by 104 reviews.
HGST Ultrastar He8 HUH728080ALE604 8TB HDD Review: A Reliable Refurbished Storage Solution
If you're in the market for a high-capacity, enterprise-grade hard drive that won't break the bank, the HGST Ultrastar He8 HUH728080ALE604 8TB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 3.5-inch 128MB 512e HDD (Certified Refurbished) is worth considering. Designed for demanding environments, this hard drive offers a massive 8TB of storage, fast 7200 RPM speeds, and a 128MB cache for improved performance. But how does it hold up in real-world use? Let’s dive into the details based on customer feedback.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Packaging and Initial Setup
One of the first things customers noticed was the excellent packaging. The drive arrived in a well-protected box with an anti-static bag and a detailed instruction leaflet. Many users appreciated the care taken to ensure the drive was safe during transit.
Pros:
- Secure Packaging
Customers praised the robust packaging, which minimized the risk of damage during shipping. - Easy Setup
Most users reported that the drive worked right out of the box, with no complicated setup required.
Cons:
- Mounting Issues
A few users mentioned that the mounting pins didn’t align properly with their caddies, which could be a minor inconvenience for some setups.
2. Performance and Reliability
The HGST Ultrastar He8 is designed for enterprise use, and many customers found it to be a reliable workhorse. With 7200 RPM speeds and a 128MB cache, the drive delivers fast data access and transfer rates.
Pros:
- High Performance
Users reported smooth and efficient operations, even with data-intensive tasks. - Enterprise-Grade Reliability
Many customers have been using the drive for months without any issues, highlighting its durability. - Energy Efficiency
The drive’s energy-efficient design was a plus for those looking to reduce operational costs.
Cons:
- Mixed Reliability
While many drives performed flawlessly, some customers received units that failed shortly after installation. For example, one user reported a drive that made a "banging noise" and failed within days.
3. Customer Support and Warranty
Customer support experiences were a mixed bag. Some users praised the quick and hassle-free replacement process, while others faced challenges with returns and refunds.
Pros:
- Responsive Seller
Several customers appreciated the seller’s prompt response and willingness to replace defective drives. - Easy Returns
The return/exchange process was straightforward for many users, with replacements shipped overnight in some cases.
Cons:
- Denied Refunds
A few customers reported issues with refunds, with sellers denying responsibility based on serial number discrepancies. This led to frustration and the need to involve Amazon or credit card companies for resolution.
4. Value for Money
The HGST Ultrastar He8 offers excellent value for those seeking enterprise-level performance at a fraction of the cost of new drives.
Pros:
- Affordable Price
Customers appreciated the cost savings of purchasing a refurbished drive without sacrificing performance. - High Capacity
The 8TB storage capacity was a major selling point for users managing large datasets or backups.
Cons:
- Inherent Risk
As with any refurbished product, there’s a risk of receiving a drive with limited lifespan or potential issues. Some users reported drives with 50,000 to 60,000 hours of use, which is still within the expected lifespan but may not be ideal for everyone.
Conclusion: Is the HGST Ultrastar He8 Worth It?
The HGST Ultrastar He8 HUH728080ALE604 8TB HDD is a solid choice for those in need of high-capacity, reliable storage at an affordable price. Its enterprise-grade performance, energy efficiency, and robust packaging make it a standout option for data centers, professionals, and tech enthusiasts.
However, the refurbished nature of the product comes with some risks. While many customers received drives that performed flawlessly, others encountered issues such as early failures or challenges with returns and refunds.
Final Verdict: If you’re willing to take a calculated risk for the sake of cost savings, the HGST Ultrastar He8 is a great value. Just be prepared to test the drive thoroughly upon arrival and ensure you’re purchasing from a reputable seller with a clear return policy. For those prioritizing reliability above all else, investing in a new drive might be the safer bet.
Specification HGST Ultrastar He8 HUH728080ALE604 8TB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 3.5in 128MB 512e HDD (0F23668) (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
I ordered two of the 8TB drives to backup information from 3 different mirrors I have (4TB, 2TB and another 2TB). I’m concerned about any one of the controllers failing and losing that data. While one of the drives fired right up and has been working great, the second drive powered on and was recognized by the OS but never spun up giving an IO error. I went through the easy to follow return/exchange prompts in Amazon and the company overnighted me a replacement! Amazing! I honestly thought something was wrong with the replacement drive when I received it as it only showed as 2TB in the OS but it turns out the older USB to SATA adapter I was using with that drive doesn’t recognize anything larger. I picked up a new adapter on Amazon which supports up to 16TB and the drive is now recognized as 8TB and functioning properly!
These drives offer excellent value, providing enterprise-level performance with 50,000 to 60,000 hours of use at a very reasonable price. Despite their long expected lifespan, there is some inherent risk in purchasing used drives. I ordered two drives, and while one failed a self-test, the seller promptly replaced the defective unit. Overall, I believe this is a tremendous value, but buyers should be prepared for the possibility of receiving a less-than-perfect drive.
Ordered two of these, after about 3 days one drive failed and was making a banging noise. Contacted the seller and they denied that the drive came from them based on the serial number on the drive. I sent them the order number and they stopped responding. I have not purchased this brand of HDD before so I know that it came from them. I ended up having to file a claim with amazon and amex to get my money refunded. Lets hope the other one does not fail! Update - the second drive failed. I never got the refund for the first drive because per Amazon, the refund comes from the seller and they chose not to refund it. Amex said the seller is claiming the drives returned did not match any serial numbers they sold. I also find it suspicious that in the box there was a card saying “we track all drive serial numbers if you have issues contact us”
Works Well, but mounting pins don't line up on caddy.
Lots of storage, Works like it should.
Been working as an external backup drive for months without any issues. HGST renewed drives in general have been very reliable for me over the years.
Hdd were well packaged. It arrived in a well protected box with anti static bag for the hdd as well as full instructions leaflet. Worked right out of the box. Crystaldisk showed usage of only about 68k hours.