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Best Hard Drives For Nas (2024 Updated)

If you’re looking for reliable and long-lasting storage solutions for your Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, then you may want to consider using hard drives specifically designed for NAS. These hard drives provide enhanced reliability, durability and seamless data transfer, all of which are essential for maintaining a stable and protected NAS system.

Before choosing a hard drive for your NAS, consider the storage capacity you require, the compatibility of the hard drive with your NAS system, the level of performance you need, and your budget. It's also important to consider the type of hard drive you need, whether it be a traditional hard drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), as each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. It's important to research and compare different options before making a decision.

Are you tired of struggling with slow and inefficient data transfers on your NAS? Do you want to have the peace of mind that your data is always secure and protected? If so, then upgrading to a hard drive specifically designed for NAS could be the solution you're looking for. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Keep reading to find out more about what to consider when choosing hard drives for NAS and take the first step in securing your data.

10 Best Hard Drives For Nas

# Product Image Product Name Product Notes Check Price
1
This product is ideal for expanding storage with multiple hard drives and daisy chaining, supporting up to 270TB of data.
2
Ideal for high-capacity storage and reliable performance in NAS systems for businesses, creative professionals, and home users.
3
The product is ideal for network storage, file server, computer network attached storage, private cloud, and NAS storage.
4
Ideal for NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems that require reliable performance and high storage capacity for personal or business use.
5
Ideal for home storage and cloud access with included hard drives, making it easy to access files from anywhere.
6
This product is ideal for storing and accessing multiple 2.5" hard drives using a Mini-SAS SFF-8088 connection.
7
It is ideal for network-attached storage (NAS) systems, providing high capacity and reliable performance.
8
The product is ideal for computer network attached storage, private cloud, NAS storage, network storage, and file server purposes.
9
This product is ideal for use in surveillance systems requiring high-capacity storage space.
10
This hard drive is ideal for storing large amounts of data securely and reliably with quick access speeds.
This product is ideal for expanding storage with multiple hard drives and daisy chaining, supporting up to 270TB of data.
Ideal for high-capacity storage and reliable performance in NAS systems for businesses, creative professionals, and home users.
The product is ideal for network storage, file server, computer network attached storage, private cloud, and NAS storage.
Ideal for NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems that require reliable performance and high storage capacity for personal or business use.
Ideal for home storage and cloud access with included hard drives, making it easy to access files from anywhere.
This product is ideal for storing and accessing multiple 2.5" hard drives using a Mini-SAS SFF-8088 connection.
It is ideal for network-attached storage (NAS) systems, providing high capacity and reliable performance.
The product is ideal for computer network attached storage, private cloud, NAS storage, network storage, and file server purposes.
This product is ideal for use in surveillance systems requiring high-capacity storage space.
This hard drive is ideal for storing large amounts of data securely and reliably with quick access speeds.

1. 5 Bay Usb-C Hard Drive With Daisy Chain

Looking for an efficient and reliable way to store and manage your vast amount of data? Look no further than Yottamaster's 5-bay USB C daisy chain hard drive enclosure! With a maximum capacity of 90 TB per drive and the ability to daisy chain two additional peripheral devices, this high-performance external storage solution offers a monster 270TB enterprise-class storage capacity in total. Plus, its USB3.1 GEN2(Type-C) protocol provides ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, making it compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux devices.

This Yottamaster 5 bay external hard drive enclosure features five metal removable trays that can accommodate both 2.5-inch SSDs and 3.5-inch HDDs, making it ideal for users who need to balance speed and storage capacity. The hard drives are firmly secured by provided screws, which effectively protect the drives against shock and interface damage.

Built with an all-aluminum body and an 80mm silent fan, this USB C hard drive enclosure is designed to offer stable and solid structure while running, ensuring long-term use. The meteor cooling holes on the front and rear panel, along with the ultra-cool aluminum casing, help keep your drives cool and safe during long hours of operation.

With the ability to daisy chain external devices, this 5 bay USB C drive enclosure offers you more possibilities and flexibility in handling your workflow in the fastest speed possible. Plus, the indicator lights allow you to easily monitor the working status of your hard drive at a glance.

Important Note: The enclosure will enter into sleep mode after 10 minutes of data inactivity, but this function can be adjusted or cancelled using our firmware or third-party software like Amphetamine, KeepAliveHD, or Prevent Disk Sleep. Also, for non-RAID version enclosures, please set up RAID with the tools in your system, such as Mac OS system's RAID Assistant in Disk Utility. The RAID software on the official website is only for RAID enclosures.

Pros

  • Massive 270TB storage capacity
  • Ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps
  • Accommodates both 2.5-inch SSDs and 3.5-inch HDDs
  • All-aluminum body and 80mm silent fan for stable and solid structure
  • Daisy chain capability for more possibilities and flexibility
  • Indicator lights for easy monitoring of working status

Cons

  • – Requires firmware or third-party software adjustment to cancel sleep mode
  • – Non-RAID version enclosures require manual RAID setup

2. Pro Performance Storage: Wd Red 16tb Hdd

The Western Digital Red Pro NAS Hard Drive is the perfect solution for businesses and professionals who need reliable and high-capacity storage. It is available in capacities ranging from 2 to 22TB, making it suitable for NAS systems with up to 24 bays. Please note that the stated capacity is based on 1 billion bytes per gigabyte and 1 trillion bytes per terabyte. The actual user capacity may be less depending on the operating environment.

With a workload rate of up to 300TB per year, this hard drive can handle heavy workloads with ease. Its Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. It is annualized based on the amount of data transferred and the recorded power-on hours of the drive. The Workload Rate may vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.

The Western Digital Red Pro NAS Hard Drive is designed to provide enhanced reliability with 3D Active Balance Plus technology and error recovery controls with NASware 3.0 technology. This ensures that your data is protected and your drive lasts longer. Each drive undergoes extended testing to ensure reliable operation, so you can trust this hard drive to perform at its best.

The Western Digital Red Pro NAS Hard Drive comes with a 5-year limited warranty, ensuring that you have peace of mind and protection against any defects or issues. Please refer to the official Western Digital website for regional specific warranty details.

Pros

  • High-capacity storage of up to 22TB
  • Suitable for NAS systems with up to 24 bays
  • Can handle heavy workloads with ease
  • Enhanced reliability with 3D Active Balance Plus technology and error recovery controls with NASware 3.0 technology
  • Undergoes extended testing for reliable operation
  • Comes with a 5-year limited warranty

3. Terastation 3420dn 8tb Desktop Nas W/ Hard Drives

The Professional Grade Network Attached Storage is a top-of-the-line storage solution that is optimized to organize, store, share, and backup important files. It is a reliable storage device that offers effortless setup with RAID 5 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection, saving you time and effort. Additionally, it is purpose-built for data protection and features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.

The device offers cloud integration and can easily sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability. With its 8 TB capacity, you can store a vast amount of important files, and it comes with four pre-tested NAS-grade hard drives. The device ships in RAID 5 for 6 TB usable capacity and can be changed to RAID 6 for more redundancy or RAID 0 for full 8 TB.

The device offers peace of mind for its users with a 3-year warranty that includes hard drive coverage and 24/7 award-winning US-based support. Additionally, it is made in Japan and is of the highest quality. The device offers fast data transfers with its native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed. It also offers remote management service, allowing you to manage multiple NAS from a single console, saving time and resources. The device also qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award-winning support when registered.

Pros

  • 256-bit drive encryption and closed system for data protection
  • Effortless setup with RAID 5 pre-configured
  • Cloud integration with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive
  • 8 TB capacity with pre-tested NAS-grade hard drives included
  • Fast data transfers with native 2.5GbE port
  • Remote management service for managing multiple NAS from a single console
  • Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award-winning support
  • 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7 US-based support
  • Made in Japan with high-quality materials

Cons

  • – May be expensive for some users
  • – Limited storage capacity compared to other NAS devices on the market
  • – May require technical knowledge to fully utilize all features

4. The Wd Red Plus: Your Ultimate Nas Solution

The WD Red Plus is the ideal solution for small or medium businesses that require reliable and efficient storage. With a capacity ranging from 1-14TB, this hard drive is perfect for use in NAS systems with up to 8 bays. It features a 5400RPM performance class and supports a workload rate of up to 180 TB/yr*. The workload rate is calculated by multiplying the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive with the number of recorded power-on hours in a year. The WD Red Plus also comes with NASware firmware, which ensures compatibility with a wide range of NAS systems in a 24×7 environment. This model uses CMR technology, which sets it apart from the current 'WD Red' product that uses SMR technology. The CMR technology delivers superior performance and reliability compared to SMR technology. The WD Red Plus comes with a 3-year limited warranty, which guarantees peace of mind to the users.

During the transition period, some WD Red Plus devices may be delivered with a 'WD Red' label. However, customers can rest assured that the device they are receiving will be the CMR-version of WD Red, which can be confirmed by the model number. The WD Red Plus is a reliable, efficient, and high-performance hard drive that is perfect for small or medium businesses that require 24×7 storage solutions.

Pros

  • High capacity ranging from 1-14TB
  • Supports up to 8 bays
  • 5400RPM performance class
  • Supports up to 180 TB/yr workload rate*
  • NASware firmware ensures compatibility with a wide range of NAS systems
  • CMR technology delivers superior performance and reliability compared to SMR technology
  • 3-year limited warranty

5. Home Cloud Storage Device With 4tb Capacity

Looking for a storage solution that is both easy to set up and secure? The NAS from this product is the perfect choice. With its hassle-free installation process, you can have it up and running in no time. And, because it comes with a hard drive included, there's no need for a computer to set it up. Simply connect it to your router and enjoy instant shared network storage for all your devices, including PC, macOS, Android, and iOS.

This subscription-free personal cloud allows you to store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges. And, with data security a top priority, the NAS features a closed system that reduces vulnerabilities from third-party apps, as well as SSL encryption for secure file transfers.

Not only can you back up multiple computers and devices with ease thanks to the included PC backup software and automated backup options, but you can also securely share files with family and friends. Create individual access to folders to ensure your data remains private while still securely sharing storage space or files with others.

The NAS also makes organizing and securing your data a breeze. With this easy-to-access central storage location, you'll no longer have to search through different external drives or cloud accounts to find what you need. With 4TB of capacity and one drive bay, this NAS is made in Japan with quality devices. And, with 24/7 US-based support and a two-year warranty (including hard drives), you can have peace of mind knowing you're covered.

Pros

  • Hassle-free installation with a hard drive included
  • Subscription-free personal cloud
  • Data security features with a closed system and SSL encryption
  • Back up multiple computers and devices with included PC backup software
  • Securely share files with family and friends with individual access to folders
  • Organize and secure your data with an easy-to-access central storage location
  • 4TB capacity with one drive bay and made in Japan with quality devices
  • 24/7 US-based support and a two-year warranty (including hard drives) for added peace of mind

6. Silverstone 8-Bay Mini Sas Hard Drive Enclosure

The Mini-SAS SFF-8088 enclosure is a high-performance storage solution that supports up to eight 2.5" SAS/SATA 6 Gbit/s drives. With a maximum transfer speed of 48 Gbps, this enclosure is designed for demanding applications that require fast and reliable data transfer.

Each drive is equipped with an individual metal key lock for extra security, and the enclosure features an independent drive status LED that allows users to easily monitor the status of each drive. Additionally, the built-in cooling fan ensures excellent heat dissipation to prevent overheating and improve system reliability.

The Mini-SAS SFF-8088 enclosure is fully compatible with all 2.5" drives up to 15mm thickness and supports SATA Hot-Swap function for easy drive replacement. The complete retail pack includes a Mini-SAS SFF-8088 to Mini-SAS SFF-8088 cable, a Mini-SAS SFF-8087 to SATA 7 pin cable, a power adapter card, and a Mini-SAS adapter, making it easy to set up and use right out of the box.

Pros

  • Supports up to eight 2.5" SAS/SATA 6 Gbit/s drives
  • Individual metal key lock for each drive for extra security
  • Built-in cooling fan for excellent heat dissipation
  • Fully supports SATA Hot-Swap function
  • Complete retail pack includes all necessary cables and adapters

Cons

  • – May not be compatible with larger drives over 15mm thickness

7. Wd Red 6tb Nas Hard Drive: Bigger, Better Storage

Looking for a reliable hard drive for your personal or home office NAS system? Look no further than this high-performance, high-capacity hard drive. With capacities ranging from 2-6TB and support for up to 8 bays, this drive is perfect for daily workloads associated with personal and home office environments. And with its 5400RPM performance class, you can be sure that it will deliver fast and reliable performance every time.

One of the key features of this hard drive is its NASware firmware, which ensures compatibility with a wide range of NAS systems. This firmware is specifically designed to provide the necessary background operations required for optimal NAS performance, while also ensuring that your data is safe and secure.

Additionally, this hard drive is capable of supporting up to 180 TB/yr Workload Rate*. This is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive, and is annualized based on the TB transferred and recorded power-on hours. This means that you can rely on this hard drive to handle even the most demanding workloads with ease.

Finally, you can rest assured that your investment is protected thanks to the drive's 3-year limited warranty. So why wait? Upgrade your NAS system with this high-performance hard drive today!

Pros

  • High-capacity and high-performance
  • NASware firmware ensures compatibility with a wide range of NAS systems
  • Supports up to 180 TB/yr Workload Rate* for demanding workloads
  • Comes with a 3-year limited warranty for added peace of mind

8. 8tb Buffalo Terastation: Your Private Cloud Storage Solution

The Professional Grade Network Attached Storage is the perfect solution for organizing, storing, sharing, and backing up your important files. It is optimized for efficient data management that ensures your data is always secure and easily accessible.

The device comes with a pre-configured RAID 1 setup that provides out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort. With 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features, your data is always safe and secure.

The storage device integrates seamlessly with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability. The storage capacity is 8 TB, with 2 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. The device ships in RAID 1 for 4 TB usable capacity, but you can change it to RAID 0 for full 8 TB storage capacity.

The device comes with a 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. Additionally, it qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award-winning support when registered. It is quality made in Japan, with a native 2.5GbE port for high-speed data transfer with no cable upgrade needed. You can also save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console with the remote management service.

In summary, the Professional Grade Network Attached Storage is a reliable and flexible solution for managing your important data. It provides optimal data protection and secure cloud integration, with a fast and efficient data transfer rate to ensure your data is always accessible.

Pros

  • Pre-configured RAID 1 setup for out-of-the-box protection
  • 256-bit drive encryption, closed system, and flexible replication and backup features for data protection
  • Seamless integration with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive for hybrid cloud setup
  • 8 TB storage capacity with 2 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included
  • 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, US-based support
  • Fast and efficient data transfer rate with native 2.5GbE port
  • Remote management service for easy management of multiple NAS

Cons

  • – Relatively expensive compared to other storage solutions
  • – May require technical expertise to set up and configure

9. Hikvision Hk-Hdd4t 4tb Sata Hard Disk Drive Surveillance Grade

This hard disk drive is designed for surveillance purposes and is manufactured in China. It uses the Serial ATA interface to connect to your system and offers a reliable and efficient performance.

With a surveillance-grade specification, this hard disk drive is optimized for 24/7 operation and can handle high-speed read and write operations, making it ideal for use in a wide range of surveillance applications.

The drive has a large storage capacity and can store a significant amount of data, ensuring that you have ample space to store your surveillance footage. It is also engineered to withstand the rigors of continuous operation, ensuring that your data remains safe and secure at all times.

The hard disk drive comes with advanced features that help to enhance its reliability and performance. It has a built-in error correction mechanism that ensures that data is accurately read and written, reducing the risk of data loss or corruption. Additionally, it has a low power consumption, which helps to prolong the lifespan of the drive and reduce your energy costs.

Overall, this surveillance-grade hard disk drive is a reliable and efficient solution for your surveillance needs. Whether you need to monitor your home, office, or other premises, this hard disk drive is sure to deliver exceptional performance and reliability.

Pros

  • Designed for surveillance purposes
  • Optimized for 24/7 operation
  • Large storage capacity
  • Advanced error correction mechanism
  • Low power consumption

10. Seagate Exos 7e10 St6000nm019b – Hard Drive – 6 Tb – Sata 6gb/s

The 6 TB internal SATA 6Gb/s hard drive is a reliable and efficient storage solution for your computer. With a capacity of 6 TB, you can store a large amount of data, including documents, photos, videos, and games. The drive has a data transfer rate of 600MB per second, which means that you can transfer large files quickly and easily. The 256 MB buffer ensures that your data is stored safely and can be accessed quickly.

This hard drive is easy to install and use, and is compatible with most computers. It is a great choice for anyone who needs a large amount of storage space for their files and data.

Pros

  • High storage capacity of 6 TB
  • Fast data transfer rate of 600MB per second
  • Large 256 MB buffer ensures safe and quick data storage

Best Hard Drives For Nas FAQs

Are there any specific brands or models of hard drives that are optimized for use in a NAS environment?

Yes, there are several brands and models of hard drives that are specifically designed and optimized for use in a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) environment. These NAS-optimized hard drives are engineered to handle the demands and challenges of continuous 24/7 operation, high data transfer rates, and multiple user access.

Some of the top brands that offer NAS-specific hard drives include Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, and Hitachi. These brands have a range of models with varying storage capacities, speed, and reliability features.

For instance, Western Digital offers the Red and Red Pro series of hard drives, which are specifically designed for NAS devices. These drives have features such as NASware technology, which optimizes the drive's performance for NAS systems, and 3D Active Balance Plus, which enhances stability and reliability.

Similarly, Seagate offers the IronWolf and IronWolf Pro series of hard drives, which are designed for use in NAS environments. These drives come with features such as AgileArray technology, which optimizes performance and reliability, and IronWolf Health Management, which helps to prevent data loss and increase system uptime.

Overall, NAS-optimized hard drives are a wise investment for those who are looking to build a reliable and efficient NAS system. It is important to choose a reputable brand and model that is specifically engineered for NAS use to ensure the best performance and longevity of the system.

How many hard drives are typically needed for a NAS system?

The number of hard drives needed for a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system depends on various factors such as the storage capacity required, the level of data redundancy, and the budget. A NAS system can have a single hard drive, but it is not recommended as it can result in data loss if the drive fails. A minimum of two hard drives are recommended for a NAS system to ensure data redundancy through RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology. RAID 1 requires two drives, and it mirrors the data on one drive to the other, providing a backup in case of drive failure. RAID 5 requires a minimum of three drives and offers better performance and storage capacity than RAID 1. It distributes data and parity information across all drives, providing redundancy and protection against drive failure. For high-end NAS systems with large storage requirements, four or more hard drives may be necessary. Ultimately, the number of hard drives required for a NAS system depends on the user's specific needs and budget.

What are the best hard drives for a NAS system?

When it comes to choosing the best hard drives for a NAS system, there are a few key factors that you need to consider. Firstly, you need to ensure that the hard drives you choose are reliable and have a long lifespan. This is particularly important for a NAS system, as data loss can be catastrophic for businesses and individuals alike.

Some of the most popular hard drives for NAS systems include Western Digital Red, Seagate IronWolf, and Toshiba N300. These hard drives are designed specifically for use in NAS systems, and offer a range of features such as high capacity, low power consumption, and optimized performance for read and write operations.

Another important consideration when choosing a hard drive for your NAS system is the capacity you require. This will depend on the amount of data you need to store, as well as the number of users who will be accessing the data. It's also worth considering the RAID configuration you plan to use, as this will impact the amount of usable storage space you have available.

Ultimately, the best hard drives for a NAS system will depend on your specific requirements, so it's important to do your research and choose a reliable and high-quality option that meets your needs.

What factors should be considered when selecting hard drives for a NAS setup?

When selecting hard drives for a NAS setup, several factors need to be considered to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The first thing to consider is the capacity of the hard drive. It should be large enough to accommodate the data that needs to be stored and provide room for future expansion.

Another crucial factor is the speed of the hard drive. The speed of the drive determines how fast data can be read and written. A faster hard drive will perform better, but it may also cost more. Therefore, it is essential to balance performance and cost.

The type of hard drive is also critical. There are two main types of hard drives: solid-state drives (SSD) and hard disk drives (HDD). SSDs are faster and more reliable than HDDs, but they are also more expensive. HDDs are cheaper but slower than SSDs. The type of hard drive selected will depend on the intended use of the NAS setup.

Lastly, it is important to consider the brand and reliability of the hard drive. Choose a reputable brand with a good track record of producing reliable hard drives. This will ensure that the hard drive lasts long and performs optimally without data loss or failure.

What is the recommended capacity for hard drives in a NAS setup?

The recommended capacity for hard drives in a NAS (Network Attached Storage) setup varies depending on the intended usage and the number of users. For personal use or small businesses with only a few users, a capacity of 1-4TB should suffice. However, for larger businesses or organizations with a higher number of users, a capacity of 8-16TB or even higher may be necessary.

It's important to note that a NAS setup typically involves multiple hard drives in a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration, which offers data redundancy and improved performance. In such a setup, it's recommended to use hard drives of the same capacity and model to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.

Additionally, it's important to consider the type of hard drive used in a NAS setup. For example, a NAS setup used for media streaming may benefit from using a hard drive with a higher RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) to ensure smooth playback.

Overall, the recommended capacity for hard drives in a NAS setup depends on the intended usage, number of users, and the level of data redundancy and performance required.

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