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Synology HAT5300-12T vs WD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX

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

all judged against NAS hard drives at a similar price

The Synology HAT5300-12T scores 8.2/10 overall, ahead of the WD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX at 7.9/10.

The Synology HAT5300-12T leads on performance and noise and power.

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

Synology HAT5300-12T

Synology HAT5300-12T

8.2/10verdict: buy

The Synology HAT5300-12T is a 12TB, 7,200rpm CMR drive for people building or expanding a Synology NAS. It suits buyers who want a high workload rating and a five-year warranty. It is less suited to anyone whose main concern is a silent NAS.

Typically about £510 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 Pro 4TB NAS Hard Drive (WD4005FFBX)

WD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX

7.9/10verdict: buy

The WD Red Pro 4TB suits people building a multi-bay NAS or RAID array who want a drive rated for heavy workloads. It lists CMR recording, a 5-year warranty and a 550TB/year workload rating. Buyers who want a quiet, low-power drive or included data recovery should look at the trade-offs first.

Typically about £259.99 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 HAT5300-12TWD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX
Reliability ratings25%9/109/10
Recording technology20%9/109/10
Warranty20%9/109/10
Performance20%8/107/10
Noise and power15%5/104/10
Overall8.2/107.9/10

Specifications

SpecSynology HAT5300-12TWD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX
Capacity12 TB4TB
Spindle speed72007200 RPM
Cache256 MB256MB
Recording (CMR/SMR)CMRCMR
Workload rating550 TB per year550TB/year
MTBF2.5 million hours2.5 million hours
Rated for baysnot listedUnlimited (RAID-optimized NAS systems with unlimited # of bays; no numeric count)
Warranty5 years5 years limited

Strengths and weaknesses

Synology HAT5300-12T

  • + Rated for 550TB per year with 2.5 million hours MTBF
  • + Five-year warranty counted from the purchase date
  • + Owners report cool running and consistent speed
  • − Owners disagree on noise; some find it loud on seek
  • − Reports of noise during array reorganisation or rebuild
  • − Owners say long-term reliability is still unproven

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a near-silent NAS in a living space
  • Anyone running a lightly used archive who doesn't need a 550TB per year rating
  • Buyers who want data recovery cover included with the warranty
Read the full Synology HAT5300-12T review ›

WD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX

  • + CMR recording, listed on the spec table
  • + 550TB/year workload and 2.5 million hour MTBF
  • + Five-year limited warranty
  • − 7200 RPM spindle speed; no noise or power figures listed
  • − Data recovery is not included
  • − Rated for up to 217MB/s sustained

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a quiet, low-power drive for a bedroom or living room
  • Buyers who expect data recovery to be included in the price
  • Anyone who wants independent speed or noise measurements for this exact model
Read the full WD Red Pro 4TB WD4005FFBX review ›

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