Large Slow External Drive Recommendations

[BarkingBeans Coffee]

As part of a bigger backup strategy I would like a large slow spinning drive. I got Seagate IronWolf drives for my NAS. I am not adverse to putting one of those in an enclosure but not sure if they are different and won't work that way. Seagate also makes an Expansion line and Backup Hub line of drives. I haven't had the best of luck with WD drives.

Any recommendations. Figuring 12-16TB?

Thanks

 

[DavidT]

I think the drives you have in your NAS is what I would do. I would also check Amazon for their prime deals today they might have a sale on one in your size requirements.

 

[BarkingBeans Coffee]

I think the drives you have in your NAS is what I would do. I would also check Amazon for their prime deals today they might have a sale on one in your size requirements.

So with an external enclosure?

 

[MartyD]

I have used a number of different high capacity mechanical hard drives in external enclosures for just that purpose.

I get this report from Backblaze every quarter showing their failure rate for different drives. It might be worth looking at.

Backblaze Drive Stats for Q1 2023

Read the Q1 2023 Drive Stats report, and join the conversation in the comments.

www.backblaze.com

 

[BarkingBeans Coffee]

@DavidT or @MartyD do you have any recommendations for those enclosures or particular drives? Thanks.

 

[arbitrage]

I usually shuck drives out of the Seagate or WD 3.25" external enclosures. You can usually google to see what drives are currently in them. They are the best price and usually come with a good quality drive inside.

 

[BarkingBeans Coffee]

@arbitrage found this list of "shucks" a term I didn't know. Looks like the Seagate 16TB Expansion line, that is on a good prime sale, has a decent drive that's I can see on the Backblaze list. So I am just going with that.

 

[DavidT]

@DavidT or @MartyD do you have any recommendations for those enclosures or particular drives? Thanks.

I use iron wolf drives.

 

[Warren D]

I use an external HD dock: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U8KSLA8/?tag=backcogaller-20
I get one with a cooling fan. You can use any brand HD. If you want slow, use the usb 3.0!!!

 

[Garfield]

I use a "toaster" with 3.5" Seagate's for backups. I make three encrypted sets -- one goes in each of the cars and one is stored at work.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/external-drives/owc-drive-dock

 

[dabhand16]

@DavidT or @MartyD do you have any recommendations for those enclosures or particular drives? Thanks.

I use a caddy/dock to connect external HDDs. It has a power supply and a ISB to connect to a computer and I just put the HDD in it/them as needed. I always install and remove them with the computer shut down.

Lots availalble and some take more than one drive.