09-08-2025, 09:30 AM
Thanks for the message! If noise is a key factor and you’re aiming for 16TB or larger, you’re right to be cautious — enterprise drives like the EXOS or Ultrastar are great for reliability but can be noticeably louder, especially in a desktop setup.
At the higher capacities (16TB–22TB), your quietest options are:
• WD Red Pro 20TB or 22TB – still relatively quiet for their size, with decent idle acoustics (~20–28 dBA). Just avoid older Red Pro models below 10TB, which can be surprisingly noisy.
• Seagate IronWolf Pro 20TB – also a good balance of quiet operation and NAS-grade endurance, generally quieter than EXOS.
• WD Gold 18TB–22TB – slightly quieter than Ultrastar DC HC550/560 models, but still enterprise-class.
For purely quiet desktop use, I’d personally lean toward the WD Red Pro 20TB if you can find it on offer. It’s a good midpoint between noise, capacity, and heat — and it’s noticeably quieter than the EXOS you’re replacing.
At the higher capacities (16TB–22TB), your quietest options are:
• WD Red Pro 20TB or 22TB – still relatively quiet for their size, with decent idle acoustics (~20–28 dBA). Just avoid older Red Pro models below 10TB, which can be surprisingly noisy.
• Seagate IronWolf Pro 20TB – also a good balance of quiet operation and NAS-grade endurance, generally quieter than EXOS.
• WD Gold 18TB–22TB – slightly quieter than Ultrastar DC HC550/560 models, but still enterprise-class.
For purely quiet desktop use, I’d personally lean toward the WD Red Pro 20TB if you can find it on offer. It’s a good midpoint between noise, capacity, and heat — and it’s noticeably quieter than the EXOS you’re replacing.