Seagate has launched the **IronWolf Pro 24TB hard drive**, designed to meet the growing data storage needs of small and medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise environments. Released in early 2023, this high-capacity drive targets both commercial applications and personal storage solutions, offering versatility for various users.
The **IronWolf Pro** is marketed primarily for network-attached storage (NAS) systems, workstations, and servers. Unlike Seagate’s Exos lineup, which is tailored exclusively for enterprise applications, the IronWolf Pro serves as a middle ground between the IronWolf and Exos series. With the IronWolf line currently capped at **16TB**, the Pro series provides a significant upgrade for those requiring more storage capacity.
Designed for continuous operation in multi-user environments, the IronWolf Pro also functions well as internal storage for desktop settings. Users can incorporate it into a RAID setup, enhancing data redundancy and performance. The drive is optimized for NAS applications through Seagate’s **AgileArray technology**, which ensures dual-plane balancing and time-limited error recovery. This technology is aimed at delivering superior RAID performance in multibay systems.
One of the key features of the IronWolf Pro is its use of **Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)** technology, which offers better random write performance and data integrity compared to Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR). This distinction is crucial for users who prioritize data reliability over cost, especially following past controversies with other brands like Western Digital.
According to Seagate, the IronWolf Pro boasts a workload rating of **550 TB per year** and an impressive **2.5 million hours** mean time between failures (MTBF). The drive comes with a **5-year limited warranty**, providing peace of mind for users investing in large-capacity storage.
Specifications and Performance
The **IronWolf Pro 24TB** features standard dimensions for 3.5-inch hard drives, with a helium-sealed design that reduces air resistance and enhances efficiency. A notable improvement in this model is the smaller circuit board compared to previous generations, along with built-in **Rotational Vibration (RV) sensors** that ensure consistent performance in multi-bay setups. Additionally, Seagate includes **three years of complimentary Rescue Data Recovery Services**, although availability may vary by region.
For performance evaluation, the drive was tested on a system equipped with an **AMD Ryzen 7 7700X** processor and **Windows 11 Pro**. The benchmarks revealed expected performance for a hard disk drive, with **sequential read and write speeds** of **259.91 MB/s** and **259.97 MB/s**, respectively. Comparatively, other drives in the same category, such as the **Seagate EXOS 24TB**, reached similar speeds of around **270 MB/s**.
The IronWolf Pro’s performance in random read and write scenarios, however, fell short, with speeds hovering around **2 to 3 MB/s**. This limitation highlights the inherent challenges of using hard drives for tasks demanding quick data access, such as gaming. In contrast, solid-state drives (SSDs) can achieve much higher random access speeds, underscoring the advantages of SSDs for specific applications.
Conclusion
Overall, the **Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB HDD** meets the demands of those needing substantial storage with a focus on reliability and data integrity. While it does not significantly outperform previous models in terms of speed, it excels in capacity, making it an ideal choice for backing up large files and archiving data.
The drive is not recommended for use as a boot or gaming drive due to its slower random access speeds. Users considering the IronWolf Pro for NAS or DAS applications should ensure their systems can support the drive’s capacity, as some may require firmware updates for recognition.
Currently, the Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB is available for **$479.99** and carries a **5-year warranty** along with three years of data recovery services. This hard drive stands out in an age where data demands are ever-increasing, providing a reliable solution for both personal and professional storage needs.
