Seagate Barracuda 7200 3 TB 7200RPM $139.99 at Amazon + FS

What is the equivalent Western Digital brand?

I think equivalent is WD Caviar Blue [amazon.com]. I haven't gone Seagate for 4 years, since some bad experiences, but I hear they aren't too bad now. Caviar Blue has 2 year warranty, this Seagate Baracuda has only a 1 year--something to think about.

What is the equivalent Western Digital brand?

I understand that I ought to have Red or RE4 (if I want to spend the money for the quality) for my NAS.

Pros: Purchased 1 Hd in July 2011. Loaded it with data up to 90%. Worked fine for a MO. Sizzling noise started, drive hangs-up, cyclic redundancy errors with files corruption, fails SeaTools tests, occasionally reboots the computer. Replaced with 3 other HDs with same serial# - all with same sizzling noise & SeaTools tests fail - UNTIL I FOUND THE SOLUTION!

Cons: The solution of this desperate problem for both sides - the Customers & the Seagate is described within the SeaTools for Windows users guide pdf-file and within the note issued by SeaTools along with the drive error code - long down all the information as a last-resort suggestion for people with extra-time to do it!!!! So here it is (DO THIS FIRST - BEFORE LOADING the HD with DATA as a PREVENTATIVE STEP, it fixed 2 of my 2TB HDs):
1. If your HD is external - use SeaTools for Windows. If HD is internal - download & burn the SeaTools .iso-file for dos.
2. Connect your HD to the computer and boot into the dos-SeaTools CD. Make sure the program can see the HD.
3. Run the Long Drive Self-test. It may take from few minutes to few hours - notice if errors are listed. (If no errors the HD may be good as is).
4. Make sure to find and execute the option of FIXING ALL errors!!!! It was kind a tricky to find it - not very-obvious to execute it.
5.For better insurance re-run the test til no

Other Thoughts: The above procedure works a miracle-cure!!! IT SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED BY SEAGATE on the first place EVEN BEFORE STARTING TO USE THE DRIVE (!!!) - not as a sort of "CAN DO IT IF HAVING NOTHING-ELSE TO DO!"