Newegg | TOSHIBA DT01ACA300 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -- $114.99 + Free Shipping (Starts 3/9)

I need a new one for a Synology NAS - how is this compared to WD - Red series?

Quote from djfreex : I need a new one for a Synology NAS - how is this compared to WD - Red series?

In my tests, simple load up this 8GB .SQL file and create a 33GB database, the Toshiba DT01ACA300 was 4% faster than the WD WD30EFRX. See http://bit.ly/Zfc5PS

Promo code is no longer valid.

Quote from adiemuss : Promo code is no longer valid.

This code works for the 3Tb Seagate... EMCYTZT3078

Well here is a suitable alternative. $119 shipped (outside NY ) for a 3tb WD Caviar Green. Yes, the performance is not as great as theToshiba, but I prefer a 'Green' drive for media storage as it does not need to be spinning 24/7 like the Toshiba.

Anyway, since I lived in California, I went with this drive because the tax savings make it slightly cheaper than the Toshiba and I prefer the 'Green' functionality because I use it solely for Media storage.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/pro..._SATA.html

EDIT: Oh yeah, it ships in a retail package too so you don't have to do all your packaging analysis too.....

SD link http://slickdeals.net/f/5900976-3...e-NY-state

One issue I've seen raised with Green drives: they are rated for only so many park cycles.

Original deal now dead.

Price now $139.99 plus free shipping. Seems to be a max of 3 per customer.

Here's a picture. This is typical for my 5 drive purchases. Single drives are similar.

http://t.co/flLm8z9Hmg

Mine came with the rest of my desktop components in a huge box (bubble-wrapped with the RAM). Looks fine and all the components were snug in the box.

I was fairly happy with the packaging. My only gripe is that the bubble wrap was not taped shut and the drive could slide to the end and out of the bubble wrap. This would butt it up against the cardboard. Luckily it was double boxed so any impact was mitigated to some extent.

Just for a frame of reference: Packaging in the past consisted of only the larger, outer, box with maybe half this amount or cardboard paper. The drive would be wrapped in a similar fashion but only taped around the middle, not the ends. Upon receipt the drive would invariably extend beyond the bubble wrap with only the one layer of cardboard (the box itself) to protect it.

Overall this is a major improvement.

@dlangille - Packaging is never a problem when ordering a large number of drives as they use the manufacturers own materials. The issues I am/are referring to were drives ordered singly or in pairs. Luckily it seems they have improved over the years.