So the 18TB is $300, which is cheaper than the 16TB, and better value than the 14TB? Why even buy the 16TB model? Does the 18TB use SMR, where as the 14/16 use CMR?
Well, the WD 18TB goes on sale year round. Sometimes it's at Amazon, most times it's at Bestbuy. The price average is more like $260, with the lowest ever price being $210 or there abouts.
Data-centers have been buying far fewer HDDs recently. So, the 18TB models have to be sold to someone. As of Mid Feb, 18TB HDDs, from one manufacturer or another, have been on sale for the past 5 months.
"By default, the drives are configured in RAID-0."
The ONLY reason for that is so they can market it as "44TB" instead of 22. Because with RAID-0, it's functionally useless as a backup device, and if you change it to RAID-1, you lose half of the advertised capacity. And if you turn RAID off completely, you would have been better off just getting two drives.
As a scratch disk for video editing? MAYBE? Nah, better to build an internal array of SSDs if you need the raw speed.
$1500 for 44TB that's only 44TB when risking the loss of all your data is borderline criminal, IMO.
Umm, you have your primary HDDs and your backup HDDs. That's similar to RAID-1 but with manual copying instead of HW/FW/SW mirroring. How is that "borderline criminal"?
Then you'd buy 2 backup duo drives and copy the same data to both. Or just buy 2 backup single drives and copy the same data to both. It's just a matter of using your brain and a tiny bit of effort.
I couldn't agree more and the price premium for a RAID controller in a bigger box is borderline criminal to boot. For $300 I could buy a decent 4 bay USB RAID enclosure.
The thing is some people here are saying you just need to be smart but a lot of people are going to go to Best Buy and not know any better. They'll pay $1500 for the pleasure of doubling the risk that they lose their entire digital library. Be it movies, audio, maybe a ton of home video that is not replaceable or even important documents like tax returns. Too many consumers are not aware or just plain don't understand.
This idea of 2x 22TB drive in this case is, to be kind, less than sub-optimal. My experience over decades of these styles of drives is that you have zero control over the type of drive installed in the case. You also have heat issues, which is arguably the biggest downside of these things. There's little space inside and the heat builds quickly. Any fans employed in any of them are too small, too slow and simply not up to the task of keeping it down to 42 degrees max, which is where a HDD should operate. My solution years back, which has worked very well, was to but an ICY BOX IB-3640SU3 4-disk case (USB3.2) and fill it with WD GOLD or UltraStar hard drives - the best money can buy. There's no capacity limit. I have it filled with 2x 14TB UltraStars, 1x 18TB GOLD and 1x 22TB UltraStar. Works like a charm. No issues with overheating as has a great fan design, lots of space inside and a front door that opens if the ambient temps get too toasty for the fan to fix. I can swap the drives out any time I need and even take one or two away with me if I choose as backup drives on holidays in a very well packed/insulated soft case with a hard case exterior.
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meacupla - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - link
So the 18TB is $300, which is cheaper than the 16TB, and better value than the 14TB?Why even buy the 16TB model? Does the 18TB use SMR, where as the 14/16 use CMR?
Slaimus - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - link
They are using current Amazon prices and the 18TB happens to be on sale.meacupla - Thursday, February 16, 2023 - link
Well, the WD 18TB goes on sale year round. Sometimes it's at Amazon, most times it's at Bestbuy.The price average is more like $260, with the lowest ever price being $210 or there abouts.
ballsystemlord - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - link
Data-centers have been buying far fewer HDDs recently. So, the 18TB models have to be sold to someone. As of Mid Feb, 18TB HDDs, from one manufacturer or another, have been on sale for the past 5 months.Squeaky'21 - Saturday, March 4, 2023 - link
These are all CMR 'meaculpa'.Dr_Derpface - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - link
"By default, the drives are configured in RAID-0."The ONLY reason for that is so they can market it as "44TB" instead of 22. Because with RAID-0, it's functionally useless as a backup device, and if you change it to RAID-1, you lose half of the advertised capacity. And if you turn RAID off completely, you would have been better off just getting two drives.
As a scratch disk for video editing? MAYBE? Nah, better to build an internal array of SSDs if you need the raw speed.
$1500 for 44TB that's only 44TB when risking the loss of all your data is borderline criminal, IMO.
ballsystemlord - Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - link
Umm, you have your primary HDDs and your backup HDDs.That's similar to RAID-1 but with manual copying instead of HW/FW/SW mirroring. How is that "borderline criminal"?
dizzynosed - Thursday, February 16, 2023 - link
The risk of of loosing all data in RAID-0 is ~doubled than without using raid.MrSpadge - Thursday, February 16, 2023 - link
Sure, but you still have the original data that you backed up.ballsystemlord - Thursday, February 16, 2023 - link
Then you'd buy 2 backup duo drives and copy the same data to both. Or just buy 2 backup single drives and copy the same data to both. It's just a matter of using your brain and a tiny bit of effort.Einy0 - Friday, February 24, 2023 - link
I couldn't agree more and the price premium for a RAID controller in a bigger box is borderline criminal to boot. For $300 I could buy a decent 4 bay USB RAID enclosure.The thing is some people here are saying you just need to be smart but a lot of people are going to go to Best Buy and not know any better. They'll pay $1500 for the pleasure of doubling the risk that they lose their entire digital library. Be it movies, audio, maybe a ton of home video that is not replaceable or even important documents like tax returns. Too many consumers are not aware or just plain don't understand.
PeachNCream - Saturday, February 18, 2023 - link
That's quite an optimistic set of prices for what is essentially one or two hard drives in a plastic box.Squeaky'21 - Saturday, March 4, 2023 - link
This idea of 2x 22TB drive in this case is, to be kind, less than sub-optimal. My experience over decades of these styles of drives is that you have zero control over the type of drive installed in the case. You also have heat issues, which is arguably the biggest downside of these things. There's little space inside and the heat builds quickly. Any fans employed in any of them are too small, too slow and simply not up to the task of keeping it down to 42 degrees max, which is where a HDD should operate. My solution years back, which has worked very well, was to but an ICY BOX IB-3640SU3 4-disk case (USB3.2) and fill it with WD GOLD or UltraStar hard drives - the best money can buy. There's no capacity limit. I have it filled with 2x 14TB UltraStars, 1x 18TB GOLD and 1x 22TB UltraStar. Works like a charm. No issues with overheating as has a great fan design, lots of space inside and a front door that opens if the ambient temps get too toasty for the fan to fix. I can swap the drives out any time I need and even take one or two away with me if I choose as backup drives on holidays in a very well packed/insulated soft case with a hard case exterior.