by 257 reviews.
HGST Ultrastar He8 Helium 8TB Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed) Review: A Reliable Workhorse for Data Storage
When it comes to enterprise-grade storage solutions, the HGST Ultrastar He8 Helium (HUH728080ALE601) 8TB 7200RPM 128MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed) stands out as a top contender. Designed for heavy-duty, 24/7 operations, this hard drive is perfect for data centers, NAS systems, RAID setups, and surveillance systems. With its helium-filled design, 7200 RPM speed, and 128MB cache, it promises reliability, performance, and energy efficiency. But how does it hold up in real-world use? Let’s dive into the details.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the HGST Ultrastar He8 is its 7200 RPM speed and 128MB cache, which ensure fast data access and transfer speeds. Customers have praised its performance, especially when used in NAS systems or as a Plex media server drive. One reviewer noted, "It’s fast, runs cooler than my other drives, and is quiet." Another user highlighted its seamless integration into their setup, stating, "The read/write performance and capacity are great."
However, some users reported mixed experiences with the drive’s longevity. While many drives performed flawlessly, a few failed during extended testing. One customer mentioned, "The short self-test passed, but the long test failed at about 30%." This highlights the importance of thoroughly testing renewed drives before putting them into production.
Durability and Reliability
The helium-filled design of the HGST Ultrastar He8 is a game-changer. It reduces turbulence, lowers power consumption, and keeps the drive running cooler and quieter. Customers have appreciated these benefits, with one user stating, "It runs cooler and quieter than my other drives, making it ideal for my NAS setup." Another reviewer praised its durability, saying, "These drives are built to a higher standard than consumer-grade drives."
That said, the helium leakage issue over time is a concern. One user shared their experience: "I got about a year and a half out of this before the sound it was making started to worry me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had no more helium." While this isn’t a universal issue, it’s something to keep in mind when considering renewed drives.
Storage Capacity and Value
With 8TB of storage, the HGST Ultrastar He8 offers ample space for large-scale data needs. Customers have found it to be a cost-effective solution, especially when purchased in bulk. One reviewer said, "At this price, it’s worth it, especially with the 5-year warranty. These drives are cheap enough to buy multiple and run in a mirror for redundancy." Another user echoed this sentiment, stating, "Great price for data-center drives. I bought four more after testing the first two."
However, some customers were disappointed by the actual usage time of the drives. While the product description claims the drives were used for about 3 years, some users reported significantly higher usage times. One reviewer noted, "The SMART data showed 7.9 years of power-on time, which is a big difference from the 3 years mentioned." This discrepancy has led to mixed feelings about the transparency of the product listing.
Packaging and Warranty
The packaging and warranty have been a highlight for many customers. The drives are shipped in anti-static, air-tight bags with shock-absorbent packaging, ensuring they arrive in excellent condition. One user praised the seller, saying, "Quality packing shows the care that the company gives these drives." Additionally, the 5-year warranty provides peace of mind, with one reviewer stating, "The seller guarantees them for 5 years after purchase, which is fantastic."
Conclusion: Is the HGST Ultrastar He8 Worth It?
The HGST Ultrastar He8 Helium 8TB Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed) is a solid choice for those seeking a high-capacity, reliable storage solution at an affordable price. Its helium-filled design, 7200 RPM speed, and enterprise-grade durability make it a standout option for data centers, NAS systems, and other demanding environments. However, potential buyers should be aware of the helium leakage issue and the possibility of higher-than-expected usage times.
Final Verdict: If you’re willing to take a calculated risk on a renewed product, the HGST Ultrastar He8 offers excellent value and performance. Just be sure to test the drive thoroughly before putting it into production and consider purchasing multiple drives for redundancy. For those prioritizing reliability and longevity, investing in a new drive might be a better option.
Specification HGST Ultrastar He8 Helium (HUH728080ALE601) 8TB 7200RPM 128MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
So far so good. Drive shipped to me was in use for just over 5 years, previously. I wish it was only 3 years in use as stated in the description but I'm hoping there is still a lot of life here. Can't be worse than the drive it replaced and the read/write performance as well as capacity are great. Buying used is a risk but at least I know this drive was happily functioning for 5 years and looks to be in good shape at this time. Ordered from "Worldwide Product Importer". Intended to buy from goHardDrive but I must have gotten my wires crossed somewhere. Edit Jul 2024: I got about a year and a half out of this before the sound it was making started to worry me. Drive was functioning fine (never gave me trouble) when I replaced it but I wouldn't be surprised if it had no more helium. Finances were a bit better at this point and I bought new to replace. I wouldn't get another like this unless I was desperate now that I understand better that the helium slips out over time.
I ordered two of these 8TB drives. Amazing price, and drives pulled from other data centers are usually ~5yrs used. The first drive had 3.8years of power-on time and the second drive had 5.8years of power-on time. Not super happy about the 5.8years on one of the drives because it said ~3years, but I don't mind. At this price, it's worth it, especially with the 5year warranty they come with. These drives are cheap enough to buy multiple, run in a mirror, and still be cheaper that a single brand new 8TB. The mirror adds redundancy if one of the drives fail. The packaging and shipping material was also what I like to see. They came in anti-static air-tight bags and shock absorbent packaging. Quality packing shows the care that the company gives these drives.
I have had terrible, terrible luck with a major brand of hard drives that is seemingly always on the deepest discount during sales -- I won't name names but let's say "water fence" -- so to replace these crappy drives as they inevitably fail, I started looking into refurbished enterprise-grade drives, thinking the higher build quality might offset the fact that they're used. I have yet to be disappointed by HGST; I have bought a few now, and while they do show runtime in their logs, they also show excellent performance qualities, too. They are simply built to a higher standard than the drives that will no longer tempt me every Black Friday. If you are curious, I'd say it's worth the risk, as I've got at least 4 of these things running now with no trouble or even warning signs whatsoever.
The listing states "These HDD is used by Datacenter Servers for about 3 Years period.", but that is highly incorrect. I ordered 2 drives and the SMART data on the drives show that they have been powered on for 69,075 hours (7.9 years) and 65,969 hours (7.5 years). That is a BIG difference from the 3 years mentioned so they were returned and I'll look elsewhere.
I bought these to replace slower smaller ones in my nas. Some of the reviews warned about high hours, so I started with 2. They both had 40000+ hours, about 4.5 years, but both had only 20 or so power up cycles. Both are perfect, so I bought 4 more. All perfect. The seller has been around for a while and is guaranteeing them for 5 years AFTER YOU buy them!. They record the serial number when you buy them so nothing on your end is required. Time will tell but these are awesome so far ! Shout out to CrystalDiskInfo. Great program. UPDATE July 2023: Still happy. Nothing to report. Drives run 24/7 in a NAS and have not logged a single error. Working as they should. Great performance, quiet. Great price for data-center drives.
Drive had well over 5 years of use already, but I expected that based on other reviews. The short self test passed, but the long test failed at about 30%. The drive probably would have been fine until I put a large amount of data on it. I highly suggest running tests on these drives before putting them in production. The return was easy as usual with Amazon.
Used in an HP workstation as a Plex media server drive. It’s fast, runs coolest of my 3 spinners, quiet and comes with a limited 3 year warranty. I estimate it was used in a server farm for 4-5 years. Size is 8 Tb. Recommended.