Seagate boasts many top-tier storage devices on the market today, from excellent internal hard drives to flagship external storage solutions. Seagate has long been one of the leading players in the computer storage industry.

Now, the two most common devices used in professional settings are Seagate Exos and Seagate IronWolf Pro. However, problems arise when users try to choose the better option. So, which is better, Seagate Exos or IronWolf Pro? Let's find out.

Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro Overview

Before we begin comparing the two, let's get to know them individually. Seagate markets both series as ideal for production environments, and as such, they both offer high storage capacities, such as 4, 8, or 16 terabytes.

There is a 2TB IronWolf Pro, but it's so rare that I suspect Seagate isn't making many of them, which tells you something about how the company sees this line being used in production scenarios, such as:

    • Server
    • Workstation
    • SMB (Small and Medium Business)
    • Network Attached Storage (NAS)

That should give you an idea of how each is best used, but before we decide the winner between Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro, let's take a quick look at each:

Seagate Exos

Seagate's Exos is the first drive in our comparison, and one of the latest in Seagate's premier line of internal storage devices. Designed to be the primary storage solution for businesses, it incorporates all the bells and whistles, such as:

    • High read and write speeds
    • High reliability based on quality components
    • Low latency for reading and writing
    • Large storage capacity in a single drive

That's why WD is targeting this drive at data centers, NAS users, servers, workstations, and businesses of all sizes.

The extra workload that the 20TB IronWolf Pro is rated for over this 20TB model makes it a better bet if you're putting in the hours, but 550TB per year isn't onerous, and much of that may be taken up with disk-health testing.

TechRadar concludes its review

?IronWolf Pro

The IronWolf Pro is Seagate's top-of-the-line enterprise drive, originally designed for NAS-specific storage, but beloved in professional environments.

So it has some of the features of the newer exoskeletons, which include:

    • Super-fast read and write speeds
    • High RPM for minimal latency
    • Data recovery and software support

These attributes have made IronWolf Pro very popular with pros, and the drive has long been the go-to choice for data centers, central storage, servers, and NAS.

At first, the extra 2TB seems like a small improvement over the 18TB model. But for users with ten or more drives, or larger arrays, that extra capacity could translate to a big boost in overall performance. The disappointing part is the low annual workload rating.

TechRadar's verdict

Differences between Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro

Now that we've covered the basics of both devices, let's proceed with comparing them through their key aspects. In this section, we'll discuss eight important differences to fairly compare Seagate Exos against IronWolf Pro. So, let's get started.

1️⃣ Hardware Specifications

First and foremost, the comparison lies in the specifications of the devices. To make it easier for you, we have highlighted the most crucial specifications tailored to workplace usage. Here are the key specifications of both devices:

Seagate Exos IronWolf Pro
Capacity 2-20TB 2TB to 20TB
Form Factor 3.5-inch Standard HDD 3.5-inch Standard HDD
RPM
  • Base Model: 7200 RPM
  • Premium Model: 15000 RPM
Up to 7200 RPM
Cache Size 256MB - 512MB 256MB
Interface SATA 6GB/s SATA 6GB/s
Average MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) Approximately 2.5 million hours (estimated) Approximately 1.2 million hours (estimated)

As you can see, they're the same size and have the same storage capacity, but in every other spec, the Exos drives win out in speed, cache, RPM, and MTBF.

2️⃣ Workload Optimization

Workload Rate is also defined as the amount of transfers a hard drive can handle over a 12-month period. So, when choosing the right hard drive, its workload rating per year should also be considered. Here's a comparison of the two:

Seagate Exos: Handles 550 TB of workload per year

300 TB workload per year

Workload optimization was even more dramatic, with Seagate Exos almost double that of Western Digital IronWolf Pro.

3️⃣ Spindle Speed

RPM is one factor that determines a hard drive's speed. However, a spinning platter doesn't always mean a healthy drive. Both IronWolf Pro and Exos basics come in at 7200 RPM.

However, it's true that the Seagate Exos does operate at over 15,000 RPM. This does indeed grant it better speed, but also makes it more prone to heat generation and potential damage. However, there are currently no known records of Seagate Exos drives failing specifically due to their high RPM.

4️⃣ Interface

One of the few areas where these hard drives reach their limits is with their interfaces. This is more of a limitation of the interface itself than an issue with the hard drive, considering that Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) has a maximum transfer speed of 6 GB/s. As such, both the Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro utilize a SATA 6 GB/s interface.

Seagate Exos Seagate Exos

5️⃣ Capacity Options

The capacity options for both hard drives depend on their model. This is another aspect where they're quite similar. Here are the storage options provided by both the Exos and IronWolf Pro:

Seagate Exos: 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, and 20 TB models


IronWolf Pro: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 TB models

The fact that the IronWolf Pro comes in higher capacities also speaks to its older target market, as 2TB was once the entry-level capacity for pro drives.

6️⃣NAS Optimization

NAS optimization refers to optimizing a hard drive for plug-and-play operation with a NAS server/system, so that the NAS can immediately detect and use the drive. This is why both Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro are optimized for NAS storage solutions, with Exos being faster.

7️⃣Bay Area support

Both Seagate Exos and Seagate IronWolf Pro offer Bay compatibility. However, due to its faster performance, Exos holds an advantage in terms of speed and reliability. Additionally, Seagate claims to have tested the Exos for performance in multi-Bay environments, making it better suited for use in Bay servers.

IronWolf Pro

8️⃣ Pricing

The last thing to compare is price, and there's a big difference in price, as you can see.

Seagate Exos IronWolf Pro
4TB $142 $99
20TB $349 $359

As you can see, Exos is the better choice in terms of both speed and long-term gains. However, for those who need 4TB of storage or a similar capacity, IronWolf Pro is more reasonably priced. But all things considered, Seagate Exos wins in terms of pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions about Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro

If you have any other questions, you can find the answers here:

1. Which is better, IronWolf or Exos? Before answering this question, it's important to understand that IronWolf and Exos are two different types of hard drives manufactured by Seagate. IronWolf is primarily designed for NAS (Network Attached Storage) environments, suitable for multiple users accessing it simultaneously and operating continuously, offering high durability and built-in NAS optimizations. On the other hand, Exos is geared towards enterprise-level high-capacity storage solutions, typically used in data center or server environments, focusing on high capacity and performance. The choice between the two depends on your specific needs. If you require a hard drive for a home or small office NAS system, IronWolf might be a better option, as it is engineered for stability and durability in NAS environments. If you need a high-capacity, high-performance drive for large-scale data storage and enterprise applications, then Exos would likely be more suitable. It's recommended to consider your use case, required capacity, performance requirements, and budget when deciding which one to choose.

In terms of speed, the Exos is a better bet, since Seagate has effectively replaced its main enterprise drive, the IronWolf, with it. And since they go for similar prices on platforms like Amazon, the Exos is an easy choice.

2. Is the Exos hard drive suitable for use as a NAS?

Yes, they are very suitable. Seagate Exos hard drives are popular for their excellent support in NAS systems. Considering their speed and compatibility with the newer SATA 6GB/S interface, they make an ideal hard drive for any NAS storage or server solution.

3. Is Seagate Exos suitable for NAS?

Yes, Seagate does indeed cater specifically to NAS usage with their latest enterprise series – the Exos (including the Exos S and Exos X). Hence, it's an ideal choice for those seeking a long-term NAS solution.

4. Is the Seagate Exos X16 suitable for use as NAS storage?

The Seagate Exos X16 is a top-tier hard drive designed for enterprise use, so it's quite common in NAS systems. In short, yes, the Seagate Exos X16 is a good choice for NAS storage, servers, and the like.

Conclusion

Here are the main differences and similarities between Seagate's Exos and IronWolf Pro. Both of these hard drive options are great for those who need a lot of storage space and a long-term solution. While the newer competitor is undoubtedly the better choice, the older IronWolf Pro still has its perks.

However, in all comparisons, the Seagate Exos is the clear winner. So, if you're looking for a long-term solution, then the Seagate Exos is definitely what you should go for.

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