Your all-time favorite HDDs
Posted: February 6th, 2025, 4:15 pmUnlike in the worst HDDs poll, you can select as many options as you like 
(And damn, I've already populated all 20 options! 
)
Seagate ST-506 & ST-406/412/419 (1981)
The drives that started it all in the microcomputer age; although some manufacturers (notably Disctron below, then Lapine in 3.5″) provided superior quality and others (particularly MiniScribe) offered cheaper options, Seagate won out for acceptable reliability at the right price.
Although the 10MB 4-head ST-412 was most popular in its family, Seagate also made the 5MB 2-head ST-406 and 15MB 6-head ST-419.
Disctron D507/D514/D519/D527 (1981)
A premium-quality option from the same era, with the bonus of a 4-platter 8-head 20MB flagship, although somewhat priced out of the market.
(Since their capacities were barely enough to begin with, most people just didn't have the luxury of going for premium quality in those days.)
IBM WD-12 and WD-25 (1982; WD stood for “Winchester Disk”, not Western Digital)
Another quality option (not as all-out as Disctron but still well above Seagate), ironically now easier and cheaper to find than ST-412s in good condition.
Seagate ST-213/225 (1984)
Two platters in half-height, using a swifter and more-robust rotary swingarm rather than the ST-506/ST-4xx's linear actuator.
Seagate ST-251 (1986)
Three platters in half-height, and added the much-needed autoparking (standard in voice-coil enterprise drives, but tricky to implement in consumer steppers).
Using Seagate's low-impedance windings, they were also surprisingly fast for steppers (40ms for -0 and 28ms for -1 variants).
NEC D5124 (1985), D5146/D5146H (1987)
Not quite as technologically advanced as their Seagate counterparts (slower and still no autoparking), but notably superior in build quality.
Lapine Titan LT-200, 3522 & 3532 (1986)
The first ruggedized drives, far ahead of their time in implementing a sophisticated head-lifting mechanism (more elaborate than the straightforward unloading ramps in modern voice‑coil drives, but protecting against non-operating shock in the same way); just watch out for the (now leaking) electrolytic capacitors.
Western Digital Caviar AC140/AC280 (1990)
Epic redemption after their previous dreadful steppers; giving it their all and making them as a premium product, making the most of voice‑coils (with embedded servo) to bring enterprise‑class reliability to the desktop (unlike several other makers which continued cutting corners).
Maxtor 7213A (1993)
Nothing too groundbreaking, but this was Maxtor in the prime of their quality.
Seagate Decathlon ST5850A (1995)
Both the first 5400rpm ATA model, and a small step towards the later Constellation (further below) with its sleek slimline form factor (and shortened in length too!)
Oddly its 1.08GB/1.28GB successors dropped the Decathlon name and were just called “Medalist SL”, but the trend continued.
Quantum Fireballs (1995–2000)
Second to a 5400rpm ATA and strong competitors at that; notwithstanding the deceptively-named 4500rpm “Fireball TM” (really just a revised Sirocco), the Fireball 1080, 1280, ST and SE were all performance leaders, and EL/EX/CR/CX remained very competitive while also upgrading their build quality to become some of the most‑reliable drives of 1998 and 1999 (and indeed solid even by today's standards, barring burned Philips motor drivers on some).
Deskstar DSAA (1994?), DALA (1995), DJAA (1996) etc.
Renowned for their Magneto-Resistive (MR) read head leadership, even if Quantum and Seagate proved more-competent in the end…
Seagate Medalist Pro 9140 (1998)
The first 7200rpm ATA drive and the first production model with Fluid-Dynamic Bearings! Sure they ran extremely hot (11W idle!) and needed good cooling to survive, but when you gave them good cooling, they really showed their stuff. But given the overheating, Seagate dropped the ATA models by the end of the year and only continued them in SCSI (until being supplanted by the Barracuda ATA IV and 36ES2 with mature FDBs, of course)…
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40 (2000)
A strong (though tragically brief) return to the top by Maxtor, superior even to Seagate's Barracuda ATA II (in capacity and even reliability for a change!)
Seagate Barracuda ATA IV (2001), Barracuda ATA V (2002) and Barracuda 7200.7 (2003)
(the Barracuda ATA IV also had a SCSI adaptation, the Barracuda 36ES2; these are highly collectible now)
Making the most of now-mature FDBs, to not only reduce noise but also extend the design life (implied to be 10 years by the POH counter normalization, although the IV & V didn't officially specify it and the 7200.7's manuals said the standard 5 years) and perhaps non-operating shock resistance to an extent.
It would be no overstatement to say these drives were (and still are) dearly loved like the Caviars a decade before them, and although Seagate never outdid or even quite matched their sheer reliability, the Barracuda 7200.9/10 still easily beat the willfully corner-cut Deskstar 7K160 or generally-mediocre Samsungs…
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 (late 2004, but generally available from 2005)
These went one better again – finally beating IBM/Hitachi to new Tunneling Magneto-Resistive (TMR) read heads, enabling Seagate to promptly match Hitachi's cost‑no‑object 5‑platter Deskstar 7K400 with an affordable 3 platters already later in 2004 (although given that the big server operators couldn't get enough even for themselves, space‑hungry home enthusiasts and smaller enterprises had to stay with the 7K400 for a few months yet).
That augmented by thermal flying-height control for an uncompromised 0–60°C operating range, too (and a year before Hitachi took credit).
Western Digital Raptor (and VelociRaptor) line (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)
Originally designed as an entry‑level server drive; but with its combination of 10,000rpm with desktop‑friendly SATA (albeit bridged from PATA in the earlier models) and more‑impressive desktop than server performance, gamers and other enthusiasts turned out to be its biggest target market.
The first model (WD360GD-00FNA0) still had ball bearings, but second generation (FLA/FLC suffix, both 37GB and 74GB) adopted FDBs (for once ahead of Seagate's Cheetah family, the 10K.6 still being BB throughout); the third generation added a “Raptor X” variant with a viewing window (now that Western Digital recognized their strength in the gamer/enthusiast sector); and for the fourth generation, Western Digital adopted a Savvio-inspired 2.5″ form to make the VelociRaptor (albeit generally mounted in their IcePack frame, which doubled as an unnecessarily-substantial heatsink).
Seagate Savvio 10K.1 (2004)
Also using TMR read heads, but most-importantly it was the first 2.5″ enterprise drive (albeit 15mm thick for robustness, and with +12V motors).
Super cute, faster than the Cheetah 10K.7 (except purely sequential transfers, but you can stripe two with room to spare) and more reliable too.
Later on, 15K models (with 55mm platters according to my pixel measurements from the promotional photos) were added too.
Seagate Constellation (2009)
The Savvio's equally-adorable 7200rpm nearline cousin, with an even-stronger niche in SFF desktops (since they come in SATA as well as SAS).
In stark contrast to the pathetic “Rosewood” ultra-thin laptop drives, these actually seem to be the best-built current Seagate models of all.
However given that their operating shock resistance has declined per-generation (70G R/W for the 3×167GB Constellation.1, 70G read/40G write for the 4×250GB Constellation.2 and 25G R/W for the 5×400GB Constellation.3/Exos 7E2000), I would recommend reusing the oldest generation with your desired capacity:
ST2000NX0253 for the full 2TB, ST91000640NS for 1TB and probably the original ST9500530NS for 500GB (or indeed ST9160511NS for 160GB).
In any case, while unknown in the “consumer” mainstream, they reclaimed (even surpassed) the Barracuda ATA IV/V's trinity of fast, quiet and reliable
The IBM (later Hitachi) Microdrive is an obvious honorable mention (although Seagate's ST1 series later improved on the concept) for its extraordinary feat of miniaturization, even though they were functionally obsolete by 2006 (when much-tougher flash cards overtook their capacity).
(Mind you, I almost wish Seagate pioneered it – they could have made them FDB from the start, rather than BB in the DMDM and DSCM)
The Barracuda ATA III would also have sold far better if Seagate didn't make the mistake of enabling AAM by default (back when hardly anyone else even knew of it, and speed was still the Barracuda ATA's main selling point), and the FDB option seemed largely as bulletproof as its successors too…
You may notice the complete absence of Samsung in the options, much to Tony Wilson's chagrin
The prosaic truth is that apart from the (deliberately sabotaged) later DiamondCrash/MaXCrime models, any other 7200rpm drive of 2003/2004 could attain the “AAA” with Red Hill's cooling and careful handling.
(In that case, the Barracuda ATA IV/V & 7200.7/8 would rate above their scale altogether
)
(And damn, I've already populated all 20 options! )Seagate ST-506 & ST-406/412/419 (1981)
The drives that started it all in the microcomputer age; although some manufacturers (notably Disctron below, then Lapine in 3.5″) provided superior quality and others (particularly MiniScribe) offered cheaper options, Seagate won out for acceptable reliability at the right price.
Although the 10MB 4-head ST-412 was most popular in its family, Seagate also made the 5MB 2-head ST-406 and 15MB 6-head ST-419.
Disctron D507/D514/D519/D527 (1981)
A premium-quality option from the same era, with the bonus of a 4-platter 8-head 20MB flagship, although somewhat priced out of the market.
(Since their capacities were barely enough to begin with, most people just didn't have the luxury of going for premium quality in those days.)
IBM WD-12 and WD-25 (1982; WD stood for “Winchester Disk”, not Western Digital)
Another quality option (not as all-out as Disctron but still well above Seagate), ironically now easier and cheaper to find than ST-412s in good condition.
Seagate ST-213/225 (1984)
Two platters in half-height, using a swifter and more-robust rotary swingarm rather than the ST-506/ST-4xx's linear actuator.
Seagate ST-251 (1986)
Three platters in half-height, and added the much-needed autoparking (standard in voice-coil enterprise drives, but tricky to implement in consumer steppers).
Using Seagate's low-impedance windings, they were also surprisingly fast for steppers (40ms for -0 and 28ms for -1 variants).
NEC D5124 (1985), D5146/D5146H (1987)
Not quite as technologically advanced as their Seagate counterparts (slower and still no autoparking), but notably superior in build quality.
Lapine Titan LT-200, 3522 & 3532 (1986)
The first ruggedized drives, far ahead of their time in implementing a sophisticated head-lifting mechanism (more elaborate than the straightforward unloading ramps in modern voice‑coil drives, but protecting against non-operating shock in the same way); just watch out for the (now leaking) electrolytic capacitors.
Western Digital Caviar AC140/AC280 (1990)
Epic redemption after their previous dreadful steppers; giving it their all and making them as a premium product, making the most of voice‑coils (with embedded servo) to bring enterprise‑class reliability to the desktop (unlike several other makers which continued cutting corners).
Maxtor 7213A (1993)
Nothing too groundbreaking, but this was Maxtor in the prime of their quality.
Seagate Decathlon ST5850A (1995)
Both the first 5400rpm ATA model, and a small step towards the later Constellation (further below) with its sleek slimline form factor (and shortened in length too!)
Oddly its 1.08GB/1.28GB successors dropped the Decathlon name and were just called “Medalist SL”, but the trend continued.
Quantum Fireballs (1995–2000)
Second to a 5400rpm ATA and strong competitors at that; notwithstanding the deceptively-named 4500rpm “Fireball TM” (really just a revised Sirocco), the Fireball 1080, 1280, ST and SE were all performance leaders, and EL/EX/CR/CX remained very competitive while also upgrading their build quality to become some of the most‑reliable drives of 1998 and 1999 (and indeed solid even by today's standards, barring burned Philips motor drivers on some).
Deskstar DSAA (1994?), DALA (1995), DJAA (1996) etc.
Renowned for their Magneto-Resistive (MR) read head leadership, even if Quantum and Seagate proved more-competent in the end…
Seagate Medalist Pro 9140 (1998)
The first 7200rpm ATA drive and the first production model with Fluid-Dynamic Bearings! Sure they ran extremely hot (11W idle!) and needed good cooling to survive, but when you gave them good cooling, they really showed their stuff. But given the overheating, Seagate dropped the ATA models by the end of the year and only continued them in SCSI (until being supplanted by the Barracuda ATA IV and 36ES2 with mature FDBs, of course)…
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40 (2000)
A strong (though tragically brief) return to the top by Maxtor, superior even to Seagate's Barracuda ATA II (in capacity and even reliability for a change!)
Seagate Barracuda ATA IV (2001), Barracuda ATA V (2002) and Barracuda 7200.7 (2003)
(the Barracuda ATA IV also had a SCSI adaptation, the Barracuda 36ES2; these are highly collectible now)
Making the most of now-mature FDBs, to not only reduce noise but also extend the design life (implied to be 10 years by the POH counter normalization, although the IV & V didn't officially specify it and the 7200.7's manuals said the standard 5 years) and perhaps non-operating shock resistance to an extent.
It would be no overstatement to say these drives were (and still are) dearly loved like the Caviars a decade before them, and although Seagate never outdid or even quite matched their sheer reliability, the Barracuda 7200.9/10 still easily beat the willfully corner-cut Deskstar 7K160 or generally-mediocre Samsungs…
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 (late 2004, but generally available from 2005)
These went one better again – finally beating IBM/Hitachi to new Tunneling Magneto-Resistive (TMR) read heads, enabling Seagate to promptly match Hitachi's cost‑no‑object 5‑platter Deskstar 7K400 with an affordable 3 platters already later in 2004 (although given that the big server operators couldn't get enough even for themselves, space‑hungry home enthusiasts and smaller enterprises had to stay with the 7K400 for a few months yet).
That augmented by thermal flying-height control for an uncompromised 0–60°C operating range, too (and a year before Hitachi took credit).
Western Digital Raptor (and VelociRaptor) line (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)
Originally designed as an entry‑level server drive; but with its combination of 10,000rpm with desktop‑friendly SATA (albeit bridged from PATA in the earlier models) and more‑impressive desktop than server performance, gamers and other enthusiasts turned out to be its biggest target market.
The first model (WD360GD-00FNA0) still had ball bearings, but second generation (FLA/FLC suffix, both 37GB and 74GB) adopted FDBs (for once ahead of Seagate's Cheetah family, the 10K.6 still being BB throughout); the third generation added a “Raptor X” variant with a viewing window (now that Western Digital recognized their strength in the gamer/enthusiast sector); and for the fourth generation, Western Digital adopted a Savvio-inspired 2.5″ form to make the VelociRaptor (albeit generally mounted in their IcePack frame, which doubled as an unnecessarily-substantial heatsink).
Seagate Savvio 10K.1 (2004)
Also using TMR read heads, but most-importantly it was the first 2.5″ enterprise drive (albeit 15mm thick for robustness, and with +12V motors).
Super cute, faster than the Cheetah 10K.7 (except purely sequential transfers, but you can stripe two with room to spare) and more reliable too.
Later on, 15K models (with 55mm platters according to my pixel measurements from the promotional photos) were added too.
Seagate Constellation (2009)
The Savvio's equally-adorable 7200rpm nearline cousin, with an even-stronger niche in SFF desktops (since they come in SATA as well as SAS).
In stark contrast to the pathetic “Rosewood” ultra-thin laptop drives, these actually seem to be the best-built current Seagate models of all.
However given that their operating shock resistance has declined per-generation (70G R/W for the 3×167GB Constellation.1, 70G read/40G write for the 4×250GB Constellation.2 and 25G R/W for the 5×400GB Constellation.3/Exos 7E2000), I would recommend reusing the oldest generation with your desired capacity:
ST2000NX0253 for the full 2TB, ST91000640NS for 1TB and probably the original ST9500530NS for 500GB (or indeed ST9160511NS for 160GB).
In any case, while unknown in the “consumer” mainstream, they reclaimed (even surpassed) the Barracuda ATA IV/V's trinity of fast, quiet and reliable
The IBM (later Hitachi) Microdrive is an obvious honorable mention (although Seagate's ST1 series later improved on the concept) for its extraordinary feat of miniaturization, even though they were functionally obsolete by 2006 (when much-tougher flash cards overtook their capacity).
(Mind you, I almost wish Seagate pioneered it – they could have made them FDB from the start, rather than BB in the DMDM and DSCM
)The Barracuda ATA III would also have sold far better if Seagate didn't make the mistake of enabling AAM by default (back when hardly anyone else even knew of it, and speed was still the Barracuda ATA's main selling point), and the FDB option seemed largely as bulletproof as its successors too…
You may notice the complete absence of Samsung in the options, much to Tony Wilson's chagrin
The prosaic truth is that apart from the (deliberately sabotaged) later DiamondCrash/MaXCrime models, any other 7200rpm drive of 2003/2004 could attain the “AAA” with Red Hill's cooling and careful handling.(In that case, the Barracuda ATA IV/V & 7200.7/8 would rate above their scale altogether
)