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Synology HAT3300-4T vs WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX

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

all judged against NAS hard drives at a similar price

The WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the Synology HAT3300-4T at 6.7/10.

The Synology HAT3300-4T leads on performance.

The WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX leads on noise and power.

They score the same on reliability ratings, recording technology and warranty.

The biggest difference is noise and power, where the WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX scores 8/10 to the Synology HAT3300-4T's 5/10.

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

WD Red Plus Internal NAS HDD 3.5", 4TB, model WD40EFPX

WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX

6.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The WD Red Plus 4TB (WD40EFPX) is for home and small-office NAS owners filling up to eight bays who want a CMR drive. Its 5,400 rpm spindle and low rated noise and power suit a NAS that sits in a living space or runs around the clock. Buyers whose needs go beyond its 180MB/s transfer rate, 180TB/year workload rating or three-year warranty should look elsewhere.

Typically about £208.99 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 HAT3300-4TWD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX
Reliability ratings25%6/106/10
Recording technology20%9/109/10
Warranty20%6/106/10
Performance20%7/106/10
Noise and power15%5/108/10
Overall6.7/106.9/10

Specifications

SpecSynology HAT3300-4TWD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX
Capacity4 TB4TB
Spindle speed5,400 rpm5400
Cache256 MB256MB
Recording (CMR/SMR)CMR (conventional magnetic recording)CMR
Workload rating180 TB/year180 TB/year
MTBFup to 1.2 million hours (manufacturer page; datasheet MTBF row conflicts at 1.0M/1.2M)1,000,000 hours
Rated for baysnot listedup to 8 bays
Warranty3 years3-year limited

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 ›

WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX

  • + CMR recording confirmed on WD's datasheet
  • + Rated 23 dBA idle and 27 dBA seek
  • + Low power: 4.7W active, 3.1W idle
  • − Only a 3-year limited warranty
  • − Up to 180MB/s internal transfer rate
  • − Rated for up to 8 bays only

Skip it if:

  • Anyone building a NAS with more than eight bays
  • Buyers wanting a 5-year warranty or included data recovery
  • Users with heavy write workloads beyond 180TB a year
Read the full WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFPX review ›

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