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Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Powerhouse for Surveillance Systems
The Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for AI-enabled surveillance systems. With its massive 20TB capacity, this 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s hard drive is built to handle the most demanding workloads, making it ideal for DVR, NVR, and security camera systems. Whether you're managing a small home setup or a large-scale enterprise surveillance network, this drive promises reliability, speed, and advanced features to keep your data secure and accessible.
Key Features:
- ImagePerfect AI: Ensures zero dropped frames for seamless video and AI footage.
- SkyHawk Health Management: Proactively protects your data with prevention and recovery tools.
- Enterprise-Class Reliability: 2M hours MTBF and 550TB/year workload rate.
- In-House Rescue Services: Includes a 5-year limited warranty and 3 years of Rescue Data Recovery Services.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB is its impressive performance. Customers have praised its speed and reliability, especially when compared to older or smaller-capacity drives. One user who replaced a 1TB drive in their Directv HR54 Genie DVR reported that the Skyhawk AI was "so much faster" and eliminated the slowness issues they experienced with their previous setup. Another user noted that the drive booted up in just 2 minutes, compared to the 5-6 minutes they were used to.
Pros:
- Fast and Reliable: Users report significant improvements in speed and responsiveness.
- Optimized for Video: The drive is specifically designed for video recording, ensuring smooth playback and recording.
Cons:
- Noise Levels: Some users mentioned that the drive is not completely silent, which might be a concern for noise-sensitive environments.
Ease of Installation
Installing the Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB is straightforward, according to customer feedback. One user shared their experience of cloning their external 4TB drive onto the Skyhawk and installing it in their DVR without any issues. They also appreciated how easy it was to open up their HR54 Genie DVR, unlike older models like the HR24.
Pros:
- User-Friendly Installation: Customers found the installation process simple and hassle-free.
- Compatibility: Works seamlessly with various DVR and NVR systems.
Cons:
- No Specific Cons Reported: Most users did not encounter any difficulties during installation.
Durability and Longevity
The Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB is marketed as an enterprise-class drive with exceptional durability. However, some users have reported mixed experiences. One customer shared that their drive started developing sector failures within two months of use, eventually leading to a full HDD failure. They expressed frustration with the warranty process, which required them to keep the original packaging for a replacement.
Pros:
- Enterprise-Grade Reliability: Many users have had positive experiences with the drive's durability, especially in 24/7 surveillance setups.
- Warranty and Support: The 5-year limited warranty and 3 years of Rescue Data Recovery Services provide peace of mind.
Cons:
- Potential for Early Failures: A few users reported issues with the drive failing prematurely.
- Warranty Hassles: Keeping the original packaging for warranty claims can be inconvenient.
Value for Money
When it comes to value, the Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB offers a compelling package. Customers appreciate its competitive pricing compared to alternatives like the WD Purple line. One user highlighted their positive experience after encountering fraudulent WD Purple drives on Amazon, stating that the Seagate drive was a reliable and legitimate alternative.
Pros:
- Affordable for Its Features: Offers advanced capabilities at a reasonable price.
- Legitimate Product: Customers trust the authenticity of Seagate drives compared to some third-party sellers.
Cons:
- Higher Initial Cost: The 20TB model is a significant investment, which might not be suitable for all budgets.
Conclusion: Is the Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB Worth It?
The Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD is a robust and reliable storage solution for anyone managing a surveillance system. Its impressive speed, large capacity, and advanced features like ImagePerfect AI and SkyHawk Health Management make it a top choice for both home and enterprise users. However, potential buyers should be aware of the occasional durability issues and the need to keep original packaging for warranty claims.
Final Verdict: If you're looking for a high-capacity, high-performance hard drive optimized for AI-enabled surveillance, the Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB is an excellent choice. Just be prepared for the possibility of early failures and ensure you keep the packaging for warranty purposes.
Specification Seagate Skyhawk AI 20TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with in-House Rescue Services (ST20000VEZ02/002):
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.