by 85 reviews.
Seagate Exos X18 16TB Enterprise HDD Review: A Powerhouse with Mixed Results
The Seagate Exos X18 16TB Enterprise HDD is a renewed, high-capacity hard drive designed for enterprise-level applications. With features like a 7200 RPM speed, SATA 6Gb/s interface, and helium-sealed design, this drive promises exceptional performance and reliability for hyperscale data centers, RAID systems, and large-scale storage solutions. However, as with any refurbished product, the experience can vary. Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer feedback.
Pros and Cons of the Seagate Exos X18 16TB Enterprise HDD
Performance and Reliability
Pros:
- Enterprise-Grade Performance: Many users praise the Seagate Exos X18 for its robust performance. One customer mentioned running the drive through rigorous read, write, and SMART tests for a week, confirming its reliability. They noted that the drive performed flawlessly, even under heavy workloads.
- Longevity: Several users reported that their Exos drives have thousands of hours of runtime without issues. For example, one reviewer mentioned their X16 drives (a similar model) had over 20,000 hours of runtime, suggesting that the Exos line is built to last.
- Zero-Hour Drives: Some customers received drives with 0 hours of runtime, indicating they were essentially new. These users reported no issues and were satisfied with their purchase.
Cons:
- Inconsistent Quality: Unfortunately, not all drives live up to the Exos reputation. One user reported that their drive started making unusual noises after just under 500 hours of use, signaling potential failure. Another customer experienced a drive that failed within three hours of use, resulting in data loss.
- Dead on Arrival: Several reviewers received drives that were completely non-functional. One user described a drive that emitted a long screeching sound upon startup, a clear sign of physical damage. Others reported drives that weren’t even detected by their systems.
Packaging and Condition
Pros:
- Secure Packaging: Many customers appreciated the meticulous packaging. One reviewer highlighted that the drive was wrapped in an anti-static bag, surrounded by high-grade bubble wrap, and secured with spacers in a sturdy box. This ensured the drive arrived in excellent condition.
- Refurbished Quality: Some users were impressed with the renewed condition of the drives, noting that they looked and performed like new.
Cons:
- End-of-Life Units: A significant drawback is the inconsistency in the refurbishing process. Several customers reported receiving drives that appeared to be end-of-life units, with clear signs of wear and tear. One reviewer emphasized that refurbished HDDs are often returned units that haven’t undergone thorough quality checks.
Value for Money
Pros:
- Affordable Enterprise Solution: For those who received functional drives, the Seagate Exos X18 offers incredible value. It provides enterprise-grade performance at a fraction of the cost of a new drive.
- Risk-Free Returns: Many customers appreciated Amazon’s hassle-free return policy, which allowed them to return defective drives without issues.
Cons:
- High Risk: The biggest downside is the gamble involved. While some drives perform exceptionally well, others are dead on arrival or fail shortly after use. One reviewer advised spending a bit more on brand-new drives to avoid the risk altogether.
Conclusion: Is the Seagate Exos X18 16TB Worth It?
The Seagate Exos X18 16TB Enterprise HDD is a mixed bag. On one hand, it offers enterprise-level performance, massive storage capacity, and reliable operation for many users. On the other hand, the inconsistency in quality and the risk of receiving a defective or end-of-life unit make it a gamble.
Final Verdict: If you’re willing to take the risk, the Seagate Exos X18 can be a cost-effective solution for enterprise storage needs. However, if reliability is your top priority, it might be worth investing in a brand-new drive to avoid potential headaches.
Would you take the chance on a renewed drive, or would you prefer to play it safe? Let us know in the comments below!
Specification Seagate Exos X18 16TB Enterprise HDD - CMR 3.5 Inch Hyperscale SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512e and 4Kn FastFormat, Low Latency with Enhanced Caching (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
Picked 1 up for the NAS. Packaging was great, wrapped in anti-static bag, then high-grade bubble-wrap followed by spacers within a box. Zero wiggle room in the packaging. Have started hearing the head after just under 500 hours, so will likely need to be replaced. Surprising considering the Exos reputation but this is a renewed and included no details on it's prior usage.
This drive was at 0 hours when I first powered it on. I didn't think to take a screenshot immediately. Thus far working perfectly. ( I have multiple other drives 12-16 TB I have bought renewed as well, all have been problem free). If anything changes I will update, but I do not anticipate any issues
I've bought a batch of 5 enterprise grade hard drives. One of them was detected, and I was able to initialize and format the disk after a couple of unsuccessful attempts. However, the drive started its life with a long screeching sound, which is a clear indication of physical damage. The other 4 drives weren't even detected, and they each consistently emitted every sound one would expect from a dead hard disk drive during the spin-up phase. Normally a "refurbished" HDD simply means a returned HDD that is unboxed, since it's not possible to actually refurbish hard disk drives, and it's not possible to sell it as new either. These drives however, are clearly all end-of-life, dead units.
AVOID You are accepting a risk purchasing. These drives as they are refurbished but this one arrived completely dead on arrival. Hard drive clicked and wind as soon as I plugged it in. These probably go through absolutely zero quality assurance or checks. Luckily Amazon takes them back, but don’t waste your time. Spend the extra couple of dollars to get brand new drives.
It's been literally hours, backed up some files (fortunately didn't permanently move them onto this drive), failed within 3 hours and lost everything on the drive. don't buy this!
don't waist your money
Perfect for my Synology 5 bay, I run 2 X16's for data and bought 2 of these X18's for surveillance. These drives have over 4600 hours of perfect runtime and will likely last a long time (my X16's have over 20 thousand hours on them! I ran these HARD for about a week with read, write, and smart tests to make 100% sure they are good drives, and they are! I wanted the best, so I bought the Exos line, these are enterprise class drives, an absolute workhorses of the data industry.