Until the rumored microwave-assisted switching (MAS-MAMR) drives come along, the EXOS 20TB is as big a hard drive as you can buy. While the cost is higher than the 18TB models, it is slightly faster and offers enhanced rack space efficiency. Tuned for data center use, the EXOS 20TB is designed for high-capacity servers, enterprise NAS systems, and bulk storage. These are the same workload limits as the Western Digital UltraStar DC HC560 20TB and WD Gold 20TB.

The EXOS drive beats the IronWolf Pro with a workload limit of 550TB, a significant improvement over the 300TB of its brother mechanism. The only significant difference on the outside is that the EXOS comes in a SAS flavor in addition to a conventional SATA variety model. Regular integrity tests could exceed workloadĪnother Seagate drive with ten 2TB platters in the classic 3.5-inch form factor to sit alongside the new IronWolf Pro 20TB. Read the full review: Seagate IronWolf Pro 20TB (opens in new tab) With data center drives offering 550TB workload limits at a very similar price and nearly identical performance, the IronWolf Pro might not be the best drive for the job, depending on your NAS profile. The blot on this landscape is the yearly workload limit of 300TB, which could quickly be eaten by regular integrity testing, not to mention actual use. So it's a no-brainer for commercial and enterprise NAS to support the needs of creative professionals and large businesses, indeed?

All these advantages come at a price that is only marginally more than the 18TB option. On the plus side of this equation, the new IronWolf Pro 20TB is 2TB bigger than the 18TB model, about 25MB/s faster at reading and writing, and it's more power-efficient. But Seagate achieved this using CMR technology and replacing the atmosphere inside the drive with Helium. Amazingly, cramming ten 2TB platters and 20 heads into a 3.5-inch drive package is possible.

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