Hi,
I'm looking to build a 4 - 6 drive QNAP video server and can't find a clear answer as to whether Exos would perform worse than Ironwolf Pro. It seems that on paper on should go for Ironwolf Pro as this is the recommended drive for this use case but the Exos are better value at the moment and in some ways higher spec. Is there something in the architecture of the drives that mean Exos isn't really appropriate.
Thanks
Will
Exos and Ironwolf Pro are both high-performance hard drives from Seagate, but they are designed for different use cases.
Ironwolf Pro is designed for use in network-attached storage (NAS) systems, and is optimized for high-availability, 24/7 workloads, with features such as vibration compensation and error recovery control to ensure data integrity in multi-drive environments. They come with a 3-year warranty and an optional 2-year data recovery service.
Exos is a enterprise-class hard drive that is designed for use in data centers and other high-performance storage applications. They are optimized for high-capacity storage and have features such as advanced power management, enhanced error recovery and high data throughput. These drives come with a 5-year warranty, and an optional 2-year data recovery service.
In terms of performance, Ironwolf Pro is optimized for NAS use-cases, whereas Exos is optimized for enterprise use-cases. So Ironwolf Pro will perform better when used in a NAS environment because of its design to withstand the vibration and high availability requirement.
In summary, Ironwolf Pro is the recommended drive for a QNAP video server as it is specifically designed for NAS use-cases, whereas Exos is designed for enterprise use-cases. While Exos may be better value at the moment and have higher specs, it may not perform as well in a NAS environment as Ironwolf Pro.