WD Ultrastar (formerly HGST Ultrastar) has earned a legendary reputation for the lowest failure rates in the industry. Originally manufactured by HGST (Hitachi Global Storage Technologies) before WD's acquisition, Ultrastar drives consistently top Backblaze's annual reliability reports.

Designed for data centers and enterprise environments, Ultrastar offers 5-year warranties, 550TB/year workload ratings, and exceptional longevity. What many consumers don't realize: Ultrastar often offers the best price per TB while being more reliable than consumer drives. It's the enthusiast's choice for serious bulk storage.

🏆 The HGST Legacy

HGST (formerly IBM's hard drive division) was acquired by Western Digital in 2012. The Ultrastar line retained its engineering excellence and became WD's enterprise flagship. Backblaze data consistently shows HGST/Ultrastar drives with annualized failure rates under 0.5% — often the lowest of any manufacturer. When you buy Ultrastar, you're getting that legendary HGST DNA.

Ultrastar Product Lineup

Model	Capacities	RPM	Interface
Ultrastar DC HC570	22TB	7,200	SATA / SAS
Ultrastar DC HC560	20TB	7,200	SATA / SAS
Ultrastar DC HC550	16TB - 18TB	7,200	SATA / SAS
Ultrastar DC HC530	14TB	7,200	SATA / SAS
Ultrastar DC HC520	12TB	7,200	SATA / SAS
Ultrastar 7K6	4TB - 6TB	7,200	SATA / SAS

Why Choose Ultrastar?

Legendary Reliability

Consistently lowest failure rates in Backblaze reports. HGST/Ultrastar heritage means exceptional build quality and longevity.

Often <0.5% AFR

5-Year Warranty

All Ultrastar drives include 5-year limited warranty — longer than consumer (2-3 year) and most NAS drives (3 year).

Industry-Leading

550TB/Year Workload

Rated for 550TB writes per year — 3x higher than consumer NAS drives. Built for data center demands.

Heavy Workload Ready

Best $/TB Value

Enterprise economics often mean better pricing than consumer drives. More reliability for less money.

Often $10-15/TB

HelioSeal Technology

Helium-filled drives (12TB+) allow more platters, lower power consumption, and cooler operation.

Advanced Engineering

CMR Technology

All Ultrastar drives use Conventional Magnetic Recording for consistent performance — no SMR compromises.

RAID-Optimized

Ultrastar for Home NAS: The Smart Choice

Home NAS enthusiasts increasingly choose Ultrastar over consumer NAS drives for these reasons:

Better Reliability: Backblaze data proves Ultrastar's exceptional longevity
Better Value: Often cheaper per TB than WD Red Plus or IronWolf
Better Warranty: 5 years vs 3 years for consumer NAS drives
Better Specs: Higher workload rating, longer MTBF

Considerations: Ultrastar can be slightly louder than consumer NAS drives (designed for server rooms). Most home users find this acceptable, especially if the NAS is in a closet or utility room. If noise is critical, consider WD Red Plus instead.

All WD Ultrastar Prices — Sorted by $/TB

Compare all Ultrastar enterprise hard drives. Prices updated hourly from Amazon.

Product	Capacity	Price	$ / TB	Price Drop	Brand	Interface
HGST Ultrastar He10 \| HUH721010ALE604 \| 0F27473 \| 512e \| 2.5M MTBF \| 10TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 7200 RPM 256MB Cache 3.5" \| Helium Platform Enterprise Hard Disk Drive	10.00 TB	$389.45	$38.95	+0%	WD	SATA

Frequently Asked Questions About WD Ultrastar

Is WD Ultrastar good for home NAS?

Yes, Ultrastar is excellent for home NAS and often the best choice for value-conscious enthusiasts. Despite being "enterprise" drives, they work perfectly in consumer NAS systems. Benefits: legendary reliability (lowest failure rates in industry), 5-year warranty, better $/TB than consumer NAS drives. The only trade-off is slightly higher noise levels. Many r/DataHoarder members specifically recommend Ultrastar for home use.

Why is Ultrastar so reliable?

Ultrastar inherits HGST's legendary engineering. HGST (originally IBM's hard drive division) was known for exceptional quality control and conservative design choices. WD acquired HGST in 2012 and maintained the engineering standards. Data center customers demand extreme reliability, so every component is designed for longevity. Backblaze's data confirms: Ultrastar consistently shows the lowest annualized failure rates among all drive brands they test.

Ultrastar vs WD Red Plus — which is better?

Ultrastar is objectively better on specs and often value. Ultrastar advantages: better reliability (proven by Backblaze data), 5-year warranty (vs 3 years), 550TB/year workload (vs 180TB), often lower $/TB. WD Red Plus advantages: quieter operation, NASware firmware optimizations. For most users prioritizing value and reliability, Ultrastar wins. For those prioritizing quiet operation, Red Plus wins.

Ultrastar vs Exos — which enterprise drive is better?

Both are excellent — Ultrastar has slight edge in reliability reputation. Backblaze data historically shows HGST/Ultrastar with marginally lower failure rates than Seagate enterprise drives. Seagate Exos offers higher maximum capacities (24TB vs 22TB). Both have 5-year warranties and similar specs. For most users, buy whichever has better $/TB at purchase time. See our Seagate vs WD comparison.

Should I buy SATA or SAS Ultrastar?

For home use and consumer NAS, buy SATA. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) requires a SAS controller that consumer devices don't have. SATA Ultrastar works with standard SATA ports on any motherboard or NAS. SAS offers dual-port capability and slightly better performance for enterprise servers, but it's irrelevant for home use. Always verify "SATA" in the product listing.

Are Ultrastar drives loud?

Ultrastar drives are louder than consumer NAS drives, but not excessively so. They're designed for server rooms where noise isn't a concern. In a home environment, you'll notice more seek noise during active use. In a closet, basement, or dedicated NAS location, this typically isn't an issue. In a living room or bedroom, you might prefer WD Red Plus or IronWolf. Most users report noise as "noticeable but acceptable."

What does "DC" mean in Ultrastar DC?

DC stands for "Data Center." It indicates the drive is designed for data center deployment with enterprise-grade reliability, workload ratings, and support. The HC (Hard Capacity) designation indicates high-capacity nearline drives optimized for bulk storage. Don't let "data center" scare you — these drives work perfectly in home environments and often offer the best value for enthusiasts.

Is it safe to buy refurbished Ultrastar drives?

Refurbished Ultrastar can be a great value, but buy carefully. Reputable sellers test drives and offer warranties. Check SMART data upon arrival for power-on hours and reallocated sectors. Avoid drives with excessive wear. Data center pulls often have plenty of life left — enterprise drives are often replaced on schedule rather than due to issues. Buy from sellers with good return policies. For critical data, new drives with full warranty may be worth the premium.