Seagate 20TB EXOS 3.5" Int HDD [ST20000NM007D]

This CMR-based drive is targeted at cloud datacenters where it directly competes with the Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC560. We found lots to like about the Exos X20, including helium sealing, a 2.5M-hour MTBF, and a five-year warranty. But our testing showed it lags noticeably behind Seagate’s own IronWolf Pro 20TB NAS HDD, which we didn’t expect since the drives are practically identical on the hardware side.

Seagate Exos X20 20TB Specifications
The Seagate Exos X20 is effectively the same drive as the NAS-oriented 20TB IronWolf Pro, but offers a SAS 12Gbps interface and other formatting options. Seagate also says that the Exos doesn’t receive the same firmware enhancements for NAS environments that the IronWolf Pro, which causes them to perform differently in that type of testing. (See that review for a more in-depth analysis of the technologies in this drive.)

The Exos X20 is available in 18TB and 20TB capacities. It is available as a self-encrypted drive (SED). Seagate rates it for a 2.5M-hour MTBF (double that of the IronWolf Pro 20TB) and a 550TB/year workload. All models are helium-sealed to lower weight and improve performance.

Note: Products with electrical plugs are designed for use in the US. Outlets and voltage differ internationally and this product may require an adapter or converter for use in your destination. Please check compatibility before purchasing.

Technical Specifications:
- Capacity 18TB, 20TB
- Interface SATA 6Gbps, 12Gbps SAS
- Performance
- Spindle Speed 7200RPM
- Max. Sustained Transfer Rate OD 285MB/s (272MiB/s)
- Average Latency 4.16ms
- Interface Ports Single
- Rotational Vibration @10-1500Hz (rad/s^2) 12.5
- Power Consumption
- Idle Power, Average 5.4W
- Max Operating, Random Read/Write 4K/16Q 9.4W, 6.4W
- Power Supply Requirements +12V and +5V
- Features Helium-sealed design
- Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)