by 85 reviews.
HGST Ultrastar He12 HUH721212ALE601 12TB Hard Drive Review: A Reliable Workhorse for Data Storage
When it comes to high-capacity storage solutions, the HGST Ultrastar He12 HUH721212ALE601 is a name that often pops up in discussions about enterprise-grade hard drives. With its 12TB capacity, 7200 RPM speed, and 256MB cache, this renewed hard drive promises to deliver exceptional performance for data-intensive applications. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Product Overview
The HGST Ultrastar He12 is a 3.5-inch internal hard drive designed for enterprise use. It features a helium-sealed design, which reduces power consumption and improves reliability. With a 2.5-million-hour MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) rating, this drive is built to last. Key features include:
- 12TB Storage Capacity
Ideal for bulk storage and backup needs. - 7200 RPM & 256MB Cache
Ensures fast data access and smooth performance. - Helium Platform
Enhances durability and efficiency. - BitLocker Drive Encryption
Provides advanced data security. - Power Disable Feature
Allows for easy power cycling.
While this is a renewed product, it has been rigorously tested and refurbished to meet HGST factory standards. However, it’s worth noting that it comes as a bare drive, meaning no screws, cables, or accessories are included.
Pros and Cons
Performance and Reliability
Pros
- High Capacity
Customers love the 12TB storage capacity, which is perfect for data hoarding, backups, and NAS setups. One user mentioned, “Great drive for backup or data hoarding... Super happy with the purchase!” - Reliability
Many users reported that the drives passed SMART tests and showed no errors even after months of use. A reviewer running four drives in a RAID-10 array noted, “All drives passed my initial tests, and reported no SMART errors thus far.” - Helium-Sealed Design
The helium platform not only improves reliability but also contributes to quieter operation. One user praised, “The helium-sealed design enhances reliability and contributes to quieter operation.”
Cons
- Noise Levels
Some users found the drives to be noisier than expected. One reviewer mentioned, “These drives are abnormally loud when compared to my experience with enterprise drives.” - Inconsistent Quality
While most drives performed well, a few customers reported receiving dead-on-arrival (DOA) units or drives that failed shortly after use. One user shared, “Worked for a few days, then failed in the middle of a 'save' operation.”
Usability and Compatibility
Pros
- Easy Integration
The drive works seamlessly with SATA servers, NAS devices, RAID systems, and PCs. A user running the drives in a TerraMaster NAS said, “They have been working flawlessly to back up the hard drives in my 3 computers.” - Power Disable Feature
This feature allows for easy power cycling, which is a plus for enterprise users.
Cons
- Bare Drive
The lack of included accessories (screws, cables) can be a minor inconvenience for some users.
Durability and Longevity
Pros
- High MTBF Rating
With a 2.5-million-hour MTBF, the drive is built for long-term use. - Refurbished Quality
Many users were impressed with the condition of the renewed drives. One reviewer noted, “Seemed to be packed well, and in good shape.”
Cons
- Risk of Failure
While most drives are reliable, there’s always a risk with renewed products. One user who ordered six drives reported, “1/6 was DOA... sounded like maybe an actuator was bad.”
Final Verdict
The HGST Ultrastar He12 HUH721212ALE601 is a solid choice for anyone in need of high-capacity, reliable storage for enterprise or personal use. Its helium-sealed design, high MTBF rating, and BitLocker encryption make it a standout option for data-intensive applications. However, the risk of receiving a DOA unit or experiencing early failure is something to keep in mind.
If you’re willing to roll the dice and have a good backup plan in place, this drive offers excellent value for the price. As one user aptly put it, “Great deal for enterprise drives with a great warranty.”
In conclusion, the HGST Ultrastar He12 is a reliable workhorse for bulk storage and backup needs, but it’s best suited for users who can tolerate some level of risk and have fault tolerance in their setup.
Specification HGST Ultrastar He12 | HUH721212ALE601 | 0F27454 | 12TB 7200 RPM 256MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" | 512E | BitLocker Drive Encryption | Power Disable Feature | Helium Platform Hard Disk Drive (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
As a recent purchaser of the Helium Platform Enterprise Hard Disk Drives for my customized computer, I am thoroughly impressed with their performance and reliability. These drives have seamlessly integrated into my system and have exceeded my expectations in terms of speed and durability. Their high-density storage and optimized data transfer rates ensure efficient operation, even with heavy workloads. The helium-sealed design not only enhances reliability but also contributes to quieter operation, which is a bonus. Overall, these drives have proven to be a valuable addition to my setup, offering the performance and reliability required for my demanding computing needs. Highly recommended for anyone in search of top-notch storage solutions for their enterprise setup.
I've been running 4 of these drives in my NAS (RAID-10 array) for about a month running low-bandwidth but consistent read-write workloads(aka no drive sleep), as well as some burst read-write workloads. Unfortunately my sample size is too low and too short to make any assumptions, but all drives passed my initial tests, and reported no SMART errors thus far. I am wary of cheap drives, but these are reasonably fast and cheap. I would say if you wish to purchase this product, make sure you have a good backup plan in place (RAID is not a backup). Only thing that makes my wary is that these drives are abnormally loud when compared to my experience with enterprise drives, however I'm unsure if the drive noises are 'normal' for this model or early signs of failure. Although you probably won't notice this externally unless you try to listen. I will update this review occasionally to provide feedback as time passes. But these drives appear good. 3 month update: No drives failed, still noisy, but fully functional with no issues.
Seemed to be packed well, and in good shape. Worked for a few days, then failed in the middle of a 'save' operation and wasn't even recognized by my computer's BIOS. Returned for full refund.
I ordered 6 for a 4 bay NAS figuring at least one would be DOA and to keep one as a spare since it was such a good price. 1/6 was DOA sounded like maybe an actuator was bad tough to tell if it was due to shipping. They are shipped in antistatic bags in plastic shock resistant harddrive caddys in a cardboard box. SMART data is consistent with their description. Lowest time on for me was 29000 hours average seemed to be around 32000. Power cycles were low on all about 20. Extended tests on the 5 working drives all showed healthy without any bad sectors or incorrectables. Great deal for enterprise drives with a great warranty. These work well for those that have some fault tolerance so that if you do need to use the warranty it’s not a big deal. At 5 years I am expecting to RMA at least 2 but that is not a problem with my fault tolerance. I’m still spending much less money than buying new. Thanks goHarddrive!
I used 4 of these drives in my TerraMaster NAS. They have been working flawlessly to back up the hard drives in my 3 computers for the past 3 or 4 months. Their In-service hours (reported by S.M.A.R.T.) seemed rather high, but none of the drives have not exhibited any problems and have no bad sectors.
Great volume for a great price, if you're willing to roll the dice. I bought (4) 12TB drives for a RAID5. They arrived well packaged in separate boxes with a SATA to SATA cable in each one. Literature in each box explains that these drives have a remote power disable function, and that the included cable may be required if your system does not support this feature. Unfortunately, one of them arrived DOA (click of death, not detected by BIOS or seen in windows disk mngr when placed in a USB cradle. Another, while working, makes a disturbing grinding noise when it spins up. MDTech's support is fair enough, but they have to get the drive in hand before they'll ship the replacement. I know this is pretty normal, but now I get to wait a week or so, AND visit the delightful people at the local post office to get it sent back. I knew I was buying used drives and there is some risk. I suppose 'three outta four ain't bad'... but my project is now in limbo.
Drive shows 100% health, only 23.5K hrs on it. Wicked fast shipping (overnighted from Florida to Maine). Great drive for backup or data hoarding, not that fastest or most responsive drive but great for bulk backup. Helium drives are noisy when the heads move and formatted capacity is 10.9TB. Super happy with the purchase! I'd have no problem loading a NAS with a bunch of these. If you don't see this updated there has been no change in the drive since this review was posted.