by 333 reviews.
HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 3TB Hard Drive Review: A Reliable Workhorse for Heavy-Duty Storage Needs
When it comes to high-capacity, enterprise-grade storage solutions, the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 (0F17731) 3TB Internal Hard Drive stands out as a top contender. Designed for demanding environments, this 3.5-inch hard drive boasts a 7200 RPM spindle speed, 64MB cache, and a SATA III 6.0Gb/s interface, making it ideal for applications like CCTV DVR systems, NAS setups, RAID arrays, and desktop PCs or Macs.
Key Features at a Glance
- 3TB Storage Capacity: Perfect for storing large files, high-resolution videos, and extensive data archives.
- 7200 RPM & 64MB Cache: Ensures fast data access and smooth performance for multitasking and heavy workloads.
- SATA III 6.0Gb/s Interface: Delivers high-speed data transfer rates, ideal for high-capacity nearline environments.
- Heavy-Duty Design: Built for enterprise use, tested for reliability in multi-drive RAID arrays and rack-mounted systems.
- Rotational Vibration Safeguard (RVS) Technology: Enhances reliability in vibration-prone environments.
- Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) Option: Provides hardware-based encryption for enhanced data security.
- 5-Year Warranty: Backed by a robust warranty, making it a trusted choice for professionals and businesses.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Reliability
One of the standout features of the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 is its reliability. Many customers have praised its durability, with some even calling it their "favorite hard disk ever." One reviewer shared, "I've had drives from other manufacturers like Western Digital and Seagate that failed before these. These drives are extremely reliable and combine high-reliability with competitive performance."
Another user highlighted its performance in a NAS setup, stating, "They are working perfectly in my NAS. I have six of these running in my QNAP NAS, and I'm extremely happy with the price/performance ratio."
However, some users noted that while the drive is reliable, it isn't the fastest on the market. One reviewer mentioned, "They are not the fastest hard disks, but they are dependable and great for heavy-duty use."
Noise Levels
One of the most common complaints about the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 is its noise level. Several customers reported that the drive can be quite loud during read/write operations. One user shared, "The seek noise is very loud. I can literally hear it from across my apartment in another room. When four of them are actively doing something, they are very loud."
Another reviewer suggested a workaround, saying, "These drives are ideal for a home NAS that will be in a separate room like a closet where you won't have to hear them."
Ease of Installation and Compatibility
Many customers appreciated how easy it was to install the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000. One user mentioned, "Works great in my security system, and easy to install. I used it with a 3.0 USB adapter in Windows 10, and it worked without any issues after doing the typical disk admin setup."
Another reviewer highlighted its compatibility with various systems, stating, "I have a smaller 2TB Ultrastar running in my PS4, and it works flawlessly. These drives are versatile and can be used in a wide range of setups."
Value for Money
The HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 is often praised for its affordability, especially considering its enterprise-grade features. One customer exclaimed, "$40 for 3TB drives that work this well? That's a crazy good deal!"
Another user shared their experience with refurbished drives, saying, "I was leery about ordering a refurbished hard drive, but I did it to save some cash. I ran a bunch of tests, and it passed with flying colors. It's been running for about a year now, and it hasn't missed a beat."
Durability and Longevity
The heavy-duty design of the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 makes it a durable choice for long-term use. One reviewer shared, "I've been using these drives for years, and they are still going strong. They are built to last and can handle heavy workloads without issues."
Another user added, "I use these drives in my surveillance system, and they have been running 24/7 without any problems. They are perfect for applications that require constant operation."
Final Verdict
The HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 3TB Hard Drive is a reliable, high-capacity storage solution that delivers excellent performance for demanding environments. Its enterprise-grade design, combined with features like Rotational Vibration Safeguard (RVS) and Bulk Data Encryption (BDE), makes it a top choice for professionals and businesses.
However, its noise levels during operation may be a drawback for some users, especially those planning to use it in a quiet environment. Despite this, the drive's affordability, durability, and ease of installation make it a standout option for anyone in need of a dependable storage solution.
If you're looking for a hard drive that offers a perfect balance of reliability, performance, and value, the HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 is definitely worth considering.
Specification HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 (0F17731) 3TB 64MB Cache 7200RPM SATA III 6.0Gb/s 3.5in Heaty-Duty Internal Hard Drive for CCTV DVR, NAS, PC/MAC (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
Bought to back my extensive music collection. Used with a 3.0 USB adapter in Windows 10. No problems after doing the typical disk admin.
Great drives for the price. They are working perfectly in my nas. The only issue being the noise they produce. I really wasn't expecting the seek noise to be this loud. I can literally hear it from across my apartment in another room. Not sure if it's just the batch I got or if everyone else is also getting this. But when 4 of them are actively doing something they are very loud. During idle they are fine. Might try some deadening foam on the nas.
I have bought two of these drives previously and they are extremely reliable. They are not the fastest hard disks, but the 7K3000 and 7K4000 are my favorite hard disks ever because they combine high-reliability with competitive performance. I've had drives from other manufacturers such as Western Digital and Seagate that came after yet went out before these. Also, $40 for 3TB drives that work this well?? That's a crazy good deal. The biggest drawback is that they can be quite noisy when reading/writing, so these are ideal for a home NAS that will be in a separate room like a closet where you won't have to hear them.
This product enabled me to get back to work quickly. Thank you!
Are you looking for a reliable hard drive at a decent price? If so, you can stop searching. You've found your drive. The Deskstar/Ultrastar line are a series of well-regarded hard drives that were first released by IBM many, many years ago. These drives were super reliable back in the day and they still are today. The technology behind these drives was revolutionary 20+ years ago and very little has needed to be changed in all that time. IBM might not be making these legendary drives any longer, but Hitachi/HGST still are and they're using the same tech that IBM did. Yes, they're that good. I personally have six of these running in my QNAP NAS and a smaller 2TB Ultrastar running in my PS4. I'm extremely happy with the price/performance of these and happily recommend them to anyone looking for the best drive their money can buy.
About a year ago I had an external USB hard drive fail. This isn't the first time this has happened to me, but with past drives it's usually the circuit board that connects the drive to teh USB interface that tends to fail, not the drive itself, so the first thing I did was crack open the case to get the drive out for testing. This time, it turned out, that it really was the drive that was bad. Since the case and controller card were still good, I decided to save some money by buying an internal hard drive instead of a new external once and installing it in the old case. I decided on this particular drive because it was a heavier duty model, that I figured would be of a higher quality than the drives in most external assemblies. I was leery about ordering a refurbished hard drive, but I did it to save soem cash. When it arrived, I ran a bunch of tests on it and all of them passed with flying colors, so I decided it was safe to put into service. It's been running for about a year now, receiving near-constant backups from several different computers, and it hasn't missed a beat. I'm now getting to the point where I'm going to need even more storage, and I may well be ordering some more of these.
Works great in my security system, and easy to install