Single Client Access - DAS Benchmarks

The HGST Deskstar NAS was connected to a 6 Gbps SATA port off the PCH in our DAS testbed. After formatting in NTFS, it was subject to our DAS test suite. While processing our DAS suite, we also recorded the instantaneous transfer rates and temperature of the drive. Compared to the Seagate Enterprise NAS HDD, the HGST Deskstar NAS remained at a lower temperature for the same access pattern.

HGST Deskstar NAS Performance Consistency

The graphs below present the average transfer rates for the various workloads and how they compare against other HDDs of the same capacity that have been evaluated before.

Photos Read

Photos Write

Videos Read

Videos Write

Blu-ray Folder Read

Blu-ray Folder Write

Adobe Photoshop Light Read

Adobe Photoshop Heavy Read

Adobe After Effects Read

Adobe Illustrator Read

Adobe Photoshop Light Write

Adobe Photoshop Heavy Write

Adobe After Effects Write

Adobe Illustrator Write

The HGST Deskstar NAS turns up at the top of the heap in a few benchmarks, but mostly checks in towards the middle of the pack. Firmware optimizations as well as the extra cache (compared to the WD Red and HGST Ultrastar He6) help to pull the Deskstar NAS forward in terms of performance numbers.

Performance - Raw Drives Single Client Access - NAS Benchmarks
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  • Guspaz - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    $300 for a 6TB drive doesn't seem very cost-effective when 8TB drives sell for $260, and 4TB drives sell for $140. Heck, even the 4TB HGST DeskStar NAS sells for only $165. This isn't really a fault with the HGST drive specifically (since other 6TB drives aren't any cheaper), but more a fault with the 6TB capacity point.

    Of course, the 8TB drive in question is using SMR, and so ought to be rather slow for writes, but when you've got a bunch of them in a server with some SSDs for caching, it shouldn't be so bad.
  • insz - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Can you please provide a link to an 8TB drive for $260?
  • Dreamwalker - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Here in EU you can get the Seagate Archive 8TB for ~226EUR (275USD with vat). It targets cloud/cold storage market but I think it should be great for a HTPC too...
    https://geizhals.at/eu/seagate-archive-hdd-v2-8tb-...
  • patrioteagle07 - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link

    You do not want that drive... it is cheap because it is SMR. SMR is for COLD storage not NAS.
  • BeAi - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link

    Hi there, we are Premium Reseller of HGST, about these disks i could give some more inputs... First, the Seagate is a SMR Disk, only good for Backupszenarios, further they have only 3 years warranty.
    The HGST 8TB Disk is not a SMR Disk, HGST has got the 10 TB SMR Disk for Backupsolutions. Than the HGST Disk have got 5 Years warranty, for business solutions is that an argument. Last but not least, HGST has released on all SAS3 Disk the Media Caching Technologie, the disk are probably up to 3 times faster than other disk on the market. We have tested disks in our Lab, with a 1.2TB media caching 10k Disk, it will be faster than a 15k normal 2,5 inc disk. For more information, feel free to visit our online Shop: shop.storagespace.ch Kind Regards.
  • BeAi - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link

    Sorry i have forget that the HGST 8TB also have the Helium 8 Technologie, its also a He8 Plate, the Seagate havent got helium inside...
    Benefit of HGST Helium: up to 50% less energy cost, and less heat from the plate... If you wanna have an offer or more informations: info@storagespace.ch
  • takeshi7 - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    I think he's citing this article. That $260/8TB is bulk pricing for buying 20 drives it looks like.
    http://www.extremetech.com/computing/195543-seagat...
  • nandnandnand - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    The $260 8 TB drive isn't out yet. But it is a good thing
  • realwarder - Friday, December 26, 2014 - link

    Having a higher performance 6TB drive now is worth the extra money in the time saved over upgrading a 4TB drive later. It may be twice the price, but in $ it's not really much compared to reworking an entire setup later to add storage (unless you have a 8+ disk array with lots of room to grow)
  • hlmcompany - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Regardless of the capacity, this HGST drive is in the same category as a WD Red Pro, NOT a WD Red.

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