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I have a 3.5" HHD DAS which needs populating. Based on my interaction with these products over a period of 10 yrs I have decided to go with SeaGate. I am interested in 2TB capacity drives and for my personal reliability preference ....I've chosen the EXOS series of drives. I know its way overkill, but for me it's a culture that I've used for many years in most of my lifestyle.
The interface is SATA. Now Seagate from viewing has multiple Exos drives with varying letter designates. I chatted with one online assistant and she was able to explain at least the 512 N & 512 e abbreviations. I eventually got that. However, I am seeing on various sites selling these drives various descriptions for the apparently same appearance drive.
Assist me in acquiring the correct 2-4TB Exos drive for a SATA interface 4 Bay DAS. Amazon has it as 512e & Seagate has it listed as 512N. Dont want to buy the wrong one.
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Thank you for your message! Seagate’s EXOS drives are an excellent choice for reliability and performance, even if they might be considered overkill for personal use. Let me help clarify the differences between 512N and 512e drives and guide you to the right option for your 4-bay SATA DAS.
Understanding 512N vs. 512e
512N (Native):
The drive uses 512-byte physical and logical sector sizes.
Fully compatible with legacy systems that expect 512-byte sectors, with no need for translation.
512e (Emulated):
These drives have a 4K physical sector size but emulate 512-byte logical sectors for compatibility with older systems.
Suitable for most modern applications but may have slightly slower performance with legacy systems due to the sector translation.
For your DAS: If your system supports 4K or is relatively modern, 512e is the standard choice. However, if you are unsure or working with older DAS firmware that may only recognize 512-byte sectors, choose 512N for guaranteed compatibility.
Drive Recommendations
For your 4-bay DAS with a SATA interface, here are some great options:
Seagate EXOS 7E8 2TB (ST2000NM0008):
Interface: SATA 6Gbps.
Sector Size: 512e (Emulated).
Use Case: Ideal for most modern DAS systems, offering enterprise-grade reliability.
Seagate EXOS 7E8 2TB (ST2000NM002A):
Interface: SATA 6Gbps.
Sector Size: 512N (Native).
Use Case: Best for systems requiring native 512-byte sectors or where absolute compatibility is a concern.
Seagate EXOS X10/X12 (Up to 4TB):
These models offer larger capacities with similar reliability but check your DAS compatibility with larger drives if you choose to exceed 2TB.
Buying Tip
On Amazon, sellers often list 512e as standard since it’s widely supported. To ensure you’re getting the right model (512N or 512e), check the exact part number (e.g., ST2000NM0008 for 512e or ST2000NM002A for 512N).
If you’re uncertain, Seagate’s official HDD Finder Tool on their website can help match drives to your needs.
Final Recommendation
For most modern DAS systems, the 512e (ST2000NM0008) drive is a safe and reliable choice. If your DAS requires strict legacy compatibility, go with the 512N (ST2000NM002A) version.
