Should you buy WD Ultrastar drives?
For bulk capacity at the lowest price, yes. Ultrastar HC drives are 7,200 RPM CMR units up to 26TB and beyond, with a 5-year warranty and datacenter workload ratings. They are WD's answer to Seagate Exos and are often the cheapest new drives per terabyte.
Like all enterprise drives, they run louder and hotter than WD Red, so plan for ventilation.
Ultrastar vs WD Red vs Exos
| Ultrastar | WD Red Plus | Seagate Exos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Enterprise | NAS | Enterprise |
| Price per TB | Lowest | Higher | Lowest |
| Noise | Higher | Lower | Higher |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years |
Who it is for
- Bulk NAS and servers: maximum capacity and value for a media or backup array.
- NAS in a closet or office: noise and heat are less of an issue there.
- Quiet home NAS: WD Red Plus is the friendlier choice.
Pros, cons and the bottom line
Bottom line: excellent value for a bulk or busy array. Buy Ultrastar (or Exos) for capacity and price; buy WD Red Plus if quiet operation matters most.
- Pros: lowest price per terabyte, huge capacities, 5-year warranty, high reliability.
- Cons: loud and warm, overkill for a small quiet NAS.