Western Digital Announces 22TB CMR and 26TB SMR HDDs⁚ 10 Platters plus ePMR

I recently got my hands on Western Digital’s new 22TB and 26TB drives. The sheer size of these things is impressive! Unboxing them felt like receiving a small, heavy treasure chest. The packaging was sturdy, ensuring safe delivery. I was particularly interested in the 10-platter design and the enhanced PMR technology. My initial impression was one of excitement and anticipation for the performance these behemoths would deliver.

Initial Impressions and Unboxing

Let me tell you, unpacking these Western Digital behemoths was an experience in itself! I ordered both the 22TB CMR and the 26TB SMR models, eager to see the difference firsthand. The boxes were surprisingly substantial, far exceeding the size I expected for even such large drives. They felt incredibly solid, hinting at the robust protection offered inside. Opening the first box, I was immediately struck by the sheer weight of the drive itself. It’s significantly heavier than any hard drive I’ve handled before; this thing felt substantial, almost like a small engine block. The drive itself was nestled securely in a custom-formed foam cradle, further emphasizing the care taken in its packaging. The included documentation was clear and concise, a welcome change from some of the overly complicated manuals I’ve encountered in the past. I carefully inspected the drive for any signs of damage during transit; thankfully, everything appeared to be in perfect condition. The metallic casing felt cool to the touch, and the WD logo was subtly yet proudly embossed on the surface. I took several moments simply admiring the engineering marvel before me, marveling at the density of storage packed within such a relatively compact form factor. The second box, containing the 26TB SMR drive, followed the same high-quality presentation. The only noticeable difference was a slightly larger box size, reflecting the increased capacity. Both drives felt equally well-protected and arrived in pristine condition. This careful packaging immediately instilled confidence in the overall quality and reliability of these drives, setting a positive tone for the rest of my testing process. I was particularly impressed by the attention to detail in the packaging – it clearly demonstrated Western Digital’s commitment to protecting their high-end product during shipping.

Installation and Setup

Installing these massive drives was surprisingly straightforward. I’d anticipated some difficulties given their size and weight, but the process was remarkably smooth. My test system, a high-end workstation built by my friend, had plenty of available bays. Sliding each drive into its respective slot was a bit more of a workout than with smaller drives, but manageable. Securing them with the screws was easy enough; I appreciated the clear markings on the chassis indicating the correct orientation. Connecting the SATA cables was also simple. The drives were immediately recognized by my system’s BIOS without any issues. I used a dedicated SATA controller card to ensure optimal performance and avoid potential bottlenecks. Formatting the drives was the next step. I used the standard Windows Disk Management utility; the 22TB CMR drive formatted quickly, but the 26TB SMR drive took considerably longer, as expected given its technology and sheer size. However, even this longer formatting process wasn’t excessively time-consuming. Once formatted, I assigned drive letters and proceeded to run some initial benchmarks to check everything was functioning correctly. The system recognized both drives without a hitch, confirming proper installation and setup. Throughout the entire installation process, I found the drives easy to handle and integrate into my existing system. The only minor challenge was the physical weight of the drives, but this was easily overcome with a little care. Overall, the installation and setup were very smooth and efficient, exceeding my expectations. This was a pleasant surprise, as I had braced myself for a more complex process given the drives’ high capacity. The ease of installation is a significant plus, especially for those who aren’t necessarily experts in hardware setup.

Performance Testing⁚ Real-World Benchmarks

After successfully installing the drives, I subjected them to a series of rigorous real-world performance tests. My primary focus was on evaluating sequential read and write speeds, as well as random access times. For the sequential tests, I used a large, 100GB video file that I transferred to and from each drive. The 22TB CMR drive showed impressive sequential read and write speeds, consistently exceeding my expectations. The results were very close to the manufacturer’s specifications, which is always reassuring. The 26TB SMR drive, as anticipated, demonstrated slightly lower sequential write speeds, especially during large file transfers. However, the read speeds were still quite respectable, and the performance was perfectly acceptable for my intended use case, which is archiving large video files and backups. For random access testing, I used a benchmark utility that simulates various file access patterns. Here, the 22TB CMR drive again outperformed the 26TB SMR drive, as expected. The difference wasn’t drastic, but noticeable. The random access times on both drives were still quite acceptable for their capacity. I also conducted some real-world file transfer tests, copying and moving large folders containing various file types. The results largely mirrored the benchmark tests. The 22TB CMR drive provided snappier performance, while the 26TB SMR drive showed a slight but noticeable performance dip during write-intensive tasks. Overall, both drives performed well, exceeding my expectations in some areas. The performance differences between the CMR and SMR drives were predictable and aligned with the technology’s inherent characteristics. While the CMR drive offered superior overall performance, the SMR drive still provided excellent speeds, especially for read operations and sequential writes, making it a suitable option for archiving and other less demanding tasks. I was particularly impressed by the consistent performance of both drives over extended periods of testing. There were no noticeable performance drops or slowdowns, even after hours of continuous operation.

Long-Term Reliability and Stability

Assessing long-term reliability and stability of any storage device requires extended observation, and I’ve been monitoring these WD drives closely for several weeks now. My testing involved continuous operation, simulating heavy workloads. I ran multiple file transfer operations concurrently, filling and emptying significant portions of the drives’ capacity. I also monitored the drives’ SMART data regularly, looking for any anomalies or signs of impending failure. Throughout this period, both the 22TB CMR and the 26TB SMR drives performed flawlessly. I experienced no errors, data corruption, or unexpected shutdowns. The SMART data remained consistently within normal operating parameters, indicating excellent health and stability. During the testing period, I also subjected the drives to various environmental conditions, including temperature fluctuations within a reasonable range. Again, both drives operated without issue, maintaining their performance and stability. I even simulated power outages, observing their behavior during sudden power loss and subsequent recovery. The drives handled these events gracefully, with no data loss or corruption reported. This is particularly important for long-term data storage, as it demonstrates their resilience to unforeseen circumstances. The consistent performance and stability of both drives under these conditions give me considerable confidence in their long-term reliability. While it’s impossible to definitively predict the lifespan of any hard drive, my experience so far suggests that Western Digital’s new 22TB and 26TB drives are built to last. The incorporation of ePMR technology and the robust design seem to contribute to their exceptional stability and resilience. I’ll continue to monitor these drives over an extended period, but based on my initial observations, I am highly optimistic about their long-term reliability and suitability for demanding applications requiring robust and dependable storage solutions. My initial impression of their durability has been reinforced by these extended tests.

Overall Verdict and Recommendations

After thoroughly testing Western Digital’s new 22TB CMR and 26TB SMR hard drives, I’m incredibly impressed. My experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The sheer capacity offered by these drives is game-changing for anyone dealing with large datasets. Whether you’re a professional video editor, a data scientist, or a serious gamer, the storage space these drives provide is unparalleled. The performance, especially considering their size, is also remarkable. I found the transfer speeds to be consistently high, even under heavy load, and the drives handled the demanding tasks I threw at them without issue. The reliability and stability testing, as detailed earlier, further solidified my positive opinion. These drives proved to be exceptionally robust and resilient, exhibiting no signs of weakness even under stressful conditions. The implementation of ePMR technology appears to have significantly improved performance and longevity. Considering the price point, these drives represent excellent value for the storage capacity and performance they offer. However, potential buyers should be aware of the differences between CMR and SMR technology; While the SMR drives offer higher capacity, they may exhibit slightly lower write speeds in certain scenarios. For applications requiring frequent and rapid writes, the CMR option might be a better choice. For my own needs, which prioritize massive storage capacity and reliability over extremely high write speeds, the 26TB SMR drive has proven to be ideal. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend Western Digital’s 22TB CMR and 26TB SMR HDDs. They are excellent choices for anyone needing high-capacity, reliable storage solutions. I believe these drives represent a significant advancement in hard drive technology, offering a compelling combination of capacity, performance, and reliability. They are, without a doubt, a worthy investment for anyone with substantial storage needs.