[Amazon.ca] HOT 12TB WD external hard drive $230

Does this beat the bestbuy $200 Seagate external?

If you look at the $/TB, it wins hands down. Well below the magic $20/TB price.

oblisk wrote: ↑ Does this beat the bestbuy $200 Seagate external?

The drive inside is apparently a WD120EMAZ-11BLFA0. Apparently a rebranded CMR Red Drive.

Warm.

Marginally cheaper than the $200 Seagate
10 TB Seagate $200 $20/TB
12 TB WD $230 $19.17/TB

The deciding factor for most should be *what* drive is inside.
Seagate drive is faster. WD drive is 5% cheaper per TB and maybe someone really needs that extra 2TB inside a single case for some reason.

The Seagate drives (currently) have Iron Wolf Pros, 7200rpm NAS drives - their 2nd best drive. In the past there have been Barracudas & once in a while Exo (best drive).
The WD 12TB drives are said to be WD120EMAZ-11BLFA0.. which should be a relabeled 5400rpm Red NAS drive.
Nothing wrong with that, it's a good drive. But I would sooooooo much rather have the faster spec Seagate drive.

ElroyJetson wrote: ↑ The deciding factor for most should be *what* drive is inside.
Seagate drive is faster. WD drive is 5% cheaper per TB and maybe someone really needs that extra 2TB inside a single case for some reason.

The Seagate drives (currently) have Iron Wolf Pros, 7200rpm NAS drives - their 2nd best drive. In the past there have been Barracudas & once in a while Exo (best drive).
The WD 12TB drives are said to be WD120EMAZ-11BLFA0.. which should be a relabeled 5400rpm Red NAS drive.
Nothing wrong with that, it's a good drive. But I would sooooooo much rather have the faster spec Seagate drive.

I could be wrong but aren't 5400RPM more sought after for NAS? Wasn't there just a debacle with WD trying to brand 7200rpm drives as 5400 'class'

Michnig wrote: ↑ I could be wrong but aren't 5400RPM more sought after for NAS? Wasn't there just a debacle with WD trying to brand 7200rpm drives as 5400 'class'

5400 rpm drivers are quieter and use less power iirc. These will most likely be 7200 rpm, so higher power use and noise, but only the performance of a 5400 rpm drive. The worst of both worlds if you will.

Michnig wrote: ↑ I could be wrong but aren't 5400RPM more sought after for NAS? Wasn't there just a debacle with WD trying to brand 7200rpm drives as 5400 'class'

WD has been caught fudging specs more than a few times, just one more reason I prefer Seagate. WD claimed some SMR drives were CMR. And as you said, they tried to hide drive speeds on some drives and mislead customers by saying some 7200 rpm drives were "5400 rpm class".

It's not that 7200 rpm is necessarily bad for NAS, the reason WD was lying was to lead end users into thinking those drives would use less power and be quieter than they were. If a 7200 rpm CMR drive is properly rated for NAS, then it's simply faster. It will probably draw more power and be a bit louder than a 5400 drive if those are important concerns to you.

The thing you want to avoid is pressing (any speed drive) into NAS use when it wasn't designed for NAS use. Both of the drives here are NAS drives, if power consumption is your primary concern then the WD 5400 will be "better". And if performance is paramount, then the Seagate is "better".

Omesuri wrote: ↑
The drive inside is apparently a WD120EMAZ-11BLFA0. Apparently a rebranded CMR Red Drive.

ElroyJetson wrote: ↑
The WD 12TB drives are said to be WD120EMAZ-11BLFA0.. which should be a relabeled 5400rpm Red NAS drive.

I just did a quick research. Apparently these are WD120EMFZ Helium sealed CMR 5400rpm. EMAZ is older model.

Edit: Meant to say CMR not SMR

Michnig wrote: ↑ I just did a quick research. Apparently these are WD120EMFZ Helium sealed SMR 5400rpm. EMAZ is older model.

I bought this drive last month for Prime day - was on sale for about $258+tax. Inside mine is actually a WD120EDAZ. Helium sealed, 5400rpm.

cgphoto wrote: ↑ I bought this drive last month for Prime day - was on sale for about $258+tax. Inside mine is actually a WD120EDAZ. Helium sealed SMR 5400rpm.

Are you sure it was the WD Elements and not the WD MyBook/EasyStore that you bought? Googling that model no. says that EDAZ is from MyBook or Easystore.

Michnig wrote: ↑ Are you sure it was the WD Elements and not the WD MyBook/EasyStore that you bought? Googling that model no. says that EDAZ is from MyBook or Easystore.

The Prime Day sale was for the WD Elements 12TB, not the MyBook/EasyStore version.

Michnig wrote: ↑ Are you sure it was the WD Elements and not the WD MyBook/EasyStore that you bought? Googling that model no. says that EDAZ is from MyBook or Easystore.

Yes, I am sure. Amazon actually notified me when I clicked OP's link: "You last purchased this item on Oct 13 2020." I have the drive in front of me, P/N: WDBWLG0120HBK-XB

cgphoto wrote: ↑ I bought this drive last month for Prime day - was on sale for about $258+tax. Inside mine is actually a WD120EDAZ. Helium sealed, 5400rpm.

Mine is a WD120EMFZ

There are tons of conflicting sources about this drive. Some people say it's CMR, some say SMR, and others are saying PMR!!! LOL

I think it depends on which country you buy the drive as well. In the states, more people are getting non-SMR drives.

P.S. Techradar posted an article in October 2020 claiming these are rebranded WD Red NAS drives.

https://www.techradar.com/news/this-12t ... ice-record

ChopSuey wrote: ↑ There are tons of conflicting sources about this drive. Some people say it's CMR, some say SMR, and others are saying PMR!!! LOL

I think it depends on which country you buy the drive as well. In the states, more people are getting non-SMR drives.

Yeah, I was wrong - I believe the EDAZ is CMR. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks OP. Just cancelled my BH Photo order from October 13th... Just what I was hoping to see heading into BF!

Could someone who knows explain the difference between the Seagate Ironwolf / Ironwolf Pro vs the Barracuda / Barracuda Pro vs the Exo?
I ended up with a Barracuda pro in the 10TB drive bought on sale a while back. I'm wondering if that's better, worse, or average.
Thanks in advance an apologies for the side-topic.

Sorry, I think I am lost. Lol!!
Is it supposed to be a good and reliable drive at the end? Do you think it is also shuckable and usable in a NAS.

I was about to purchase the Best Buy drive but original deal is over. Now it is 220$. Considering that is this drive the best by now?

Thanks!

I got a notification last night about these going on sale, woke up and ordered one. Lol

I had bought one late last year and it was a white label drive when I shucked it. CMR - all drives over 12TB were CMR but there have been reports of WD placing SMR Drives in these which they have been caught for earlier this year.