by 293 reviews.
WD AV-25 1 TB AV Hard Drive Review: A Reliable Storage Solution for Always-On Environments
The WD AV-25 1 TB AV Hard Drive is a compact yet powerful storage solution designed for 24/7 operation in demanding environments like DVRs, surveillance systems, and multimedia setups. With its 5400 RPM speed, 16 MB cache, and SilkStream technology, this 2.5-inch SATA II hard drive ensures smooth HD video playback and supports up to five simultaneous streams. Whether you're upgrading your Tivo Bolt or setting up a surveillance system, this drive promises reliability, quiet operation, and energy efficiency.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Performance and Reliability
One of the standout features of the WD AV-25 is its 24/7 reliability, which makes it ideal for always-on applications. Customers have praised its ability to handle continuous operation without hiccups. For instance, one user replaced their failing 500 GB Tivo Bolt drive with this 1 TB model and reported that it passed all initial tests and has been running flawlessly for over a month.
Another reviewer highlighted its suitability for RAID setups, noting that it works well with their Areca ARC-1882ix-4G system. The drive's Preemptive Wear Leveling (PWL) technology also ensures even wear across the disk, which contributes to its longevity.
However, some users pointed out that the drive's SATA II 3 GB/s interface might feel outdated compared to newer SATA III drives. While this hasn't been a dealbreaker for most, it’s worth considering if you need faster data transfer speeds.
2. Ease of Installation and Compatibility
Many customers appreciated the plug-and-play simplicity of the WD AV-25. One Tivo Bolt user mentioned that the drive was easy to install, and the Tivo system recognized and formatted it without any issues. The drive’s compatibility with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS also makes it a versatile choice for various setups.
That said, a few users noted that removing the drive cover from devices like the Tivo Bolt could be a bit challenging. But once installed, the drive performed seamlessly, with no additional configuration required.
3. Noise and Power Efficiency
The WD AV-25 is designed to operate quietly, with noise levels below the threshold of human hearing. Customers have confirmed this, with one user stating that the drive is much quieter than their original Tivo Bolt drive. Additionally, its low power consumption (less than 2 Watts) makes it energy-efficient and suitable for fanless systems.
4. Durability and Longevity
Durability is a key selling point for this drive, especially for surveillance and DVR applications. One customer expressed confidence in the drive’s longevity, even ordering a second unit as a backup for future use. They expect the drive to last at least five years in their Tivo Bolt setup.
However, there was one report of a defective unit with 344 bad sectors detected within three hours of use. While this appears to be an isolated incident, it’s a reminder to test your drive thoroughly upon arrival.
5. Value for Money
The WD AV-25 offers excellent value for money, especially when compared to OEM replacements. One user noted that buying a 1 TB drive directly from Tivo would cost six times more than this WD model. For those looking to upgrade or replace their storage without breaking the bank, this drive is a cost-effective solution.
Conclusion: Is the WD AV-25 Worth It?
The WD AV-25 1 TB AV Hard Drive is a reliable, energy-efficient, and quiet storage solution tailored for always-on environments like DVRs and surveillance systems. Its SilkStream technology ensures smooth HD video playback, while its Preemptive Wear Leveling and IntelliSeek Technology enhance durability and reduce power consumption.
While the SATA II interface may feel outdated to some, it hasn’t been a significant drawback for most users. The drive’s ease of installation, compatibility with multiple operating systems, and excellent value for money make it a strong contender in its category.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a dependable hard drive for multimedia or surveillance applications, the WD AV-25 is a solid choice. Just be sure to test it thoroughly upon arrival to rule out any potential defects.
Specification WD AV-25 1 TB AV Hard Drive: 2.5 Inch, 5400 RPM, SATA II, 16 MB Cache - WD10JUCT:
Comments from Amazon:
The 500 GB on my Tivo Bolt cable/OTA started to show signs of failure. This 1TB drive was recommended as a replacement. The new drive passed all of the initial tests I ran on it, and was easy to install in the Bolt (though getting the Bolt drive cover off was a little bit of a challenge.) The Bolt recognized the drive and formatted it for use without issue. It’s been running well for a month now, and is much quieter than the original drive. Recording and playback seem to work better as well. Very satisfied so far.
Finding a replacement hard drive for a Tivo Bolt Vox is not the easiest task in the world - many will work, few will last. A surveillance device type drive, such as this, is what is necessary to get longevity. Staying at 1TB or less isn't absolutely mandatory but is what the Tivo Bolt was originally designed to handle. Getting a 1TB drive direct from TIVO (or their reseller) is six times the cost of this! Of course long term reliability can only be determined over the long term (duh) so I may end up changing this review in six months if it fails. I fully expect to get 5 years out of this drive in this application - how confident? I ordered a second one to put away for installation in 5+ years because I'm sure they will be out of production by then.
Pro's: High reliability, low power consumption, RAID compliant. Con's: Only SATA2 3 GB/s Comments: Works well on an Areca ARC-1882ix-4G, using 3x SUPERMICRO CSE-M28SAB with 24 drives in RAID 6. Wake from sleep is averaging 10 seconds. CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64 Results ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s] Sequential Read : 2514.169 MB/s Sequential Write : 1328.994 MB/s Random Read 512KB : 2487.555 MB/s Random Write 512KB : 2656.369 MB/s Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 122.846 MB/s [ 29991.7 IOPS] Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 30.905 MB/s [ 7545.2 IOPS] Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 226.918 MB/s [ 55400.0 IOPS] Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 29.749 MB/s [ 7262.9 IOPS] Test : 1000 MB [D: 53.8% (11015.2/20488.9 GB)] (x5) Date : 2014/09/03 14:05:59 OS : Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)
Being the suspicious type, I suspect that these sites are used for “dumping.” However, this drive seems as good as any that I have bought elsewhere & I have bought several.
...the "Disk at Risk of Failure" error message popped up. "Unifi has detected a large quantity of bad drive sectors. Replace this disk as soon as possible before an unexpected failure results in a data loss. 344 bad sectors. I have owned it for less than 3 hours and it is out of warranty. How about that Araman Trading? You sell broke and out of warranty items?
We were met with an abrupt ending to the life of our Tivo Bolt's hard drive. A useful device rendered useless with no warning. As frustrating as that was, buying a new hard drive was a no-brainer compared to either paying Tivo for the repair or scrapping the unit and buying a whole new one. Opening the Bolt was easy as was swapping out the old drive. Please be aware, once you remove the old unit, you cannot reinsert it later to try and retrieve the content. Do any attempted "fixes" of the old one and exhaust your attempts before throwing in the towel and installing this new one. Rest assured, once you install this new one, Tivo will handle the rest! It's a breeze. The software is automatically installed and you will be back up and running with the added bonus of more storage space. (As for life expectancy, only time will tell. I will update when it reaches it's end, which hopefully will be many, many years down the road.)
Works like a charm. Nice product and was as described in the ad. The pricing was fair and no problems just plug in and play. Thanks