Seagate
Seagate ST8000AS0002 8TB Archive Hard Drive
Best bulk storage for infrequent data access.
Engineered for massive data storage, this hard drive offers a cost-effective solution for archiving, object storage, and big data applications. Its substantial capacity and efficient rotational speed provide reliable performance for cloud active archives and web-scale environments. Designed with advanced technologies, this drive ensures manageable and dependable storage for your critical data, optimizing both capacity and efficiency for large-scale data needs.
$164.95
Owner Satisfaction
2.5
/ 5
Category Rank
4120
/ 4146
#4120 in Hard Drives
Price vs Category Average
-65%
Below average
Capacity
8
/ TB
Who it's for
- Users needing vast space for media libraries or backups
- Budget-conscious consumers building large-scale archival systems
- Home server enthusiasts and small businesses minimizing operational costs
Who should skip it
- Gamers, content creators, and anyone requiring fast, frequent data modifications
- IT professionals and power users building robust, high-performance storage arrays
- Everyday users expecting consistent speed across various computing tasks
Performance breakdown
Storage Density
Massive capacity makes this an ideal choice for deep data archiving.
Write Speed
SMR technology limits performance during sustained, high-frequency write operations.
Energy Efficiency
PowerChoice technology keeps power consumption low for large-scale server environments.
Reliability
Solid MTBF ratings provide peace of mind for long-term cold storage.
Access Latency
The 5900 RPM spindle speed is optimized for capacity, not responsiveness.
Cost-Per-Terabyte
Unbeatable value for users needing to store vast amounts of data.
Key Specs
Capacity
8 TB
Rotational Speed
5900 RPM
Interface
SATA 6Gb/s
Buffer
128 Mb
Dimensions
3.5 Inch
MTBF
800k hours
Maximum Sustained Data Transfer Rate, OD Read
150 Mbps
Average Data Rate, Read/Write
190 Mbps
Know before you buy
This drive is specifically engineered for 'cold' storage applications, such as long-term data archiving, object storage, and big data backups. It is designed for environments where data is written infrequently but needs to be stored reliably and cost-effectively.
Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) allows for higher data density, which is how this drive achieves its 8TB capacity. However, it can result in slower write speeds during sustained, heavy writing tasks, making it less suitable for active operating systems or high-frequency database operations.
Yes, it uses a standard 3.5-inch form factor and a SATA 6Gb/s interface, making it physically and electronically compatible with most desktop PCs and NAS enclosures. Just ensure your system has space for a 3.5-inch drive and a spare SATA port.
PowerChoice technology allows the drive to manage power consumption during idle periods. It helps reduce energy costs and heat generation, which is particularly beneficial if you are running a multi-drive array for long-term storage.
We do not recommend using this as a boot drive. Because it is optimized for archiving and uses SMR technology, it is not designed to handle the constant, random read/write cycles required by an operating system, which would result in sluggish performance.
MTBF, or Mean Time Between Failures, is a statistical measure of the drive's reliability. An 800,000-hour rating indicates that the drive is built for consistent, long-term operation in stable environments, though it is still recommended to maintain a separate backup of your critical data.
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