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Synology HAT3300-4T 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 Synology HAT3300-4T at 6.7/10.

The Toshiba N300 12TB leads on reliability ratings and performance.

They score the same on recording technology, warranty and noise and power.

Synology HAT3300-4T

Synology HAT3300-4T

6.7/10verdict: good, not the best

The Synology HAT3300-4T is a 4TB CMR drive for people filling a NAS with Plus Series disks. It suits buyers who want a 180TB/year workload rating, a 3-year warranty and good RAID 5 speeds. It is a less comfortable fit if the NAS sits in a quiet room, because owners report that it is audible.

Typically about £215 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

CriterionWeightSynology HAT3300-4TToshiba N300 12TB
Reliability ratings25%6/107/10
Recording technology20%9/109/10
Warranty20%6/106/10
Performance20%7/108/10
Noise and power15%5/105/10
Overall6.7/107.1/10

Specifications

SpecSynology HAT3300-4TToshiba N300 12TB
Capacity4 TB12 TB
Spindle speed5,400 rpm7200 RPM
Cache256 MB256 MB
Recording (CMR/SMR)CMR (conventional magnetic recording)CMR
Workload rating180 TB/yearUp to 180 TB/yr
MTBFup to 1.2 million hours (manufacturer page; datasheet MTBF row conflicts at 1.0M/1.2M)1.2 million hours MTTF
Rated for baysnot listedUp to 12
Warranty3 yearsLimited warranty: 3 years

Strengths and weaknesses

Synology HAT3300-4T

  • + CMR recording, stated as 100% across the Plus Series
  • + 202 MB/s typical maximum sustained transfer rate
  • + Owners report fast RAID 5 performance
  • − Owners report it is louder than earlier WD Red Plus drives
  • − Warranty is 3 years, with no data recovery mentioned
  • − MTBF figure varies between 1.0M and 1.2M hours

Skip it if:

  • Buyers putting a NAS in a quiet bedroom or living space
  • Anyone who wants a data recovery service bundled with the warranty
  • Users planning very heavy write workloads above 180TB per year
Read the full Synology HAT3300-4T 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 ›

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