are useful for backing up data, sharing files, streaming media, and running applications. However, not all hard drives are suitable for NAS usage, as they may not be able to handle the constant workload, high temperature, and vibration that NAS environments entail. Therefore, it is important to choose a NAS hard drive that is specifically designed for this purpose.

Our Top Picks

Here are some of the best NAS hard drives that you can buy in 2024, according to our research and analysis:

1. Best Overall: Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS. This hard drive offers a great balance of performance, capacity, and reliability for most NAS users. It has a fast 7200 RPM speed, a large 256 MB cache, and a 300 TB/year workload rate. It also comes with the IronWolf Health Management system, which monitors the drive's health and performance and alerts you of any issues. The Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS is compatible with most NAS systems and supports up to 24 bays.

2. Best Value: Western Digital Red Plus 4TB NAS. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option that still delivers good performance and quality, the Western Digital Red Plus 4TB NAS is a good choice. It has a 5400 RPM speed, a 64 MB cache, and a 180 TB/year workload rate. It works well with up to 8-bay NAS systems and has a three-year warranty. The Western Digital Red Plus 4TB NAS also features the NASware technology, which optimizes the drive's performance and compatibility with NAS devices.

3. Best High-Capacity for Home: Seagate IronWolf 18TB NAS. For home users who need a lot of storage space for their media collections, backups, or personal projects, the Seagate IronWolf 18TB NAS is an excellent option. It has an impressive 18 TB capacity, a 7200 RPM speed, a 256 MB cache, and a 180 TB/year workload rate. It also has the IronWolf Health Management system and supports up to 8-bay NAS systems. The Seagate IronWolf 18TB NAS is one of the largest and most powerful NAS hard drives on the market.

4. Best High-Capacity for Business: Seagate Exos X20 20TB Enterprise HDD. For business users who need a high-performance and high-capacity drive for their demanding NAS applications, the Seagate Exos X20 20TB Enterprise HDD is a top-notch choice. It has an incredible 20 TB capacity, a blazing-fast 7200 RPM speed, a massive 512 MB cache, and a whopping 550 TB/year workload rate. It also has advanced features such as helium-sealed technology, power balance technology, and data protection services. The Seagate Exos X20 20TB Enterprise HDD is compatible with up to 24-bay NAS systems and has a five-year warranty.

5. Best Solid State Drive: Western Digital Red SA500. If you prefer a solid state drive (SSD) over a hard disk drive (HDD) for your NAS device, the Western Digital Red SA500 is a great option. SSDs have several advantages over HDDs, such as faster speed, lower power consumption, lower noise level, and higher durability. The Western Digital Red SA500 has a read speed of up to 560 MB/s and a write speed of up to 530 MB/s. It also has multiple capacities ranging from 500 GB to 2 TB and supports up to 8-bay NAS systems. The Western Digital Red SA500 is designed for 24/7 use and has a five-year warranty.

Buying guide

If you are looking for the best NAS hard drives for your network-attached storage device, you need to consider several factors before making a purchase. NAS hard drives are designed to run 24/7 and handle multiple users and devices accessing them simultaneously. They also need to be reliable, durable, and energy-efficient.

  • Capacity: How much storage space do you need for your data? NAS hard drives come in various sizes, ranging from 1 TB to 18 TB or more. Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose the capacity that suits you best.
  • Performance: How fast do you want your NAS hard drives to read and write data? NAS hard drives have different rotational speeds, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), and cache sizes, measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). Higher RPM and cache sizes mean faster performance, but they also consume more power and generate more heat and noise.
  • Compatibility: How compatible are your NAS hard drives with your NAS device and your network? NAS hard drives have different interfaces, such as SATA or SAS, and form factors, such as 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch. You need to make sure that your NAS hard drives match the specifications of your NAS device and that they support the network protocols and standards that you use.

Toshiba N300 4TB NAS 3.5-Inch Internal Hard Drive - CMR SATA 6 GB/s 7200 RPM 256 MB Cache - HDWG440XZSTA

FAQs

What is the difference between NAS hard drives and regular hard drives?

NAS hard drives are optimized for network-attached storage devices, while regular hard drives are designed for personal computers or laptops. NAS hard drives have features that make them more suitable for NAS environments, such as vibration resistance, error recovery control, workload rating, and firmware updates.

How long do NAS hard drives last?

NAS hard drives have a lifespan that depends on various factors, such as usage, temperature, humidity, power supply, and maintenance. Generally speaking, NAS hard drives can last from three to five years or more if they are well taken care of and used within their recommended limits.

Seagate IronWolf 14TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – CMR 3.5 Inch SATA 256MB Cache for RAID Network Attached Storage – Frustration Free Packaging (ST14000VN0008)

How many NAS hard drives do I need?

The number of NAS hard drives that you need depends on your storage needs and your RAID configuration. RAID stands for redundant array of independent disks, which is a way of combining multiple hard drives into one logical unit to improve performance, reliability, or both. There are different types of RAID levels, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, etc., each with its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to choose the RAID level that best suits your needs and then calculate how many NAS hard drives you need accordingly.

Conclusion

Choosing the best NAS hard drives for your network-attached storage device is not a simple task. You need to consider several factors, such as capacity, performance, compatibility, and RAID configuration. By doing so, you can ensure that you get the most out of your NAS hard drives and enjoy fast, reliable, and secure data storage. Remember to always check the specifications of your NAS device and your network before buying any NAS hard drives.

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