Performance:37 out of 40.
In a single generation Seagate has redefined what it takes to be called a high performance hard disk drive. The new 10TB Seagate BarraCuda Pro really does set a new benchmark for what consumers can expect from ‘mere’ hard disk drives in the performance department. Throughout testing we saw a blurring of the lines between ‘SSHD’ and what ‘HDD’ levels of performance. So much so that Solid State Hybrid Drives – like Seagate’s own Desktop SSHD series – are now awfully hard to justify.
Technological Innovation:19 out of 20
This new model is so choke full of innovation it is amazing that Seagate not only were able to fit it all into one model but also kept price per GB in check. In this area, like most for that mater, Seagate has knocked it out of the park and the entire HDD marketplace is better for it.
Build Quality & Warranty: 19 out of 20
This ‘consumer’ orientated hard drive may not – quite – be built to Enterprise standards but it is so close that it almost does not matter. Much improved performance, much improved durability, and even much improved failure statistics all combine to make one of the best consumer orientated hard drive models we have seen in decades. The five-year warranty is literally just the perfect finishing flourish for one impressive series.
Value: 18 out of 20
On the one hand there is no denying that this is an expansive model. On the other it easily justifies its asking price as buyers not only get massive capacity but also massive performance and reliability. Mix in a great warranty and great a great build and there is not much to complain about in the overall value department.
Final Score: 93 out of 100
If you are looking for a mega-capacity hard drive, and can afford this class of HDDs, the Seagate BarraCuda 10TB is almost without equal. Yes the tweaking of the underlying algorithms means it will not be right for every scenario… but for SOHO and home users it really does not get much better than this until you take a major step up in asking price to get a ‘true’ Enterprise grade model. In other words: great value, great performance, great design all combine to make one impressive new series.
