9 most capacious hard drives

In the old days, an 80 GB hard disk was enough for data storage. Why chase the volume, if the movies and games weighed only 700 MB? And they were often stored not on the HDD, but on the optical disk. Now everything has changed. Even a five-minute video shot in 4K-resolution will weigh several gigabytes. In short, hard drives are now increasingly required to accommodate a huge amount of data. That is why we decided to talk about the best of these devices. You will be surprised at the storage capacity of the most capacious hard drives available to the average customer.

Rating of the most capacious hard drives

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The most capacious hard drives for desktop and server	1	Seagate ST14000DM001	39 415 ₽
	2	Western Digital WD Gold 12 TB (WD121KRYZ)	33 549 ₽
	3	HGST HUH721010ALE604	19 922 ₽
	4	Western Digital WD Red 6 TB (WD60EFRX)	13 431 ₽
The most capacious external hard drives	1	Lacie STFK60000400	325 796 ₽
	2	Western Digital My Cloud Pro Series PR4100 32 TB (WDBNFA0320KBK)	126 635 ₽
	3	Seagate STEL8000200	12 700 ₽
	4	Western Digital WD Elements Desktop 6 TB (WDBWLG0060HBK-EESN)	11 186 ₽
	5	Lacie STFD5000400	11 390 ₽

The most capacious hard drives for desktop and server

Seagate ST14000DM001

Rating: 4.9

As you can guess from the name of this hard disk, its capacity is 14 TB! Extreme volume! Such a capacious drive may be required for installation in a server that contains many sites. If we talk about ordinary users, then only video bloggers come to mind, trying to please their subscribers with new videos almost every day. And in this case, is it not better to buy several smaller hard drives? The cost of this model reaches 40 thousand rubles. If the HDD suddenly fails, it will be a great pity for the money spent. However, a long-term warranty and reliable assembly do their job - the buyer is unlikely to seriously fear the occurrence of problems.

Unlike less capacious brethren, Seagate ST14000DM001 has 256 MB of buffer memory. Still it is impossible not to notice that the usual design would make access to this or that information extremely long. In this regard, the manufacturer has built in here 16 heads. It only remains to be surprised how such a number fit in the traditional 3.5-inch form factor. As for the rotational speed, it is 7200 revolutions per minute. This is the maximum for the stable operation of a modern hard disk - no one has yet risked exceeding this parameter, since one day this can lead to the physical rupture of a magnetic plate.

The product is connected to the computer via a 6-gigabit SATA connector. The maximum data is read at a speed of 600 MB / s. It was possible to achieve this parameter due to the use of a larger number of heads. It turns out that in terms of speed of reading data, this hard disk is comparable to the average SSD-drives!

It should be noted that this model requires a computer case or server with good cooling. If its temperature reaches 60 ° C, then an emergency shutdown is possible. The rest is a typical hard drive. During his work, he makes a noise, but not much - the corresponding measurements showed not exceeding the level of 28 dB.The resistance here is quite high, although in this respect the device is also inferior to solid-state drives. As for the average delay time, it reaches only 4.16 ms.

Western Digital WD Gold 12 TB (WD121KRYZ)

Rating: 4.8

Already a little less capacious, but still the same expensive hard drive. It offers approximately 12 TB for data storage. In this case, the manufacturer recommends that you install your creation exclusively in the server. It is possible that this is due to the high noise level, reaching 36 dB. If you have a power supply unit installed on your computer that turns on the “spinner” only under heavy load, and some water cooling for the processor, then the hard disk will actually be heard during the moments of reading and writing data. But while idle, the noise level is reduced to the traditional 20 dB. As for the connection method, here the usual SATA connector is used, which supports a speed of 6 Gb / s.

The maximum read and write speed is here - it is 255 Mb / s. There are fewer heads reading information. However, the above speed is enough for most users. It should also be noted that a buffer memory of 256 MB is used here. Plates rotate at a speed of 7200 rpm - as we have already mentioned, this is the maximum at which their safety is possible.

The manufacturer assures that it is possible to use its hard disk for 2.5 million hours - only after such a period can something happen to it. It seems that it is for the sake of these numbers that an expensive HDD is bought - this is the case when a long storage period is more important than a high speed of reading or writing it.

It remains to add that the device has a high shock resistance, and the power consumption of the hard disk does not exceed 6.9 watts.

Please note that this model is slightly longer than usual. The increase in the space inside the hard drive made it possible to make the device cold - it does not heat up even with active use for many hours. But in this regard, for the installation of HDD you may need a new installation carriage.

HGST HUH721010ALE604

Rating: 4.7

It must be one of the most popular hard drives in our rating, if we talk only about models designed for installation in a server or a system block of a home computer (below we will also look at external HDDs). The capacity of this device does not exceed 10 TB. This is still the volume that hardly seems to someone to be insufficient. To an ordinary user, he will even be redundant - that is why the manufacturer offers this model only to server owners.

The drive belongs to the traditional 3.5-inch form factor. As it should be, the product has a buffer memory, and its volume reaches 256 MB. The magnetic plates placed under the metal casing are capable of rotating at a speed of 7200 rpm. What is the result is the speed of reading and writing - the manufacturer does not specify. However, in the reviews on HGST HUH721010ALE604 it is said that this parameter can easily reach 237-249 Mb / s. A good result, which is unattainable by less capacious and cheaper hard drives. Needless to say, to use files at this speed, you will need to connect to the latest generation SATA connector.

Some claims to HDD can be made only about the average access time, while recording this parameter reaches 8.6 ms. However, only models with lower density plates are more speedy. Well, the noise level, equal to about 36 dB, is unlikely anyone will complain, especially if the hard drive really will be in the server.

The manufacturer claims that the time between failures is 2.5 million hours. No one has yet been able to verify this statement, because the HDD has been released relatively recently. It remains to add that the device has a standard power consumption not exceeding 6.8 watts.

Western Digital WD Red 6 TB (WD60EFRX)

Rating: 4.6

As you know, the company Western Digital divides all its hard drives into several lines. The Red series consists of the most durable solutions. Such "winchesters" have a high spindle speed, but not a record one - the manufacturer tries to ensure that nothing exactly happens to the magnetic plates. For example, the disks in the model in question rotate at a speed of 5400 rpm. The volume of the device does not exceed 6 TB. It is clear that with this parameter a huge amount of buffer memory is not required - 64 MB is enough. It should be noted that the noise level while reading or writing information is 28 dB - only 3 dB more than when idle. This allows you to recommend a drive for installation in a home or office NAS. You can also insert it into the system unit - the SATA connector used here does not prevent this from happening at all. However, its insides must be well cooled, since at regular load the hard disk can noticeably heat up. However, reviews indicate that to achieve the temperature at which the HDD is urgently disabled, you need to try hard.

In terms of other characteristics, this is a typical hard drive, which is unlikely to amaze you with something. It is quite shock-resistant, but it is far from the indicators of solid-state drives. Time between failures is only 1 million hours. However, even this “only” is enough for the overwhelming majority of buyers. Well, the power consumption here is reduced to 5.3 watts.

The most capacious external hard drives

Lacie STFK60000400

Rating: 4.9

How capacious can a modern external drive be? Our rating shows that almost infinitely capacious. A model called Lacie STFK60000400 can hold up to 60 TB of data! Of course, this was achieved by combining several HDDs at once. In fact, for 320-330 thousand rubles. you get a whole NAS storage, which includes six 3.5-inch hard drives. The device is colored gray, and a blue LED signals its operation. Each HDD is located in a sliding bay. If the need arises, any hard disk can be replaced very quickly. The entire set of drives is capable of working both in RAID 0 mode and in RAID 5 or RAID 6. This means that you will be able to duplicate information by writing it to two hard drives at the same time. If any of the drives suddenly fails, the information will necessarily remain on the other. In this mode, the use of 60 TB does not seem to have any outrageous volume, is it?

In certain modes of operation, you can achieve read and write speeds of 1400 MB / s. This is something with something! Only SSDs connected via the M.2 standard can be beaten by this result, which we will also talk about someday!

On the back panel of this “box” you can find not only the power connector, but also two Thunderbolt 3 interfaces. It is through such ports that the highest speed of data reception and transmission is possible. However, if your computer does not have the above connector, then you can connect via USB-C, corresponding to the standard USB 3.1. Theoretically, the speed indicator of such a port reaches 10 Gbit / s, so no problems should arise.Cable for connection is included. And it would be strange if they forgot about him - with such a price tag ... Present in the box with the external hard drive (if you can call it that after all) and the power adapter.

Western Digital My Cloud Pro Series PR4100 32 TB (WDBNFA0320KBK)

Rating: 4.8

The My Cloud lineup includes external hard drives in two different categories. The first includes typical portable devices, which include only one drive. Well, the representative of the second category fell into our rating. In fact, this is a full-fledged NAS-storage, hard drives in which are located in special sliding compartments. Even the quad-core Intel Pentium processor is installed here - it is responsible for the correct redistribution of information on the drives and solving some other tasks.

The device is a fairly large "box" in black. In total there are four 3.5-inch HDD drives. Also, this model has a display equipped with a pleasant backlight. To start the device using the usual button - it is located right next to the compartments for hard drives. It also has a USB 3.0 connector. If we talk specifically about this port, it is intended solely for connecting another drive - for example, a traditional flash drive. As for the transfer of information from HDD-drives, then for this purpose other interfaces are used, which should be looked for on the rear panel.

Network storage is required to provide access to information through Ethernet-connectors. There are exactly two of them here. The cable from them can be pulled either to the router, or directly to the computer. However, in the second case, it is easier to use USB 3.0 ports, of which there are also two on the rear panel.

This design can be used for backup (there is even a corresponding button here), and as an FTP server, and for accessing DLNA media data. Hard disks installed inside can have any modern file system - this will not interfere with the firmware. They can also be combined into RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 arrays. The total amount of default drives is 32 TB.

Such a network drive is sure to come in handy somewhere in a large office. It can easily be accessed by several computers at once. A rather high speed of reading and writing data should please the video bloggers. And do not forget that any hard drive can be replaced by a faster one - one of those discussed above.

Seagate STEL8000200

Rating: 4.7

Of course, traditional external hard drives, which by no means can be considered as network storage, could not fail to get into our rating. Typically, the capacity of such drives is 3-4 TB, but there are exceptions to the rule - Seagate STEL8000200 is able to store up to 8 TB of data. This device belongs to a 3.5-inch form factor. This leads to its main drawback - the external hard disk requires additional power; it simply does not have enough USB power.

As you can easily guess, an external drive is connected via USB 3.0 to a computer or any other technology.At the same time, two additional USB ports were placed on the device's case - you can connect a flash drive or something else to them using the device we are considering as a hub.

This model turned out to be quite heavy - its weight is 1 kg. But nothing else was expected, because inside is a fairly large hard drive. Unfortunately, this is not the fastest drive. As you know, the USB 3.0 standard supports data transfer at speeds up to 500 Mb / s. But to achieve it all the same will not succeed. However, this external HDD is not particularly slow.

Should I buy Seagate STEL8000200 for 14 thousand rubles? As they say, it's up to you. If data transfer speed is important to you, then it is better to look for some other model. If you are in search of a capacious external hard drive for backup, then this is a good option. For the house, this drive is not suitable - it is very hot and makes a lot of unnecessary sounds.

Western Digital WD Elements Desktop 6 TB (WDBWLG0060HBK-EESN)

Rating: 4.7

This is a familiar external drive belonging to a 3.5-inch form factor. There is no USB hub or any other additional "chips". The manufacturer tried to get rid of all the excess to reduce the size of its product. As a result, this external drive was only a bit larger than any of its internal counterparts.

Like other external HDDs of a similar form factor, this model requires connection to the power grid. The volume of this drive reaches 6 TB. For home use this is definitely enough. On such a hard drive, you can safely download movies in 4K-resolution, which usually weigh 40-80 GB. Connecting to a computer or router via USB 3.0. Of course, the maximum throughput cannot be achieved, after all, far from the fastest “hard drive” stands here. But its cost, amounting to about 12 thousand rubles., HDD exactly justifies.

Lacie STFD5000400

Rating: 4.6

Unfortunately, the capacious hard disk is difficult to make compact. As you can see, in our rating, only models belonging to the 3.5-inch standard size were included. And only one external HDD hides inside a 2.5-inch “hard drive” - this is the Lacie STFD5000400. The volume of this silvery handsome is 5 TB. It seems that such a hard disk is quite enough for downloading 4K movies from the Internet. And if you use it to store photos taken with a smartphone, then the place runs the risk of not ending the next ten years.

The device turned out to be very light - all the other members of our selection are at least three times heavier. Data transfer is carried out via USB 3.1 Type-C. This is perhaps the main difference between this model and cheaper external HDD handhelds - a completely different connector is usually used there.

Is the drive worth the 13 thousand rubles that they ask for it? To answer this question is extremely difficult. The drives belonging to the 3.5-inch form factor have a slightly higher read and write speed. But they require additional power, and this imposes some restrictions on the use. Here, everything is as simple as possible: you connect a hard drive to, say, a TV, and then start watching the files it contains.

Conclusion

Now you know which hard drives are the most capacious today. It seems that the article will be relevant for at least two to three years - up to the active promotion of video technology, which can shoot in 8K resolution. In the meantime, major manufacturers of computer components are investing in the development of solid-state drives, and not HDD. However, this is a completely different topic for conversation.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.