Suggestions for a dependable storage drive


MisterEd said:
It has been speculated that manufactures started using SMR drives because they are cheaper to make.
Click to expand...

Oh I have no doubt about that.

MisterEd said:
Here are my external hard disk drives. I used CrystalDiskInfo to determine what the internal hard drive models were.
1. WDC 6TB My Book: Internal = WD60EZRZ-00RWYB1
2. WDC 6TB My Book: Internal = WD60EDAZ-11U78B0
3. WDC 12TB Elements: Internal = WD120EMFZ-11A6JA0
4. WDC 20TB Easystore: Internal = WD200EDGZ-11B9PA0
5. Seagate 1TB Expansion+: Internal = ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
6. Seagate 2TB Expansion: Internal = ST2000DM001-1CH164
7. Seagate 5TB Expansion: Internal = ST5000DM000-1FK178

Note all drives are 3.5" except #5 which is 2.5".
Click to expand...

I dunno, would something like Hard Disk Sentinel tell you something about those?

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring

Monitoring hard disk health and temperature. Test and repair HDD problems, predict disk failure.
www.hdsentinel.com www.hdsentinel.com

I know there are a lot of detailed settings in there so if you decide to try it, you'll have to dig deep in there to see if that info is there.


---
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB

  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
cheaterslick said:
Oh I have no doubt about that.



I dunno, would something like Hard Disk Sentinel tell you something about those?

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring

Monitoring hard disk health and temperature. Test and repair HDD problems, predict disk failure.
www.hdsentinel.com www.hdsentinel.com

I know there are a lot of detailed settings in there so if you decide to try it, you'll have to dig deep in there to see if that info is there.


---
Click to expand...
Good call. I just happen to have Hard Disk Sentinel Professional Family.
With it I can select each drive and select the Information tab for it.

HDS.webp

Here is Drive Recording Type information for my external HDDs I have.
Note #1: No entry for The Drive Recording Type. Blocked by the drive firmware?
Note #2: Shucked 2TB Seagate Expansion Desk

Desktop Computer #1

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . : WDC WD200EDGZ
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : easystore 264D
(Note #1)

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . : WDC WD120EMFZ
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Elements 25A3
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : CMR

Desktop Computer #2

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . : ST5000DM000
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Expansion Desk
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SMR

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . : WDC WD60EDAZ
USB Device Name . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . : My Book 25ED
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SMR

Desktop Computer #3

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . : WDC WD60EZRZ
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : My Book 25EE
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : CMR

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . : ST2000DM001
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge (Note #2)
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SMR

Laptop Computer #1

Hard Disk Model ID . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . : ST1000LM024
USB Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Expansion+
Drive Recording Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : CMR
Click to expand...
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.6901)AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with Radeon 680M GPU (486MB...Crucial DDR5-4800 (2400MHz) 32GB (2 x 16GB)NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop (6GB RAM)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.6901)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2022)
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with Radeon 680M GPU (486MB RAM)
    Memory
    Crucial DDR5-4800 (2400MHz) 32GB (2 x 16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop (6GB RAM)
    Sound Card
    n/a
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6-inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 300Hz
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 990 Evo Plus (2TB M.2 NVME SSD)
    PSU
    n/a
    Mouse
    Wireless Mouse M510
    Internet Speed
    2100Mbps/300Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.8246)AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3DG.SKILL Flare X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4ASUS ROG-STRIX-RTX3060TI-08G-V2-GAMING (RTX 3...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.8246)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II
    Memory
    G.SKILL Flare X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-RTX3060TI-08G-V2-GAMING (RTX 3060-Ti, 8GB RAM)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung G50D IPS 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1440p/180Hz
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 990 EVO Plus (2TB] M.2 NVME SSD
    SAMSUNG 990 EVO Plus (4TB) M.2 NVME SSD
    PSU
    Corsair RM750x (750 watts)
    Case
    Cooler Master MasterCase 5
    Cooling
    Scythe Mugen 6
    Keyboard
    Logitech K520 (MK540 keyboard/mouse combo)
    Mouse
    Logitech M310 (MK540 keyboard/mouse combo)
    Internet Speed
    2100 Mbps down / 300 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes (Premium)
    Other Info
    ASUS Blu-ray Burner BW-16D1HT (SATA) || Western Digital Easystore 20TB USB 3.0 external hard drive used with Acronis True Image 2025 backup software || HP OfficeJet Pro 6975 Printer/Scanner
MisterEd said:
Good call. I just happen to have Hard Disk Sentinel Professional Family.
With it I can select each drive and select the Information tab for it.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you solved that problem. (y)
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB

  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
Ghot said:
If you haven't done so already, you might want to call WD and ask about removing the encryption.
Click to expand...
I can try that, thanks for the suggestion.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 ProIntel Core i9-14900K192 GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Boxx Apexx S4
CPU
Intel Core i9-14900K
Motherboard
ASRock Z790 Taichi
Memory
192 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super
Monitor(s) Displays
NEC PA322UHD-2, NEC EA275UHD
Screen Resolution
4K x 2
cheaterslick said:
Oh I have no doubt about that.



I dunno, would something like Hard Disk Sentinel tell you something about those?

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring

Monitoring hard disk health and temperature. Test and repair HDD problems, predict disk failure.
www.hdsentinel.com www.hdsentinel.com

I know there are a lot of detailed settings in there so if you decide to try it, you'll have to dig deep in there to see if that info is there.


---
Click to expand...

I believe they made them as a stopgap to increased space until Helium drives were prevalent. Then they started hiding the fact that they were SMR (that most did not want) and of-course because they were cheaper. Make people think they are getting a deal on high capacity when they are also getting much less performance.

IMO The best monitoring tool is CrystalDiskInfo. It can display information in the system tray on each disk. Since SMR drives support TRIM (they behave internally much like an SSD), It would show TRIM as supported feature.

Screenshot 2026-07-08 150759.webp
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro x64Intel Core i9 14900K96GB (2x48) G.skill Ripjaws 6800 MT/s DDR5Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Photoshop/Audio/Game/tinker
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 14900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero
    Memory
    96GB (2x48) G.skill Ripjaws 6800 MT/s DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    Sound Card
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speakers; Audiolabs 7000a integrated amp; RSL 10S Mk2 sub; Creative Pebble Pro Minimilist
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CG2730 ColorEdge, ViewSonic VP2768, i1 Display Pro calibration puck
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p x 2
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850X 4TB nvme, SN850 1TB nvme, SK-Hynix 2 TB P41 nvme,. Sabrent USB-C DS-SC5B 5-bay docking station: 6TB WDC Black, 6TB Ironwolf Pro; 2x 2TB WDC Black HDD
    PSU
    850W Seasonic Vertex PX-850 ATX 3.0/PCI-E 5.0
    Case
    Fractal Design North XL Mesh, Black Walnut
    Cooling
    EK Nucleus black 360 AIO w/Phanteks T30-120 fans, 2 Noctua NF-A14 Chromax case fan, 1 T30-120 fan cooling memory
    Keyboard
    Keychron Q3 Max TKL with custom GMK Redsuns Red Samuri keycaps, TX Stabs
    Mouse
    Logitech G305 wireless gaming
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s | 12 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender, Macrium Reflect X
    Other Info
    Phangkey Amaterasu V2 Desk Mat

  • At a glance

    Apple M1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    💻 Apple 13" Macbook Pro 2020 (m1)
    CPU
    Apple M1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Browser
    Firefox
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