Recommended HDD Models, Series & Noise Comparison

Modified on Tue, 26 Mar 2024 at 05:53 AM

Some HDDs dedicated for specific applications are not compatible or not work well with R_volution player.

Recommended HDD models :

WD BLUE (up to 8TB) - Less noisy than bigger drives
WD RED (up to 16 TB) - Highly recommended model for high capacity

WD WHITE (up to 16 TB)

SEAGATE SkyHawk™(up to 16 TB but noisy)

SEAGATE SkyHawk AI (up to 16 TB but noisy)

SEAGATE Exos™ (up to 16 TB but noisy) > In SATA only (no SAS models)

SEAGATE IronWolf™ (up to 16 TB)

SAMSUNG SSD with 2.5'' to 3.5'' adapter (up to 16 TB)

SEAGATE Archive HDD (up to 16 TB)

Not recommended models :

WD GREEN (up to 6 TB) - old models. These are not available anymore - some issues on movie playback

SEAGATE Baracuda (all models)
WD GOLD (all models)

WD PURPLE (new models - problems inserting disc into player)

WD PURPLE PRO Poor performance and do not fit well
SAMSUNG (all models)

HITACHI (all models)

Not tested models :

WD Ultrastar

Hard drive noise comparison :

WD Blue 1TB: 30 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)
WD Blue 2TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)

WD Blue 3TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)

WD Blue 4TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)

WD Blue 6TB: 28 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)

WD Red Plus 1TB: 25 dB (seek) / 24 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 2TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 3TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 4TB: 27 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 6TB: 30 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)

WD Red Plus 8TB: 30 dB (seek) / 27 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 10TB: 38 dB (seek) / 34 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 12TB: 29 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)
WD Red Plus 14TB: 29 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 2TB: 31 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)
WD Red Pro 4TB: 36 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 8TB: 36 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 10TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 12TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 14TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 16TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Red Pro 18TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Purple 1TB: 22 dB (seek) / 21 dB (idle average)
WD Purple 2TB: 24 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
WD Purple 3TB: 24 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
WD Purple 4TB: 28 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)

WD Purple 6TB: 28 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)

WD Purple 8TB: 29 dB (seek) / 27 dB (idle average)
WD Purple 10TB: 29 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)
WD Purple 12TB: 29 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Purple Pro 8TB: 29 dB (seek) / 27 dB (idle average)
WD Purple Pro 10TB: 38 dB (seek) / 34 dB (idle average)
WD Purple Pro 12TB: 29 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)
WD Purple Pro 14TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Purple Pro 18TB: 27 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Gold 1TB: 28 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)
WD Gold 2TB: 28 dB (seek) / 25 dB (idle average)
WD Gold 4TB: 36 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)
WD Gold 6TB: 36 dB (seek) / 29 dB (idle average)

WD Gold 8TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)
WD Gold 10TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)
WD Gold 12TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Ultrastar 16TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

WD Ultrastar 18TB: 36 dB (seek) / 20 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf 1TB: 23 dB (seek) / 21 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf 2TB: 19 dB (seek) / 21 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf 3TB: 25 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf 4TB: 25 dB (seek) / 23 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf 6TB: 28 dB (seek) / 27 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf 8TB: 28 dB (seek) / 27 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf 10TB: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf 12TB: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 4TB: 30 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 6TB: 30 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 8TB: 30 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 10TB: 30 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 12TB: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 14TB: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE Ironwolf Pro 16TB: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)

SEAGATE IronWolf Pro 18To: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)
SEAGATE IronWolf Pro 20To: 32 dB (seek) / 28 dB (idle average)