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Seagate Skyhawk 4TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Reliable Choice for Surveillance Systems?
The Seagate Skyhawk 4TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD is a specialized storage solution designed for DVR and NVR security camera systems. Built to handle 24/7 workloads, this 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s hard drive supports up to 64 simultaneously streaming HD cameras with zero dropped frames, thanks to its enhanced ImagePerfect firmware. With a workload rating of 180TB/year, it ensures smooth, uninterrupted video streaming, making it ideal for both home and small-to-medium business surveillance systems.
Key features include built-in RV sensors for maintaining performance in multi-bay systems, lower power consumption to reduce heat emissions, and SkyHawk Health Management for real-time drive monitoring. The drive also boasts a 1M hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and comes with a three-year limited warranty, plus three years of in-house Rescue Data Recovery Services for added peace of mind.
Pros and Cons: What Do Customers Say?
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB is its performance. Many users have reported significant improvements in speed and reliability compared to their previous drives. For instance, a customer who replaced a 1TB drive in their Directv HR54 Genie DVR noted that the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB was "so much faster" and eliminated slowness issues when recording and watching on multiple TVs. Another user mentioned that the drive booted up in just 2 minutes instead of the 5-6 minutes they were used to, making it a noticeable upgrade.
Key Takeaway: If you're looking for a hard drive that can handle heavy workloads without lag, the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB delivers.
Ease of Installation
Installation is another area where the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB shines. Customers have found it easy to install in various systems, including DVRs and NVRs. One user shared their experience of cloning their external 4TB drive onto the Seagate Skyhawk and installing it in their DVR without any issues. They also appreciated how straightforward it was to open up their HR54 Genie DVR, unlike previous models.
Key Takeaway: Whether you're a tech-savvy user or a beginner, the installation process is hassle-free.
Durability and Reliability
While many users have praised the drive's reliability, there are mixed reviews when it comes to long-term durability. Some customers have reported using the drive for months without any issues, even in 24/7 surveillance setups. One user mentioned that the drive worked perfectly for their Reolink NVR setup, with no problems in speed or scrubbing through videos.
However, there are also reports of premature failures. A customer shared their experience of the drive developing sector failures within just two months of use, eventually leading to a full HDD failure. This raises concerns about the drive's longevity, especially in demanding environments.
Key Takeaway: While the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB is generally reliable, there are instances of early failures, so it's essential to monitor its health regularly.
Noise Levels
The Seagate Skyhawk 4TB is not the quietest drive on the market. Several users have noted that it makes noise during operation, which is expected given its high-performance nature. However, most customers don't find this to be a dealbreaker, especially since the drive is often placed in network closets or other out-of-the-way locations.
Key Takeaway: If noise is a concern, this might not be the best choice for you, but for most users, it's a minor inconvenience.
Value for Money
Compared to competitors like the WD Purple line, the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB offers excellent value for money. Customers have appreciated its affordability, especially when compared to the more expensive WD Purple Pros. Additionally, the drive comes with a three-year warranty and in-house Rescue Data Recovery Services, adding to its overall value.
Key Takeaway: For those on a budget, the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB provides a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance.
Conclusion: Is the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB Worth It?
The Seagate Skyhawk 4TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their DVR or NVR system. Its impressive performance, ease of installation, and affordability make it a popular option among users. However, there are some concerns about its long-term durability, with a few reports of early failures.
Final Verdict: If you're in need of a reliable, high-performance hard drive for your surveillance system, the Seagate Skyhawk 4TB is worth considering. Just be sure to keep an eye on its health and take advantage of the warranty and data recovery services if needed.
Specification Seagate Skyhawk 4TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with Drive Health Management and in-House Rescue Services (ST4000VXZ16/016):
Comments from Amazon:
Great drive. I needed a new drive for my Reolink NVR and this drive worked perfect.
Its pretty quiet, works perfectly for my nvr setup.
After two failed fraudulent drives from the WD Purple line ordered from Amazon I finally found one that appears to be both legit and functioning. The first WD Purple I ordered showed 0 power on hours but clearly had been used previously. It was loud, clicked a lot and failed within two weeks. The replacement drive I ordered (That appeared to come from the "Western Digital Store") showed up and wasn't recognized by my system as a WD drive but rather an HGST drive...a model that was manufactured from 2014-2015. The drive had tool marks that had been painted over with black paint and the body also matched HGST drives from that era. You could even see sticker residue where something was removed and a WD Purple label was placed on it. The serial number was fake and also didn't match what SMART reported. WD had no record of either serial. This drive formatted immediately, showed up in new manufacturer packaging and the serial number checks out on the Seagate website. I've used several purple drives in the past with good results but it seems like Amazon has an issue with the resellers on this site so I would 100% avoid buying the WD line on here for now and go with this seagate drive instead.
Works well. Month in using as surveillance system recoding 24/7 for 4 cameras. No problems with speed or scrubbing through videos. Cheaper than the WD purple pros. Makes noise but don’t expect it to be quiet and it’s in a network closet.
I'm using this drive in my NVR for a couple of security cameras I'm using and it works great. I had a previous one that was developing errors, so hopefully this one stands the test of time.
I bought the '24Gb Seagate Skyhawk AI NVR HDD' back in in April 2024. I installed it right away in my NVR. Within 2 months I started receiving warnings from my NVR that the HDD was having sectors fail. I thought maybe my cameras and NVR were just overwhelming the HDD, so I bought another. Fast forward to August or September 2024, I have a full HDD failure, so my NVR was not recording anything. Shame on me for not fully understanding my NVR's poor warnings of HDD full failure. Even more crappy, the fact that such an expensive HDD failed in such short time! Additionally, my NVR was dumb in that it didn't fault over to the other Skyhawk HDD. I started to look into warranty replacement and I have to keep the stupid box that it came in, in order to send the product back for warranty coverage. I plan on contacting Seagate today (15 Nov 2024) to determine if that is in fact the case. I have 9 smart cameras (2k-4k @ 15-30fps) with only 4-5 on continuous record.
Use to replace the 1TB drive that was in my Directv HR54 Genie DVR. Worked great. Fast and reliable. The Drive is optimized for video. It did make a huge difference and improvement. It was easy to install in the HR54. It’s so much faster than the 1TB that was in there. I’m glad I did. I was tired of running out of space. I used to use the Esata port but noticed some slowness issues when recording and trying to watch on a couple of TVs. I cloned my external 4tb on to this one and put it in the DVR. It was easy to open up the hr54. Not like the hr24. I’m glad I did. Runs great. No slowness or lag when scrolling down the list of recordings. Plus it boot up in 2 minutes instead of 5-6. Awesome.