by 5 reviews.
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Reliable Storage Solution?
If you're in the market for a reliable and affordable internal hard drive, the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD is a popular choice. With its 7200 RPM speed, 64MB cache, and SATA 6 Gb/s interface, this 3.5-inch hard drive promises fast data access and seamless multitasking. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
The Seagate BarraCuda 2TB is praised for its fast read/write speeds, especially when compared to older or lower-tier hard drives. One user noted that it outperformed their Western Digital Blue drive, though it still couldn’t match the speed of an SSD. For tasks like gaming, video editing, and general file storage, this drive delivers solid performance.
However, some users reported that the drive slows down over time. One reviewer mentioned that after several years of use, the drive began to show signs of wear, including slower performance and occasional clicking noises. This is somewhat expected for mechanical hard drives, but it’s worth noting if you’re looking for long-term reliability.
Durability and Longevity
The durability of the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB is a mixed bag. Many users reported years of trouble-free operation, with one reviewer stating they got 6 years of solid performance before the drive started to fail. This is impressive for a drive in this price range, especially considering the daily gaming and moderate usage it endured.
On the flip side, some users experienced early failures or received faulty units. One customer had to request a replacement due to a DOA (dead on arrival) drive, though the replacement worked perfectly. While these instances seem to be outliers, they highlight the importance of proper handling and setup.
Ease of Installation
The installation process for the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB is straightforward, but it does require some technical know-how. Several users pointed out that the drive doesn’t come pre-partitioned, meaning it won’t show up in Windows Explorer until you initialize and format it. This can be confusing for less tech-savvy users, leading some to mistakenly believe the drive is defective.
One reviewer provided a detailed step-by-step guide on how to initialize and format the drive using Windows 10, which has been a lifesaver for many. If you’re comfortable with basic computer tasks, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’re a beginner, you might need to do a bit of research or seek help.
Noise and Heat
The Seagate BarraCuda 2TB is generally quiet during operation, with most users reporting minimal noise. One reviewer specifically mentioned that the drive operates silently, which is a big plus for those who value a quiet workspace or gaming setup.
Heat generation is also within acceptable limits, though it’s always a good idea to ensure proper ventilation in your PC case to maintain optimal performance and longevity.
Value for Money
At its price point, the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB offers excellent value for money. Many users praised its affordability, especially considering the 2TB storage capacity and 7200 RPM speed. One reviewer even said they would buy it again despite the drive eventually slowing down after years of use.
Warranty and Support
Seagate offers a 2-year limited warranty for the BarraCuda 2TB, which provides peace of mind for buyers. Several users had positive experiences with Seagate’s customer service, including one who received a quick replacement for a faulty drive. This level of support adds to the overall value of the product.
Final Thoughts: Is the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Worth It?
The Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their storage without breaking the bank. It offers fast performance, ample storage space, and quiet operation, making it suitable for a variety of uses, from gaming to media storage.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The drive’s longevity can vary, with some users experiencing early failures or slowdowns over time. Additionally, the need to initialize and format the drive might be a hurdle for less experienced users.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable hard drive for everyday use, the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB is a great option. Just be prepared for a bit of setup work and keep in mind that, like all mechanical drives, it may not last forever. For those who prioritize speed and durability, pairing this drive with an SSD for your operating system and frequently used programs could be the perfect solution.
Overall, the Seagate BarraCuda 2TB earns a strong recommendation for its performance, value, and ease of use—once you get past the initial setup.
Specification Seagate BarraCuda 2TB Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 RPM 64MB Cache for Computer Desktop PC Laptop (ST2000DM006):
Comments from Amazon:
Purchased this drive 6 years ago and it's beginning to fail (clicking noises started a few months ago and within the last week there have been performance issues that coincide with periods of more clicking than usual, so I'm pretty sure it's on it's way out). I'm still rating this highly because up until now it's performed very well and 6 years of good performance for a 60 dollar hard drive seems completely fair. Plus it's giving me plenty of warning rather than going out suddenly, so I can make a smooth transfer to a replacement drive before this one goes out. To give you an idea of the wear I've been putting on it, I do game daily, but generally not the kinds of games that are super resource intensive and that would put an extraordinary amount of wear on the hardware. If you're just looking to use this for internet browsing, file storage, and/or office software you'll probably get a little more life out out of it than I did, but if you're into hardcore gaming it will probably wear out sooner so I wouldn't recommend it.
Bought it direct from Amazon and the drive came packaged very well. I installed the drive and ran a extended surface test on it which took about 4 1/2 hrs. The drive passed the test with no errors. Hopefully i can get 5 yrs of good use out of it before replacing it with another new unit. I will update this if any issues arise but so far so good. One thing to note, When i installed the drive it had no active partition out of the box thus it will not show up on windows explorer until you look under disk management, devices or look under diskpart in the command prompt to see in fact that the drive is being detected but isn't active with a partition. This will make someone who doesn't know much about computers think the drive doesn't work and i've seen a lot of reviews where people say the drive didn't show up when they hooked it up and thinking it was broken. Reason being that you need to format and create a partition for the drive to become active. Here's the simple steps to make it happen on Windows 10 which is what OS i use this drive on for media storage. 01 - Open command prompt in Windows 10 by pressing Winkey+S 02 - Type CMD in search box and right click Command Prompt to run as Administrator. 03 - Now when in the Command Prompt type "DISKPART" (without quotes) and hit Enter. 04 - Type "LIST DISK" (without quotes) and hit Enter. 05 - A numbered list will now show with all the drives that are attached to the system. Simply identify the number of the new Seagate drive in this list and make sure you choose the right drive or you could wipe out data on an existing drive with data. If your unsure then you could turn your PC off and unplug any existing drives with data on them, leave your main system drive and your new Seagate drive attached to the PC. Then boot your PC back up and repeat the steps back up to this point and continue on with the listed steps. 06 - After identifying the disk number, type "SELECT DISK 0" (without quotes and also replace 0 with the number that your drive identifies with in the command prompt, i only used 0 as an example.) and hit Enter. 07 - After you've made your selection type "CLEAN" (without quotes) and hit Enter. 08 - Type "CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY " (without quotes) and hit Enter. 09 - Type "SELECT PARTITION 1" (without quotes) and hit Enter. 10 - Type "ACTIVE" (without quotes) and hit Enter. 11 - Type the following command to format the partition using NTFS and to set a label "FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL=SG-Drive QUICK " (without quotes) and hit Enter. Remember to change the SG-Drive in the command with the drive name you want to use. 12 - Almost home now. Now you can choose what letter you want your drive to show up as in windows. Type "ASSIGN LETTER=F" (without quotes and use whatever letter you want, i used F for example, just make sure another drive isn't already using the letter you chose.) and hit Enter. 13 - Type "EXIT" (without quotes) and hit Enter. Close the command prompt. 14 - Turn your PC back off and plug back in any drives that you unplugged earlier as a way to prevent wiping the data on them by mistake. -----> Hope this helped someone out there. Enjoy your new drive <------
I just got my hard drive a few days ago, but it's working like a champ. One thing to note, you will most likely have to initialize and format it for it to be read by your OS if you're using Windows. This is done through the partition manager, which in Win 10, when you launch it, it will automatically pop up with a window stating this hard drive needs to be initialized. You also have the option of formatting the hard drive through the classic format, or the newer format which supports over 2tb in Windows 10. I do not believe the support for higher than 2tb for an internal hdd is supported in earlier versions of Windows, but this is my first 2tb internal drive, so I am not 100% sure. Speeds are definitely faster than my WD Blue drive, but not quite as fast as my primary SSD with the OS on it. I normally have 1 game installed on the SSD, but with this installed, I no longer want to do that. I may be a bit old fashioned, but I prefer having a large buffer on the primary drive for pagefiles :) Anyway, Seagate makes quality products, and you will not be disappointed with this. I do think a lot of the reviews talking about DOA drives are from less tech savvy people who did not initialize and format, as I described above. I don't know for certain, though. Another note: The drive comes in a smaller package with bumpers, wrapped in an anti-static bag. It looks like an OEM drive, but it DOES come with a warranty, for those curious. IIRC it's a 2 year warranty :) Hope this helps! -CymTyr
Produto muito bom, fui atendido rapidamente e recebi o produto em bom estado.
I am pretty satisfied with the product and seller. At first I had received a HDD which was faulty, I had requested for a replacement and the very next day pickup was arranged by the seller. Within 4 Days I had received a fresh piece. I plugged it in and no problem whatsoever from the HDD. Works pretty silently as expected from a Optical Drive. Totally recommended. Additional Feedback: I had ran some benchmarks and I am totally stoked. I am attaching the benchmark score compared to a Western Digital 1TB HDD. I totally recommend.
Produto de ótima qualidade. O produto chegou no prazo combinado. Trata-se de um produto de fácil instalação e ele não é barulhento.
I have had this HDD for a while now. It is affordable and has served me well. It has started to slow down in present times, but that is to be expected. I would certainly buy it again.