These days we have received many requests as ST8000DM004, so let us have a closer look at it.
1. General Introduction
The ST8000DM004 is a 3.5-inch desktop hard drive from Seagate’s BarraCuda series, designed for high-capacity home storage. It is suitable for general read/write scenarios such as document storage and media backup, but not recommended for high-load or frequent write environments.
Key Specifications
Capacity: 8TB (4-platter design)
Rotation Speed: 5400/5900 RPM (varies slightly by source)
Cache: 256MB
Interface: SATA 3.0 (6GB/S)
Technology: It utilizes SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) with weaker random write performance—data backup is suggested
Durability: Annual workload rating of 55TB, supports 5×8 continuous operations, with 750,000 hours MTBF.
2. Performance & Usage Recommendations
Read/Write Speed: roughly 190MB/s (sequential) with poor random write performance—best for read-intensive applications.
– SMR Technology Impact.
– Advantage: Lower cost per capacity unit, ideal for bulk storage.
– Disadvantage: Frequent long-term writes may degrade performance; avoid fragmented operations (e.g., repeated file modifications).
-Recommended Use Environment: Home media libraries, Cold data backup, light NAS (non-RAID environments).
4. User Feedback & Notes
Advantages: Cost-effective, quiet, low power consumption—suited for home use.
Customer feed-backs: SMR limits write performance; please be alert for prolonged use.
Warranty: Typically 1–2 years (extended service available via some vendors).
5. Technical Background
– Platter Density: The ST8000DM004 was an early consumer-grade 2TB/platter SMR drive, while CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) 2TB/platter drives only became mainstream in enterprise by 2020.
-Industry Trend: SMR drives retain a niche in consumer markets, but CMR is superior for high-write scenarios.
Conclusion
The ST8000DM004 is ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing bulk cold storage, though its SMR write limitations require careful management. For higher performance or reliability, consider CMR or enterprise-grade alternatives.
Recommended Replacement Models:
– Seagate IronWolf NAS 8TB (ST8000VN004)
– Seagate Exos 7E8 8TB (ST8000NM000A)
– Seagate BarraCuda Pro 8TB (ST8000DM005)
– WD Red Plus 8TB (WD80EFZZ)
– WD Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB (HUS728T8TALE6L4)
