Question 1

If I'm looking for a workstation backup drive, is this a good option or should I instead buy the Barracuda Pro?

Accepted Answer

I used this is a NAS application, so I'd say if you're placing it in a workstation the follow-on question is how you plan to use it.  This branch of the SeaGate line is designed for durability under the kinds of multi-user demand with which a NAS must contend.  The Barracuda Pro seems more concerned with performance factors a single user would notice more.  If you're simply making it a single backup drive that you periodically sync files to and don't operate off it as a primary drive, then I'd probably get whatever has high (enough) capacity and best available warranty / highest MTBF rating.

Question 2

Is this really limited to use in an NAS with 8 or less bays? Or will it be ok in a larger bay NAS?

Accepted Answer

Since August of 2016 I've had 12 of these drives in a Synology  RS2416+ (12 bay rack mount). I got these from two  sources at the time as most suppliers limited to 2 or 3 per order since new to market (eventually most from Newegg as  I space out multiple orders to them). My Synology 12 bay unit took all drives with no restrictions so they doesn't restrict by drive type. 
I suspect the 8 drive limit is based more of a warranty issue with Seagate as they have no control on what type of NAS you stick it in (some are well designed (Synology) while some suffer on cooling, drive vibration dampening, and fault handling once they get fully loaded.
 They have worked fine for me and I am happy with them. When I add yet another Synology 12 drive rack to add my rack storage system I would use them again.   
As you probably seen from other reviews, there are an occasion report of DOA. I didn't have that.  Then again, all drive manufacturers have an occasion DOA. I did notice that one of the Seagate drives did make a strange clicking noise early during the first couple of months, but that has gone away. Not sure what that was about. Synology diag never showed an issue and performance never an issue.  Noise long since gone.

Question 3

Can this drive be used as a general purpose desktop internal drive? Not in a RAID setup, not in any NAS system?  Any disadvantages for this use?  Considering how dense this 10TB drive has to be, is this a Helium-filled drive?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  A minor problem is the drive mount points are not 'Consumer Standard'.  The drives may not  mount with all four (4) screws.  The Enterprise 10TB drives will have a lower latency and support higher sustained utilization. Yes, it's a He, sealed drive.

Question 4

Does this use shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology or conventional magnetic recording technology?

Accepted Answer

From many websites - PMR

Part of the reason Seagate has been able to cram 10TB of storage into the IronWolf's chassis is because it uses seven PMR (Perpendicular Magnetic Recording) discs, as well as using helium to allow for thinner platters. Helium is less dense than air, which reduces the drag force acting on the spinning discs.

Question 5

how much power does this need?

Accepted Answer

I suggest you go to to the manufacturer's website and check the specifications.  It's a very good drive and the power is quite low.

Question 6

I bought this without exactly realizing what it's intended purpose is. So basically I plan to use it in a desktop computer as storage and playback of media files (Movies, Music, ETC). I might also tell recording devices to record directly to it (video game recording) Would this work alright? Is there a specific format I should use to help make it work to the best of its ability? I like the idea of a NAS system, but for now I would like to use my desktop.

Accepted Answer

As long as a desktop and NAS drive both are PMR drives, the ONLY added feature of the NAS drive is support for handling of errors so that the drive does not drop out of the array.  There are some other features for better support for RAID environments, but speed, performance, etc. is the same if you were to compare 1 drive in a NAS and one drive in a desktop.  If you can afford the pro version, you get 5 years warranty vs 3 years.  I actually found that 12 TB Seagate enterprise drives are near the cost of this drive so that is the direction I took.

Question 7

What RPM speed does the drive rotate at ?  i don't understand why they always try to hide that in the specs.

Accepted Answer

7200, I also read they are talking about a 10,000 RPM. unit by Christmas Holiday Season ?
Purchased on Sept 2 ,2016

Question 8

Does it comes with  proper packing to withstand transportation? Asking as modern HDD are very fragile

Accepted Answer

I have purchased over a dozen of these drives and never had a problem with packing.  I use the same packing when I return drives other drives which I've never had to do with any of the Iron Wolf drives.

Question 9

How do I install this?

Accepted Answer

It is difficult to answer but in most cases, in a Hot Swappable NAS, one would find an empty bay and click in the hard drive or screw in the hard drive and then push the bay back in.  If not hot swappable or if in a desk top - power down, open the unit and take a look to see how the existing drives are installed, then make sure you ground yourself and plug / screw it in... It will take some time to format the disk, since it is on the large side.

Question 10

Mac compatible?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Questions & Answers