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Is there any HDD over 8TB using 5400RPM ?

Hello ! I have a custom build NAS currently using 4x6TB hard drives in RAID10. I am looking for a capacity upgrade. My main focus are low power consumption and low noise (the NAS is in my living room / home office).

I can't seem to find any 5400RPM HDD over 8TB in capacity anywhere. Is there any model with 10, 12 or more TB in existence ? If not, what could be the reasons ?

43 comments
  • If you go for WD red plus 12TB drives, they are helium filled and less noisy even than the 8TB air versions.

    I have one and it is silent when not tracking, but all hard drives have some seeking noise. Mostly because it is irregular so human ears pick it up more than white fan or spinning noise.

    Best idea for absolute noise reduction in the same room is getting a good closed case, reinforcing with some foam panels with a direct air path that you can direct through a cupboard cutout for example.

    What you are looking for is high capacity SSDs in this situation, but that is pricey.

  • at some point the stock motors will just evolve and the slow ones wont be available anymore. the supply chain will upgrade even if they dont require speed

    • I suppose the "low-cost consumer grade" market is now covered by SSDs and the HDD market is moving towards enterprise and enthusiasts only. There is not much market remaining for "lower performance" HDD...

  • Two alternative options. They won't help with power consumption, but might with noise.

    Enclosure

    Are you willing to just put an enclosure around the NAS? It's an approach that I was looking at a while back. Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be much by way of inexpensive, readily-available acoustic enclosures (at least not large enough for a whole mid-tower PC, which is what I cared about...maybe a NAS might be more-doable). It's not rocket science if you're willing to put time in to make one, though.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU4V2S-feM

    Like, get drywall (cheap, heavy, good for blocking sound). Cut drywall. Glue/nail drywall pieces into shape of box. Cut hole in drywall for in/out fan. Put fans in holes. Use foam sealant to close off cracks. Line interior of drywall with acoustic foam (good for absorbing sound). Put enclosure over NAS, turn on fans.

    You might be able to even put tubing around the inflow and outtake if that isn't sufficient; if a computer-style fan isn't enough, it's possible to get variable-speed flex-duct inline fans in quieted housings capable of creating some air pressure, forcing air down the thing, stuff like this.

    Just move it

    If you wanted something like a USB enclosure, then you'd have some distance restrictions. But you're talking about a NAS, so it's on Ethernet. Ethernet is pretty easy to run about as far as you're going to reasonably want. Just find some location that isn't near anyone and has access to power and where you can get Ethernet to.

    • OP asks about HDD technology, and somehow you found a way to ignore the main ask of their question, AND offer a response including a discussion about a hypothetical home renovation.

      "I see you want to know X, but I know about construction, so how about Z or Q? Eh?"

      Bravo.

      OP, WD Red NAS drives are usually 5400 with low cache and go at least up to 10TB. Might have to buy soon, as I don't see much new stock.

      • I think Tal’s response is fine. People (including me) often ask about help with a solution they’ve already decided on, without explaining why they eliminated other alternatives that would solve their problem. Sometimes it’s good to back it up. Further, there are more than just OP reading the responses so it might apply to others now and in the future.

      • Hah! Actually I don't know anything about construction, but have worked in a major rotational drive manufacturer's research labs, albeit not on the mechanical side of things.

        You're right that it wasn't what OP asked, but I've spent some time reducing PC noise because I was doing some audio work near one, and spent time trying to reduce PC noise. I've also rigged up automated spin-downs and some of the other topics mentioned here. Wanted to aim him at some resources that I'd hit, as I'd found that generally, trying to use low-noise components was more-constraining and less-effective than either moving or damping the source.

    • Thank you for the suggestions, but this isn't quite what I am looking for. Moving the NAS to another room isn't an option, bedroom and bathroom are even less suitable for a NAS :D

      I don't wish to modify the appearance of it either. For one, I've spent quite a lot of time designing and building the enclosure from scratch (it's a unique and original design from my creation). Then, it sits in my TV cabinet and space is an additional concern.

      • For one, I've spent quite a lot of time designing and building the enclosure from scratch (it's a unique and original design from my creation).

        Ah, gotcha. Depending upon the design and how much space it has, that might actually bring up another possibility. Some of the issue with drive noise comes up as it's mechanically-transmitted to the case. If you haven't already, two ways to reduce transmission of drive noise I've seen used is to either mount the drive on silicone or rubber gaskets or -- and this requires more space on a per-drive basis -- suspend it by elastic bands.

        I don't know if that's something that would be trivial or a lot of work to add to your custom NAS, but I've done both and found that it was helpful with drive noise transmission to metal cases.

    • Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

      https://www.piped.video/watch?v=HMU4V2S-feM

      Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

      I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

43 comments