10 Best Hard Drives For Nas (2024 Update)

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If you're looking to build a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, then choosing the right hard drive is crucial. Finding a hard drive that is optimized for NAS usage can help ensure that your data is safe, your system is reliable, and your performance is optimized.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when choosing hard drives for NAS:

1. NAS-optimized drives: These drives are designed specifically for use in NAS systems and are built to handle the high workloads and constant usage that NAS systems typically require.

2. Capacity: Consider the amount of storage you need for your NAS system. Make sure to choose a hard drive that has enough capacity to store all your data comfortably.

3. Speed: Consider the speed of the hard drive you choose. Faster drives can provide better performance, but they may also generate more heat and noise.

4. Warranty: Look for a hard drive that comes with a solid warranty. This can help ensure that you have recourse in case of any issues that may arise.

5. Price: Consider the cost of the hard drives you're considering, and make sure to balance price with performance, capacity, and reliability.

Overall, when choosing hard drives for NAS, it's important to keep in mind the specific needs of your system and to choose a drive that is optimized for NAS usage, has sufficient capacity, and provides the performance and reliability you need.

10 Best Hard Drives For Nas

1. Buffalo Terastation 5410dn 32tb Desktop Nas With 4x8tb Hdds, 10gbe, Raid, Iscsi, And File Server.

The BUFFALO TeraStation 5410DN Desktop NAS 32TB (4x8TB) with HDD NAS Hard Drives Included is an excellent choice for those who require reliable and secure storage for their important data. Made in Japan with pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included, this device is purpose-built for data protection.

One of the standout features of the TeraStation 5410DN is its data protection capabilities. With 256-bit drive encryption, RAID options, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features, users can rest assured that their data is safe and secure. The device is also VMware Certified, allowing for easy expansion of storage capacity and extension of current servers using iSCSI and existing networking equipment.

Setting up the TeraStation 5410DN is easy and straightforward, as it comes pre-configured with RAID 5 for out-of-the-box protection. The device also boasts cloud integration, allowing for syncing with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.

For those in need of fast transfer speeds, the TeraStation 5410DN delivers with 10GbE, which provides 10x the data transfer speeds of 1GbE with CAT 6A or higher-rated cabling. Remote management of multiple NAS devices is also possible with the included service, saving time and resources.

The TeraStation 5410DN comes with a 3-year warranty that includes hard drive coverage, as well as 24/7, award-winning US-based support. Additional warranty options are also available.

With 32TB of capacity, the TeraStation 5410DN ships in RAID 5 for 24TB of usable capacity, but can be changed to RAID 6 for more redundancy, or RAID 0 for the full 32TB.

Overall, the BUFFALO TeraStation 5410DN Desktop NAS 32TB is a reliable, secure, and high-quality storage solution for those in need of data protection, fast transfer speeds, and easy management.

2. Buffalo Terastation 4-Bay Rackmount Nas With 32tb Storage And 2.5gbe Connectivity. Includes 4x8tb Hdds For Private Cloud, Network Storage, And File Server Use.

The BUFFALO TeraStation Essentials 4-Bay Rackmount NAS 32TB is a low-cost professional-grade network attached storage system that is optimized to organize, store, share, and back up important and everyday files. It is purpose-built for data protection with 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep data safe.

The system features a native 2.5GbE port for fast data transfers with no cable upgrade needed. The hard drives are included and the RAID is pre-configured for a hassle-free, out-of-the-box protection. It can be changed to other RAID modes to best suit your needs. The cloud integration allows for syncing with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.

The system has a 32 TB capacity with 4 pre-tested hard drives included. It ships in RAID 5 for 24 TB usable capacity; however, it can be changed to RAID 6 for more redundancy or RAID 0 for full 32 TB. The system also comes with a 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support and data recovery service. Additional warranty options are available.

The BUFFALO TeraStation Essentials 4-Bay Rackmount NAS 32TB is quality made data storage that is fully TAA compliant. It is made in Japan and is a reliable storage system with an effortless setup. The system provides peace of mind with its secure data protection and reliable storage.

3. 32tb Rackmount Nas With 4-Bays And 2.5gbe, Including 4x8tb Hdds For Private Cloud, Network And File Storage.

The BUFFALO TeraStation 3420RN 4-Bay Rackmount NAS 32TB (4x8TB) with HDD NAS Hard Drives Included is a professional-grade network attached storage system that is designed to optimize the organization, storage, sharing, and backup of important files. With a reliable storage system and effortless setup, this NAS is pre-configured with RAID 5 for out-of-the-box protection, saving you time and effort.

This NAS is purpose-built for data protection, featuring 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe. The integration of cloud services allows you to sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.

The BUFFALO TeraStation 3420RN comes with a 32 TB capacity and 4 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. It ships in RAID 5 for 24 TB usable capacity, but can be changed to RAID 6 for more redundancy or RAID 0 for full 32 TB capacity. The system also includes a 3-year warranty, which includes hard drive coverage, and 24/7 award-winning US-based support.

Made in Japan, this quality data storage device features a native 2.5GbE port for fast data transfers, with no cable upgrade needed. With remote management services, you can save time and resources by managing multiple NAS devices from a single console.

Additionally, the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420RN qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award-winning support when registered. This data storage system is an ideal choice for businesses looking for a reliable, secure, and efficient way to store and manage their data.

4. Buffalo Terastation 3420dn 16tb Desktop Nas With 4 Hdds, 2.5gbe, Private Cloud, And File Server.

The BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN is a professional-grade network attached storage device that is optimized to organize, store, share, and back up important files. With 16TB of storage capacity and four pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included, this desktop NAS is a reliable and efficient solution for businesses that require a high level of data protection.

The device comes pre-configured with RAID 5 for out-of-the-box protection, which saves users time and effort. Additionally, the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN is purpose-built for data protection, featuring 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep data secure.

With cloud integration, users can sync their data with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability. The device also features a native 2.5GbE port for high-speed data transfers with no cable upgrade needed.

Furthermore, the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN offers a remote management service that allows users to manage multiple NAS devices from a single console, saving time and resources. The device also qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award-winning support when registered, providing users with peace of mind.

Made in Japan, the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN is a quality made data storage device that comes with a 3-year warranty (including hard drive coverage) and 24/7, award-winning US-based support. Additional warranty options are available for users who require extra protection.

In summary, the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN is a reliable and efficient network attached storage device that offers high levels of data protection and flexibility. With cloud integration, remote management, and fast data transfers, this device is an excellent choice for businesses that require a high level of data storage and protection.

5. Mx Player

MX Player is a popular video player for Android devices that offers a range of advanced features and options to enhance the viewing experience of its users. One of the key highlights of this player is its hardware acceleration feature, which can be applied to a wider range of videos with the help of a new H/W decoder. This results in smoother playback of videos with high resolution and complex graphics.

Another unique feature of MX Player is its support for multi-core decoding, which allows dual-core devices to perform up to 70% better than single-core devices. This means that users with more advanced devices can enjoy better video quality and faster playback.

The player also offers pinch-to-zoom, zoom and pan options, making it easy to adjust the size and position of videos on the screen. This feature is particularly useful for users who want to focus on a specific section of a video or zoom in for a closer look.

MX Player also offers subtitle gestures, which allow users to scroll forward or backward to move to the next or previous text, move text up and down, and even zoom in or out to change the text size. This feature is especially useful for users who want to customize the appearance of subtitles to suit their preferences.

In addition to the above features, MX Player also includes a Kids Lock option that keeps young children entertained without allowing them to make calls or touch other apps. This feature requires a plugin and is ideal for parents who want to keep their children engaged while ensuring their safety.

Overall, MX Player is a powerful and versatile video player that offers a range of advanced features and options to enhance the viewing experience of its users. Whether you want to watch videos in high resolution, customize subtitles, or keep your children entertained, MX Player has something for everyone.

6. Samsung 970 Evo Ssd 500gb With M.2 Nvme Interface And V-Nand Technology.

The SAMSUNG (MZ-V7E500BW) 970 EVO SSD 500GB is a high-performance internal solid-state drive designed for tech enthusiasts, high-end gamers, and 4K and 3D content designers. Powered by Samsung's V-NAND technology, this SSD's NVMe interface (PCIe M.2 2280) offers enhanced bandwidth, low latency, and power efficiency, making it an ideal choice for demanding applications.

With breakthrough read and write speeds of up to 3,500MB/s and 2,500MB/s, respectively, the 970 EVO SSD delivers exceptional performance. It can handle even the most demanding workloads with ease, thanks to its impressive Random Read (4KB, QD32) performance of up to 500,000 IOPS. This makes it an ideal choice for users who need to work with large files or run resource-intensive applications.

The Samsung Magician software provides seamless cloning and file transfers, making it easy to manage and optimize the SSD's performance. Additionally, the software provides advanced data security features, including secure encryption, to protect your valuable data from unauthorized access.

Samsung's dynamic thermal guard ensures optimal operating temperatures, preventing performance drops due to overheating. This feature makes the 970 EVO SSD an ideal choice for users who need to work with their device for extended periods without worrying about performance issues.

The 970 EVO SSD comes with a 5-year limited warranty or 600 TBW (Terabytes Written), providing peace of mind to users who rely on their devices for critical workloads. With its innovative V-NAND technology, breakthrough read and write speeds, and advanced performance optimization and data security features, the 970 EVO SSD is a top-of-the-line solution for users who demand the best performance from their devices.

7. Buffalo Terastation 4-Bay Desktop Nas 16tb With Hdds Included – Private Cloud/file Server.

The BUFFALO TeraStation Essentials 4-Bay Desktop NAS 16TB (4x4TB) with HDD Hard Drives Included 2.5GBE is a low-cost professional grade network-attached storage device that is optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important and everyday files. With its purpose-built design for data protection, you can rest assured that your data is secure with 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features.

This NAS device boasts fast data transfers with its native 2.5GbE port, ensuring high-speed file transfers with no cable upgrade needed. The storage is reliable and has an effortless setup, as the hard drives are included and RAID pre-configured for hassle-free, out-of-the-box protection. You can change the RAID configuration to other modes to best suit your needs.

This device also offers cloud integration, allowing you to sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure, and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability. With 16TB capacity and four pre-tested hard drives included, the device ships in RAID 5 for 12TB usable capacity. You can change to RAID 6 for more redundancy or RAID 0 for full 16TB.

Additionally, this device comes with peace of mind included. It has a 3-year warranty that includes hard drive coverage with 24/7, award-winning US-based support and data recovery service. You also have the option to purchase additional warranty options.

This device is quality made in Japan and fully TAA compliant. It is a reliable and cost-effective solution to your data storage needs.

8. 16tb 2-Bay Nas For Soho With Included Hdds – Ideal For Home Office Cloud Or Network Storage.

The Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 16TB 2-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage is a reliable and efficient storage solution for small office and home office networks. It is optimized to organize, store, share, and back up important files, allowing users to access their data from anywhere.

One of the standout features of this NAS device is its 2.5GbE transfer speeds, which are twice as fast as 1GbE without requiring special cabling. This means that users can transfer their files quickly and easily, making it ideal for businesses that deal with large amounts of data.

Setting up the Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 is hassle-free, as the hard drives are included and no computer is required for setup. Users simply need to connect the NAS to their router for instant shared network storage for all their devices at the same time. This NAS device is compatible with PC, macOS, Android, and iOS, making it versatile and easy to use.

Another great feature of this NAS device is its subscription-free personal cloud. Users can store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that need to access their data on the go.

The Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 is designed to keep users' data safe, with a closed system that reduces vulnerabilities from third-party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers. It also allows users to back up multiple computers and devices, with PC backup software included and the ability to set up automated backups of data on computers and mobile devices.

With a total capacity of 16 TB, the Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 has 2 drive bays that ship with RAID 1 (automatic backup) for 8 TB of usable capacity. It can be set to RAID 0 to use the full 16 TB. The NAS device also features direct copy, allowing users to back up their devices via USB without the need for a computer.

The Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 is made in Japan, ensuring quality and reliability. It also comes with 24/7 US-based support and a 3-year warranty, including hard drives. Overall, this NAS device is an excellent choice for businesses that need a reliable and efficient storage solution for their important data.

Best Hard Drives For Nas FAQs

Are there any specific requirements for hard drives to be used in a NAS, such as RPM or cache size?

Yes, there are specific requirements for hard drives to be used in a NAS (Network Attached Storage). The RPM (rotations per minute) and cache size are important factors to consider. A NAS requires hard drives that have a higher RPM and larger cache size to ensure faster and smoother performance. It is recommended to use hard drives with a minimum of 7200 RPM and a cache size of at least 64MB. This ensures that the hard drive can keep up with the demands of multiple users accessing data simultaneously. Additionally, NAS hard drives are designed for 24/7 operation and have features like vibration sensors to prevent data loss. It is essential to choose hard drives that are compatible with the NAS device and have been tested for compatibility to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

Can I mix and match different brands of hard drives in a NAS?

Yes, it is generally possible to mix and match different brands of hard drives in a NAS. However, it is important to make sure that the hard drives are compatible with the NAS and that they have the same specifications, such as the same capacity and speed. Using different brands or models of hard drives may affect the performance and reliability of the NAS.

In addition, mixing and matching hard drives may also affect the RAID configuration of the NAS. It is recommended to use the same brand and model of hard drives for RAID configurations to ensure consistency and reliability.

It is important to note that some NAS manufacturers may have specific requirements or recommendations for hard drives, and it is always best to refer to the manufacturer's documentation or support before purchasing or installing hard drives in a NAS.

How many hard drives can be installed in a typical NAS device, and what is the maximum storage capacity?

The number of hard drives that can be installed in a typical Network Attached Storage (NAS) device varies depending on the model and manufacturer. Some entry-level models may only have a single drive bay, while high-end models can have up to 16 or more drive bays. The maximum storage capacity of a NAS device also varies depending on the number of drive bays and the maximum capacity of each drive that can be installed. For example, a NAS device with four drive bays that supports 14TB hard drives can have a maximum storage capacity of 56TB. However, some manufacturers provide expansion units that can increase the number of drive bays and, consequently, the maximum storage capacity. It is essential to check the specifications of the NAS device to determine the maximum number of hard drives and storage capacity it can support.

What is the ideal size for hard drives in a NAS setup?

The ideal size for hard drives in a NAS setup depends on the specific needs and requirements of the user. If the NAS is used for personal or small business use, 2-4TB drives may be sufficient. However, for larger businesses or enterprises, larger capacity drives such as 8-12TB may be more appropriate.

It is also important to consider the RAID configuration used in the NAS setup, as this can affect the usable capacity and performance of the drives. For example, RAID 5 requires at least three drives and offers a good balance of performance and data protection, while RAID 6 offers higher data protection but requires at least four drives.

Ultimately, the ideal size for hard drives in a NAS setup should be based on the specific needs and budget of the user, as well as the intended use and NAS configuration. It is recommended to consult with a professional or do thorough research before making a decision.

What type of hard drive is best for a NAS: HDD or SSD?

I can provide professional answers to the question.

When it comes to choosing a hard drive for a NAS, it depends on the intended use and budget. If the primary purpose of the NAS is to store large amounts of data and provide backup services, then a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) would be a more cost-effective option. HDDs offer more storage capacity at a lower cost per gigabyte and are well-suited for sequential read/write operations.

However, if the NAS will be used for intensive workloads such as virtual machines, databases, or video editing, then a solid-state drive (SSD) would be a better fit. SSDs offer faster read/write speeds and lower latency, making them ideal for high-performance applications. However, SSDs are more expensive per gigabyte than HDDs, so it's essential to evaluate the intended use and budget before making a decision.

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