Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 vs Toshiba N300 12TB

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against NAS hard drives at a similar price

The Toshiba N300 12TB scores 7.1/10 overall, ahead of the Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 at 7.0/10.

The Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 leads on warranty.

The Toshiba N300 12TB leads on recording technology, performance and noise and power.

They score the same on reliability ratings.

The biggest difference is warranty, where the Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 scores 10/10 to the Toshiba N300 12TB's 6/10.

Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000

7.0/10verdict: good, not the best

The IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 is a 6TB drive for multi-bay NAS builds that want a 5-year warranty and a 300 TB/year workload rating. It suits people who value 5-year cover and bundled data recovery over low noise. It fits a rack or tower NAS where the drive sits away from living space.

Typically about £230 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Toshiba N300 12TB

Toshiba N300 12TB

7.1/10verdict: buy

The Toshiba N300 12TB is a NAS drive for people building small to mid-sized RAID arrays. It suits buyers who want CMR recording and a solid sustained transfer rate. It is less suited to anyone who puts warranty length or near-silent running first.

Typically about £384.08 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightSeagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000Toshiba N300 12TB
Reliability ratings25%7/107/10
Recording technology20%6/109/10
Warranty20%10/106/10
Performance20%7/108/10
Noise and power15%4/105/10
Overall7.0/107.1/10

Specifications

SpecSeagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000Toshiba N300 12TB
Capacity6TB12 TB
Spindle speed7,200 rpm7200 RPM
Cache256 MB256 MB
Recording (CMR/SMR)PerpendicularCMR
Workload rating300 TB/yearUp to 180 TB/yr
MTBF1,200,000 hours1.2 million hours MTTF
Rated for baysUp to 24Up to 12
Warranty5 years limitedLimited warranty: 3 years

Strengths and weaknesses

Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000

  • + 5-year limited warranty with 2-year data recovery plan
  • + 300 TB/year workload rating and up to 24 bays
  • + 214 MB/s maximum sustained transfer rate
  • − 7,200 rpm spindle speed, with noise rated at 2.7 bels
  • − Data recovery needs registration; availability varies by country
  • − Datasheet lists perpendicular recording without naming CMR or SMR

Skip it if:

  • Buyers placing a NAS in a quiet room where 7,200 rpm noise would bother them
  • Buyers who need CMR confirmed on the datasheet before buying
  • Buyers in a country where the data recovery plan is unavailable and who wanted it
Read the full Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NE000 review ›

Toshiba N300 12TB

  • + CMR recording suits RAID arrays
  • + Rated up to 253MB/s sustained on the 12TB model
  • + Rated for up to 12 bays at 180TB/year
  • − Three-year warranty draws owner complaints
  • − 7,200 rpm; one owner finds it a bit noisy
  • − No data recovery service listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want the longest possible warranty on a 12TB drive
  • Anyone placing a NAS in a bedroom or quiet office where noise matters
  • People who need data recovery cover bundled with the drive
Read the full Toshiba N300 12TB review ›

More comparisons

Compare all NAS hard drives · Best NAS hard drives