Performance: 37 out of 40.
While the sequential file performance of the IronWolf 16TB is nothing special… the fact it stays fast for a looong, looooong time is. The same is true of the random IO and small file performance which belies its rather reasonable asking price.
Technological Innovation: 20 out of 20
On the one hand PMR+ is not new. On the other making a 16TB drive that combines PMR+ with nine platters, eighteen TDMR r/w heads, 7200RPM spindle speeds, as well as a darn near ‘enterprise grade’ design is impressive to say the least. So much so, the IronWolf 16TB is so choke full of innovation it literally re-writes the rules for the entry level NAS storage marketplace.
Build Quality & Warranty: 18 out of 20
The standard IronWolf series may be classified by Seagate as an ‘entry level’ NAS storage line… but you would be hard pressed to tell that by its build quality. It may not – quite – be built to Enterprise standards but it is so close that it almost does not matter. The only fly in the ointment is the fact it is still only rated for up to 8 drive configurations, and comes with only three years instead of five year warranty. This basically is how Seagate was able to keep the asking price so impressively low.
Value: 19 out of 20
The value of this new standard IronWolf 16TB capacity is almost unmatched. Usually a new ‘flagship’ capacity model comes along with a slight (but noticeable) increase in price per GB. The standard IronWolf 16TB model breaks this mold and instead has a rather low, low asking price. So low it almost belies the fact that it is 16TB capacity and not 14TB. Now that is how you break ‘the rules’… especially when you take into account the rather good random and small file performance it has to offer!
Final Score: 94 out of 100
We are not exactly sure how Seagate was able to cram a ninth platter into a standard 3.5-inch form-factor chassis… but the results do speak for themselves. Not only is this drive fast it stays fast a long, long time. Mix in the fact that it is PMR+ and not SMR based and the end result is a drive that offers just as good write performance as it does read. There really is not much to dislike with the new IronWolf 16TB capacity model and a whole lot to like. So much so this may just have become our new favorite model.
