by 294 reviews.
HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD Review: A Reliable Renewed Hard Drive for Data Centers
The HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD (Model: HUH721212ALE601) is a high-performance 12TB internal hard drive designed for demanding data center environments. With a 7200 RPM speed, SATA 6Gb/s interface, and a massive 256MB cache, this 3.5-inch hard drive delivers exceptional storage capacity and speed for big data applications, cloud storage, and hyperscale environments. Built with fourth-generation HelioSeal technology, this helium-filled drive ensures a stable internal environment, enabling an 8-disk design that increases capacity by 20% compared to previous generations. Its power-efficient design reduces idle power consumption, making it an eco-friendly choice for data centers aiming to meet environmental goals.
Key features include Instant Secure Erase (ISE) for enhanced data security, dual-safe firmware for reliable updates, and a "Power Disable" feature for easy system power cycling. With a targeted 2.5M hours MTBF, the Ultrastar DC HC520 offers unmatched reliability, making it ideal for high-density data centers, centralized video surveillance, and enterprise-capacity applications.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Reliability
The HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is praised for its high performance and reliability, especially in data center and NAS environments. Many users have reported that the drive performs exceptionally well, with one reviewer stating, "These drives are performant and actually have superior stats to new ones of the exact same model!" Another user mentioned that the drive worked flawlessly in their Western Digital PR4100 NAS setup, with no SMART data issues initially.
However, some users have experienced drive failures. One reviewer noted that one of their drives failed on the second day of use, with bad sectors causing the NAS to take the drive offline. Another user reported that two drives failed consecutively, leaving them without a backup and causing data loss. Despite these issues, the majority of users have found the drives to be reliable, especially when used in RAID configurations.
Renewed vs. New: A Cost-Effective Choice
One of the biggest advantages of the HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is its cost-effectiveness. Many users have highlighted the significant savings compared to buying new drives. One reviewer mentioned, "This is $100 cheaper per drive than buying new." Another user appreciated the quick replacement process through Amazon, stating, "When there is a problem, at least the Amazon/Seller combo I used, you get a replacement drive the next day."
However, some users have expressed concerns about the drive's "renewed" status. One reviewer noted that their drives came with 29,345 and 26,699 "power on" hours, which made them consider buying an additional drive for extra insurance. Despite this, most users have found the renewed drives to be in excellent condition, with one stating, "It looks brand new in every way; if it didn't say 'renewed' in this listing, you'd never know."
Noise and Power Efficiency
The HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is designed to be power-efficient, and many users have appreciated its low idle power consumption. One reviewer mentioned, "They power save and all of that stuff," highlighting the drive's eco-friendly design. However, some users have noted that the drive is not as quiet as they expected. One reviewer stated, "It's not as quiet as I thought it would be given the helium addition, but it works and isn't too loud or anything."
Ease of Use and Setup
Setting up the HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is generally straightforward, but some users have encountered minor issues. One reviewer mentioned that they had to use Kapton tape and an adapter to get the drive to work properly, stating, "Instructions made it seem as though I could use the adapter instead of Kapton tape, but that just wasn't the case for me." Despite this, most users have found the setup process to be hassle-free, with one stating, "I put in the replacement drive and whallah - it works fine."
Durability and Longevity
The HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is built for durability, with a targeted 2.5M hours MTBF. Many users have found the drive to be long-lasting, especially when used in high-density data centers. One reviewer mentioned, "I buy 6x8TB per year for several years. This fall, I saw these 12TB's. I bought 2 because I use RAID1." However, some users have experienced drive failures, with one stating, "If 2 drives can fail, especially when the 2nd one contained data that I now have to spend 100 hours creating, my opinion, for what it's worth, is stay away from these 12TB drives."
Conclusion: Is the HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD Worth It?
The HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD is a high-performance, cost-effective solution for data centers and NAS environments. Its 12TB capacity, 7200 RPM speed, and 256MB cache make it an excellent choice for big data applications and cloud storage. The drive's helium-filled design and power-efficient features further enhance its appeal, especially for eco-conscious users.
However, the drive's "renewed" status may be a concern for some users, particularly those who have experienced drive failures. While the majority of users have found the drives to be reliable, there is a risk of encountering bad sectors or DOA drives. That said, the quick replacement process through Amazon and the significant cost savings make the HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD a compelling option for those looking to maximize their storage capacity without breaking the bank.
In summary, if you're willing to take a calculated risk on a renewed drive, the HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD offers exceptional value and performance. Just be sure to have a backup plan in place, as with any storage solution.
Specification HGST - WD Ultrastar DC HC520 HDD | HUH721212ALE601 | 12TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 3.5-Inch | ISE 512e | Helium Data Center Internal Hard Disk Drive (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
I buy 6x8TB per year for several years. This fall, I saw these 12TB's. I bought 2 because I use RAID1. As one cautious reviewer wrote, if one fails, you still have the other. I bought these 2 a few weeks before I left the country to work 6 months overseas. I wrote about a half TB to the pair to verify all was well. All was well. A few months after I got here (out of the country), it was time to try the pair. One was DOA. Left me with one. I didn't have a 2nd drive. Getting a replacement half way around the world out of the question. I thew a TB at the 2nd one to make sure it was working properly. Figured I'd copy the drive when I got back to the US. Bad idea. I had written a TB to it over the past few weeks in bursts of 200-300GB at a time, turning off the drive after I'd finished. I turned the drive on this morning to write another few hundred GB's. Drive not seen. Looked at disk management. It was there. Except it's there as 8TB and not initialized. I'm using the same docking bay, a CENMATE with raid support. I put the drive in an empty Startech bay I use infrequently. Same deal. Finally, I tried an Inatech. This one really blew me away. It reported an 8TB with a file structure from a drive I hadn't loaded in 2 months. Just thought I mention that to those of who have experienced 'wormholes' like this in your career. Where it's getting that structure from, I have no idea. Obviously when I click on a file in explorer, nothing opens. In summary, if 2 drives can fail, especially when the 2nd one contained data that I now have to spend 100 hours creating, my opinion, for what it's worth, is stay away from these 12TB drives. I've had 8TB's fail over the years but never, ever 2 in a row.
Item works. It's not as quiet as I thought it would be given the helium addition but it works and it isnt too loud or anything. A little piece of Kapton tape and adapter is included. Insructions made it seem as though I could use adapter instead of Kapton tape but that just wasnt the case for me. I had to put Kapton tape then the adapter. Then it worked no problem. All in all I am happy with my purchase. I am considering buying another.
Yes, I also saw the LTT video, and decided to jump in and try my hand at some of these for my Unify NVR. grabbed two for a great price -- which I'm happy about. The drives are in great condition, and packaged perfectly, Even come with a power cable. Buuuuuuuuuut... Unlike the low hour "Appears to never of been mounted" drives they got on LTT, mine came with 29,345 and 26,699 "power on" hours. Not a deal breaker, in fact I'm happy with the fact that they didn't reset it as part of the "Refurbishment" -- But now I'll most likely end up buying a third drive just for extra, extra, extra insurance, which starts moving me awfully close to the cost of just buying new drives in the first place.
As advertised. Bought 2 of them. Packaged very well just like a new drive. Info says they have just under 30000 hrs runtime. Working well but have only had them for 2 or 3 weeks
I am writing without the help of ChatGPT (I know, weird concept, huh?) so this is totally authentic. I bought 4x of these for a used Western Digital PR4100 NAS I bought off of ebay (Western Digital nix'd the product; they don't sell them new anymore - but it as an excellent NAS compared to others). At first, all drives joined the set just fine - no SMART data issues to report, not a peep for a day or so. I was doing the happy-NAS dance because of it. Buying 4 at the same time makes sense when you do this since the best practice with RAID configurations usually have the same model of drive across the entire set so that there's no timing inconsistencies when writing data (which can foul up the RAID quickly). So I setup everything right. But on day 2, I had one of the drives fail on me - so said the NAS, so when I investigated it, it turns out that there were some sectors that were "bad enough" to warrant the NAS to taking the drive offline. I went through Amazon's replacement process (which is awesome, BTW) and once I dropped off the drive at the UPS store, a replacement one was FedEx'd to my house. I got it the next day. So it's better support than most IT companies frankly, and 10x better than CDW. I'm not sure how long non-Amazon tech businesses compete anymore; it's hard to beat that kind of service. The supplier was the one who sent it (not Amazon) and they did so so quickly and it came packaged so nice (it looks brand new in every way; if it didn't say 'renewed' in this listing, you'd never know). I put in the replacement drive and whallah - it works fine. Moral of the story: buying renewed drives can *feel* scary. But in my exhaustive experience buying harddrives - and I've been doing so for 35+ years (I bought MFM drives and would convert them to RLL just to get 1% extra storage back-in-the-day), even when you buy new ones, there's about a 10-20% chance that it's DOA. This is not a manufacturing problem per se - but imagine yourself in the life of a harddrive, these get kicked around by the sorting machines that the likes of UPS, USPS and FedEx use as well as LTL Freight services, so the mere fact that they work after being shipped is a miracle. So that said, I had the around the same luck with these drives as I do when buying new drives but here's why I actually think this is better: when there is a problem, at least the Amazon/Seller combo I used, you get a replacement drive *the next day*. When you buy a new one and go through the manufacturer - don't hold your breath as it's like 1-2 weeks. And while, yes, you could always buy a new one through Amazon and have a quicker turnaround, this is $100 cheaper per drive than buying new. So save your money, buy this drive, and realize that with any hard drive new/refurb/used, you will have the likelihood of it not working from the get-go.. at least buying this refurb here, you are actually getting better service for a lower cost, which is a total win for the customer. Lastly, these drives are performant and actually have superior stats to new ones of the exact same model! Especially if you are using them in a NAS, these are a no-brainer; and they power save and all of that stuff (and I didn't use the tape or had to convert the "pins" for an older setup but all of the stuff to do that is in the box when you buy it). A+++!