Can i use the Ironwolf Pro ST6000NT001 as a DAS?

[Enquiries]

Recently got upsold the ST6000NT001 and now dont know what to do with it. Im thinking of making a DAS but not sure if its optimal. I have read the NT series are typically used for server machines; and I do not and will not have that. My thinking is just to get an enclosure and use it for photos and videos.

[ed]

Hi,

Thanks for getting in touch. The Seagate IronWolf Pro ST6000NT001 you have is absolutely fine to use in a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) setup. Even though the NT series is marketed more toward servers and NAS environments, at the end of the day it is still a standard SATA drive, and there is nothing preventing you from putting it into a good quality USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 or Thunderbolt enclosure and using it as a DAS for photos and videos.

The main thing to keep in mind is noise and power consumption. These drives are built for 24/7 operation in multi-drive systems, so they tend to run a bit louder and warmer than a typical desktop drive. That’s not a problem, just something to be aware of if you’re keeping it on your desk.

If your workload is mainly archiving and occasional access, the IronWolf Pro is arguably overkill, but it’s still a very reliable, high-end drive. You’re not hurting anything by using it outside of a NAS or server, so feel free to go ahead and get a decent enclosure and put it to work.