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expiredswansong119 posted Mar 17, 2025 6:25 PM

26TB Seagate External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive

$300

$350

14% off
+ Free Shippingat Best Buy
309 Comments
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Deal Details
Best Buy has 26TB Seagate External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP26000400) on sale for $299.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member swansong119 for finding this deal.

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • 1-year warranty
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by swansong119
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Best Buy has 26TB Seagate External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP26000400) on sale for $299.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member swansong119 for finding this deal.

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • 1-year warranty
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by swansong119

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Top Comments

Adam2004
419Comments
63Reputation
These (26GB) are EXOS Enterprise drives not the crappy non-Pro Barracudas like the 20-24TB models with only 1-year warranty. Seagate doesn't make a 26TB Barracuda.
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RikB
391Comments
220Reputation
I ordered one, says it'll arrive Thursday. I'll update this post with what I find inside.

Edit: ST26000DM000 mfg date 02/2025. Seagate website indicates the serial # on the drive is a Barracuda w/ 1yr warranty. Oh well, looks like the days of discount exos are gone, and I'll be returning this one.
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ducksoup18
1.5KComments
393Reputation
https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/..._external/ Looks like theyre cudas.
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309 Comments

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Mar 18, 2025 2:33 AM
926 Comments
Joined Aug 2012
riffdexMar 18, 2025 2:33 AM
926 Comments
Quote from mrmochi :
My EXOS drive 24TB purchased a few weeks ago is already having major issues.

I should have listened to SD. seagate sucks so bad.
Like what?

Umm, maybe return it? Mines running like a champ.
Mar 18, 2025 2:36 AM
9.4K Comments
Joined Nov 2008
LanmannaMar 18, 2025 2:36 AM
9.4K Comments
Quote from riffdex :
Heh, not a bad idea. I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow
Please let us know
Mar 18, 2025 2:38 AM
3.9K Comments
Joined May 2015
WildflowerGuruMar 18, 2025 2:38 AM
3.9K Comments
Doesn't BB hit you with an open box fee for returns?
1
Mar 18, 2025 2:40 AM
7.3K Comments
Joined Aug 2005
amaxMar 18, 2025 2:40 AM
7.3K Comments
Quote from cnmuranjan :
Why are we arguing about shucking and what's inside? Why not use it as-is, connected to RPi5/PC? In a practical application, if you're storing a media (say, video file), it doesn't matter how it's connected to your NAS, speedwise, right? Trying to understand the itch to shuck
This is actually a healthy question, framing good debate. I prefer keeping long-term storage drives external, especially since they go into sleep mode and aren't spinning until pinged by my cloud backup only occasionally. Yes, you can make internal drives sleep too, but between the longer warranty and relief from inside-chassis congestion, external's the way to go.

The only thing I can't forgive, though, is the stupid flat fragile USB connector on the external drive side. Very prone to failure. USB-C is so five-years-ago-necessary.
Last edited by amax March 17, 2025 at 07:42 PM.
Mar 18, 2025 2:47 AM
2.8K Comments
Joined Oct 2008
asukaMar 18, 2025 2:47 AM
2.8K Comments
Quote from cnmuranjan :
Why are we arguing about shucking and what's inside? Why not use it as-is, connected to RPi5/PC? In a practical application, if you're storing a media (say, video file), it doesn't matter how it's connected to your NAS, speedwise, right? Trying to understand the itch to shuck
One good reason is if the SAT USB converter blocks full SMART access.

Being able to run GSmartControl or SMARTReporter, anything that can run smartmontools basically, is essential.

Knowing when a drive knows it is pre-fail is everything.

HDSentinel for annual testing, but daily SMART monitoring.

WD SATs seem to be really reliable these days, haven't tested Seagate in ages. For awhile their's were mucking SMART.
Mar 18, 2025 2:50 AM
71 Comments
Joined Nov 2011
Shad0wmanMar 18, 2025 2:50 AM
71 Comments
Would this drive work well as a media server?
Mar 18, 2025 3:07 AM
926 Comments
Joined Aug 2012
riffdexMar 18, 2025 3:07 AM
926 Comments
Quote from cnmuranjan :
Why are we arguing about shucking and what's inside? Why not use it as-is, connected to RPi5/PC? In a practical application, if you're storing a media (say, video file), it doesn't matter how it's connected to your NAS, speedwise, right? Trying to understand the itch to shuck
I've got high storage requirements and a large NAS PC I built with 10 HDD bays. Shucking external drives like this and putting them in this system allows me to more effectively manage their capacities, implementing RAID configurations, manage the storage devices better by monitor their health and temps via software, more effectively providing cooling to all the HDDs, not having a rats nest of power cables and USB cords connecting 8 external drives to a system externally, oh did I mention the bs bulky power brick interferes with the already limited number of power outlets I have a available on my power conditioner?, not to mention having all these drives powered from a single high capacity PSU is significantly more power efficient than individual power supplies saving on electrical. So lots of reasons to want your drives inside a system as opposed to staying as an external drive.

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Mar 18, 2025 3:08 AM
239 Comments
Joined Mar 2019
TenderPiranhaMar 18, 2025 3:08 AM
239 Comments
Quote from chyeeaa :
Someone convince me on why I need this. I don't need but I feel like I should need it
You absolutely need this. Do you have any idea how much disk space is needed for 8K content.
Mar 18, 2025 3:15 AM
36 Comments
Joined May 2020
LivelyRock167Mar 18, 2025 3:15 AM
36 Comments
Checked with the Seagate support team and they advised it is most likely the barracuda drive inside
Mar 18, 2025 3:27 AM
1.4K Comments
Joined Feb 2005
rb5505Mar 18, 2025 3:27 AM
1.4K Comments
Quote from Mystikalrush :
Actually a good deal, last external that went on a great sale was from Costco, I bought 2 14TB of exact same external drive for $150 each. Physically buying one 26TB drive comes out to $11.5/TB vs the Costco deal at $10.7/TB but that is loooong gone and wont come around again. Easy to shuck FYI.
yeah i lucked out, my Costco had them at $99, i bought five.
Mar 18, 2025 3:30 AM
686 Comments
Joined Oct 2011
stealthytolkienMar 18, 2025 3:30 AM
686 Comments
Quote from LivelyRock167 :
Checked with the Seagate support team and they advised it is most likely the barracuda drive inside
Is there a way to find out ourselves once we get it? Sorry I'm a newbie.
Mar 18, 2025 3:32 AM
1.4K Comments
Joined Feb 2005
rb5505Mar 18, 2025 3:32 AM
1.4K Comments
Quote from 2hats :
For those waiting for other to buy and check for Exos, if you really want one of these, it might be worth buying now and checking yourself. Then just return if (very unlikely) it's not an Exos.

Suggesting this as BestBuy might put the price back up in a day or two.
how is it you check for the drive type?
Mar 18, 2025 3:49 AM
926 Comments
Joined Aug 2012
riffdexMar 18, 2025 3:49 AM
926 Comments
Quote from stealthytolkien :
Is there a way to find out ourselves once we get it? Sorry I'm a newbie.
Plug it in and use a program like CrystalDiskInfo to see the model code and you can determine what drive is inside
Mar 18, 2025 3:49 AM
2.4K Comments
Joined Oct 2011
MWinkMar 18, 2025 3:49 AM
2.4K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank MWink

Quote from asuka :
One good reason is if the SAT USB converter blocks full SMART access.

Being able to run GSmartControl or SMARTReporter, anything that can run smartmontools basically, is essential.

Knowing when a drive knows it is pre-fail is everything.

HDSentinel for annual testing, but daily SMART monitoring.

WD SATs seem to be really reliable these days, haven't tested Seagate in ages. For awhile their's were mucking SMART.
From what I hear, the Seagate SATA-USB bridges are still blacklisted on Linux. I don't have the link handy but there's a page with instructions on how to get them passing SMART data.

Quote from DarnCrazy :
Oh dang that sucks! I'm assuming these aren't much different in terms of performance other than maybe slightly lower speeds and maybe worse heat if they aren't using helium filled drives. That said, this is still a killer price for a 26TB drive even if they're aren't EXOS drives.
Drives near this capacity are always helium.

Quote from asuka :
Are you aware of any? I suspect SMR&HAMR combo won't hit until 50TB or so.

Then again, nothing surprises me with the cost cutting at drive makers.

For now HAMR is being billed as a speed enhancement over SMR as I don't think there's a cost savings today.
Yes. [seagate.com] And there's more info Here. [blocksandfiles.com] SMR isn't going anywhere. It's not simply about cost cutting, it also allows for higher densities. Though, according to this [blocksandfiles.com], the benefits may be decreasing:

Quote :
The 32 TB SMR drive has a mere 2TB or 6.66 percent more capacity than the 32 TB non-SMR drive. This is curious as Seagate's current Exos X 24 PMR drive has a 28 TB SMR version; 4TB or 16.66 percent extra capacity, suggesting that HAMR tracks don't provide as much scope for shingling as PMR tracks.
Quote from asuka :
What we need are some of the speed enhancements HDD makers have teased, mated to CMR-derived HAMR, to get low-speed SSD-grade performance from HDD.

That in turn will put pressure on the SSD market to continuously improve.

So really we need fast(er) hard drives to get cheaper.
Faster hard drives would be nice but what speed enhancements have even been teased? I haven't heard of any. Even worse, HAMR drives seem to be rated for lower speeds than similar non-HAMR models.

Quote from jbrw :
USB 3.0 feels insane for this much space
USB 3.0 is more than enough for any single-actuator hard drive.
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Mar 18, 2025 3:53 AM
2.8K Comments
Joined Oct 2008
asukaMar 18, 2025 3:53 AM
2.8K Comments
Quote from MWink :
From what I hear, the Seagate SATA-USB bridges are still blacklisted on Linux. I don't have the link handy but there's a page with instructions on how to get them passing SMART data.



Drives near this capacity are always helium.



Yes. [seagate.com] And there's more info Here. [blocksandfiles.com] SMR isn't going anywhere. It's not simply about cost cutting, it also allows for higher densities. Though, according to this [blocksandfiles.com], the benefits may be decreasing:





Faster hard drives would be nice but what speed enhancements have even been teased? I haven't heard of any. Even worse, HAMR drives seem to be rated for lower speeds than similar non-HAMR models.



USB 3.0 is more than enough for any single-actuator hard drive.
I don't know if it's NDA or not, I know I haven't signed an NDA with any spinning disk makers.

I have personally seen them behind closed doors at trade shows talk about increasing RPM and bring back SSHD caching, which they have touted privately "could deliver early SSD performance" - but as of yet I haven't seen any hit the market.

Could they? Absolutely. A HAMR, non-SMR 10k RPM with a 8GB cache is totally possible.
Last edited by asuka March 17, 2025 at 08:56 PM.

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