top and Best 12TB HDD Hard Disk Drive

Best 12TB Internal SATA Hard Drive That You Can Buy For Your Desktop, Server, NAS, or DVR

Report Data Collected On; 24/Jun/2021

Hard drive companies have been ruling the market for several years. With the rising technology and demand in the sector of the data center, today you can easily get the 18 Terabytes of hard disk drive storage in your system without even paying a huge amount of money.

About 18 years back then, having a computer with 1000 Gigs of hard disk space was a dream of every computer user. At that time the World’s first 1TB hard drive (HGST Deskstar 7K1000) cost around 399$, but right now you can get an 18TB of storage for only under 400 Dollars.

The demand in the field of enterprise, cloud architects, and the data center is continuously increasing, and hence the challenge to deliver the best quality at the lowest TCO (total cost of ownership) is rising. The designing, operating, deploying, and supporting heavy data centers normally mean large capacity storage at an intimidating price.

The latest trend of moving forward with keeping fast data moving, encrypting, and providing larger digital capacity in smaller physical drives is touching sky heights.

The latest 16TB, 18TB, and 20 TB datacenter hard drives are the biggest and best in the market, but you can never stop waiting for the 40TB hard drive in the future.

These days, the impressive data center hard drives are high on capacity and low on cost. These drives have the highest capacity, i.e., PMR (Perpendicular Magnetic Recording), drop-in ready for 550TB/Y of intense capacity workloads, low power consumption, i.e. 54% lower than the 8TB air-filled hard drives, and lastly more reliable with the highest MTBF rating for working at 2.5M hours.

The stable internal 8-disk design is powered by the fourth-generation Helium technology that increases the capacity by nearly 20% over the previous one. The helium switch with the air-filled disks also helps in a more stable and vibration control environment.

These all factors make the 12TB hard drive the best in the market at the present situation. But with so many models available, which you should prefer?

So, here are the Top 6 12TB HDDs that you can prefer anytime over the others because of their established results and reliable performance.

Suggested Link: Difference Between in ‘Desktop/NAS/Surveillance/Enterprise’ Hard Disk Drive



So, Let’s See How Many Best 12 TB SATA HDDs Are Available For Desktop, NAS, CCTV & Data Center Servers:


#Best ‘Desktop Grade Hard Drives’ Under 12 TB Category


1st 3.5 Inch – Seagate BarraCuda Pro ‘ST12000DM0007’

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 243 MB/s, 236 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 299.00$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: These days, the requirements of data storage are achieving new heights. A person who loves to shoot videos can understand the drawback of low storage capacity.

If you record a 4k video at 30fps for about an hour, it will surely take at least 20-25 GB to get saved. Even all the latest games and movies don’t come under 50 gigabytes, which obviously means that having a big storage drive isn’t going to be a bad idea, if you concern about the future.

Seagate is the only brands that target the desktop storage market with their highest capacity drives, which can perform to the extreme as compared to the other desktop hard drive. Barracuda Pro comes with 7200 RPM and a whopping 256MB multi-segmented DRAM cache.

It has ‘923 Gb/in2 areal density’ 8 PMR platters in a helium sealed enclosure. Actually, helium is lighter than the air which helps the disk to spin smoothly and can reduce the amount of energy needed by 20%.

The BarraCuda Pro ST12000DM0007 hard drive is compatible with most of the popular OEM storage systems, host bus adapters, and SATA controllers (but this series mainly target high-performance desktop computers). Moreover, the drives come with a 5-year warranty period with ‘300TB/Y’ workload capacity, making it a wiser choice to pick in the market.

In my Opinion;

This drive is unbeatable, but only under the desktop category. I know that the specification is pretty great, although you can’t resist the top first drive of our enterprise-class section.

Barracuda Pro 12Tb 7200Rpm Sata 3.5 HDD

Click on link to check out the current price of “Seagate BarraCuda Pro ST12000DM0007“: @Amazon US ($370.00), @Amazon UK (£335.00)@Amazon IND (₹64,900.00), @BestBuy (N/A), @Walmart (N/A), @Newegg ($299.99).


#Best ‘NAS Grade Hard Drives’ Under 12 TB Category


2nd 3.5 Inch – Seagate IronWolf Pro ‘ST12000NE0008’
Seagate 12 TB IronWolf SATA 3.5 Internal Hard Drive - Silver

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 246 MB/s, 237 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 319.99$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: This Seagate HDD ranked 2nd in our top NAS hard disk drives. It is a 12TB capacity holding SATA interface drive in the standard 3.5-inch case. As the series suggests, the IronWolf PRO is specially designed for the NAS system which comes with better power efficiency, reliability, and performance.

This huge storage hard drive has many essential feature benefits. The enhanced technology monitors the rotational and linear vibrations for improved performance. The time-limited error recovery feature helps in reducing the drive fallout caused due to extended recovery processes.

While talking about the storage, the Seagate NAS series hard drive has up to 1.2 million hours MTBF and built for all-year-round operation, i.e. 24/7. It supports the SATA 6Gbps interface, uses PMR (Parallel Magnetic Recording) and the unit only draws 7.8 watts. This series also upholds 600,000 load/unload cycles, and includes two years of free access to Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Service, which you need to get register the drive online.

In this drive, Seagate uses the Helium Sealed technology that allows higher capacities with less turbulence when used on large storage arrays. This drive undoubtedly delivers optimum durability and reliability under such intense conditions of the storage environment.

In my Opinion;

As compared to the top 1st drive of our NAS category, this one is a bit low on performance. Orthiswise, don’t forget this one has 1.2 Million MTBF strength too.

SEAGATE ST10000VX0008 10TB

Click on link to check out the current price of “Seagate IronWolf Pro ST12000NE0008“: @Amazon US ($349.99), @Amazon UK (£341.50)@Amazon IND (₹80,010.00), @BestBuy (N/A),  @Walmart ($385.25), @Newegg ($319.99).


1st 3.5 Inch – WD Red™ Pro ‘WD121KFBX’

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 248 MB/s, 246 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 319.00$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: WD Red Pro NAS Series got updated recently, with its new firmware and better specs, they are outperforming the market for medium business and enterprise-class use cases.

Red Pro ‘WD121KFBX’ is perfect for archiving and
sharing, as well as RAID array rebuilding on extended operating systems such as ZFS or
other file systems.

This drive is made to be work in 24×7 online environment and able to support ’24-Bay NAS RAID System’, which makes it a perfect asset for your business to handle high-intensive read and write workloads.

This series also comes with the latest NASware 3.0 Technology, which overcomes a lot of challenges that a desktop HDD needs to resolve to work in a NAS System. It enables seamless integration, robust data protection, and optimal performance for NAS systems operating under heavy demand.

There is a multi-axis shock sensor built inside the drive that automatically identifies every minor shock and by using the ‘Dynamic Fly Height Technology’ which adjusts each
read-write function to compensate and put all its effort on protecting the data.

300TB/Y workload support, 5-year warranty, with ‘3D Active Balance Plus’, and an ‘Error Recovery Prevention’ feature makes it a perfect choice in the storage competition.

In my Opinion;

I bet you can’t find any NAS hard drive better than this, with the average of 248MB/s read and 246 MB/s write speed it can definitely put a big smile on your face.

You know that the same series drive – but in 14TB variant – costs only 329$ right now. To know more >> List Of Top & Best 14 Terabyte Hard Disk Drive  

Western Digital 12TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD121KFBX

Click on link to check out the current price of “WD Red Pro WD121KFBX“: @Amazon US ($319.00), @Amazon UK (£290.90)@Amazon IND (₹47,499.00), @BestBuy (N/A), @Walmart ($339.25), @Newegg ($319.99).


#Best ‘Surveillance Grade Hard Drives’ Under 12 TB Category


1st 3.5 Inch – Western Digital Purple Pro AI ‘WD121PURP’

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 249 MB/s, 222 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 256.00$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: WD Purple Pro WD121PURP was released this year and stays on top since then. It’s perfectly designed with its new generation high-end AI application support, used for video analytics tools, deep learning servers and cloud solutions.

Recently you can see the exponential growth in video surveillance analytics, artificial intelligence is being used for face recognition, analyzing objects, events, or for vehicle traffic patterns. In parallel, the need for fast video analytics will continue to rise, increasing the workload burden on NVR storage.

Purple Pro is featured with ‘AllFrame™ AI’ technology which works with the recorder to reduce frame loss and improve overall video playback. It can work with 32 AI Streams while working simultaneously with up to 64 HD Cameras in 16-Bay NVR Systems.

This series hard drives are able to perform supremely in any storage environment because of the high workload capacity of writing up to 550TB each year. This is the highest workload capacity you can find in a 3.5-inch HDD, which is more than 3× the workload of a standard surveillance drives i.e. 180TB.

Advanced vibration management with 2.5M-hour MTBF and 5- year limited warranty, just tell me what else you need? 

In my Opinion;

This is the perfect drive you can get for your surveillance system. With the best-in-class compatibility, you’ll get ultimate performance, ultimate workload, ultimate warranty, and much more.

You know that the same series drive – but in 14TB variant – costs only 311$ right now. To know more >> List Of Top & Best 14 Terabyte Hard Disk Drive  

Western Digital 12TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD12...

Click on link to check out the current price of “Western Digital Purple Pro AI WD121PURP“: @Amazon US ($256.99), @Amazon UK (£305.00), @Amazon IND (₹54,126.00), @BestBuy (N/A), @Walmart ($259.40), @Newegg ($269.99).


#Best ‘Enterprise Grade Hard Drives’ Under 12 TB Category


2nd 3.5 Inch – HGST Ultrastar He12 ‘HUH721212ALE600’

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 243 MB/s, 250 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 279.99$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: HGST drives have always been ruling the market, and this time there is no other scenario. This model is merely a representation of their continuous high performance and leadership in capacity.

The major advantage of using this model of HGST is receiving more capacity while using low energy. It is estimated that this model of Ultrastar He12 drive uses at least 23% less energy than the earlier one and gives 33% more capacity. This is all because of the helium used in the disk. The model uses HelioSeal technology by switching air with helium. This helps in lowering turbulence and giving a unique multi-disk format in the normal 3.5-inch form.

The HGST HUH721212ALE600 gives a distinct TCO value and gives more storage functionality with higher capacity, better performance, and power conservation. It achieves as much as 3x improved write performance than the prior generation.

The helium switching with the air gives the drive extra capability and effortlessly performs all the functions of the prior generation. It can easily incorporate into any enterprise environment without any trouble or delay. The Ultrastar He12 is also quieter and cooler when compared to the others along with great performance without any compromise in capability.

The framework of this model is to stay for a long team as it can easily handle tasks of up to 550TB in a year.

Other features that help this model secure the second spot are the ferocious performance, play and productive attitude, exceptional storage capacity, working under intense conditions, and quick service responsiveness.

In my Opinion;

An excellent choice for the WD Lovers!!! But hold your horses for the last one.

WD HGST 12TB HUH721212ALE601 7200RPM Ultarstar SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Hard Drive 0F29591

Click on link to check out the current price of “HGST Ultrastar He12 HUH721212ALE600“: @Amazon US ($279.99), @Amazon UK (£304.99), @Amazon IND (₹37,900.00), @BestBuy (N/A),  @Walmart ($289.99), @Newegg ($279.99).


1st 3.5 Inch – Seagate Exos X16 ‘ST12000NM001G’

  • RPM: 7200
  • Read and Write Speed: 252 MB/s, 248 MB/s
  • Cache Size: 256 MB
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Price Tag: 257.99$ Approx. {Check Current Price}

About it: Seagate Exos X16 ‘ST12000NM001G’ is the present ruler of the HDD market by providing a perfect performer 12TB capacity in the standard 3.5-inch form.

This drive uses the Next-generation helium side-sealing weld technology for added handling robustness and leak protection. It uses the latest 8-disk design which increases the capacity by around 20% to the prior generation’s design.

This model can be truly described as a hard drive for the data centers. Seagate also uses the Hyperscale SATA model – tuned for large data transfers and low latency – which helps it to stay ahead of time.  It gives the drive extra flair to perform well under heavy intense conditions.

This model is also the best in the field because of the heavy workload design that makes it capable of handling 550TB data writes per year.

Moreover, other features like a quick response, vibration regulation, TLER, and dynamic fly height helps to give this model the well-deserved third position on the rating sheet. In addition to these features, this model of Seagate Exos X16 also comes with a limited 5 years warranty.

This makes it a perfect enterprise-class drive and can deliver high reliability, efficiency, and performance along with the needed capacity.

In my Opinion;

Top-notch 12TB drive that you can get right now, but if go for the higher capacity variant like 14TB you’ll definitely get a better deal at a low cost.

With the Ultimate performance, “Toshiba MG08 Series MG08ACA14TE” can easily reach the speed up to 257 MB/s Read & 245 MB/s Write undoubtedly and it only costs 271.00$.

To know more >> List Of Top & Best 14 Terabyte Hard Disk Drive  

Sponsored Ad - Seagate Exos X16 12TB 7200 RPM 512e/4Kn SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 3.5-Inch Enterprise HDD (ST12000NM001G)

Click on link to check out the current price of “Seagate Exos X16 ST12000NM001G“: @Amazon US ($257.99), @Amazon UK (£249.00), @Amazon IND (₹43,990.00), @BestBuy (N/A),  @Walmart (N/A), @Newegg ($370.99).


Right now, these are the best of the best hard drives you can find in the market. Now it’s on you to choose which one. It’s always good if you let me know about your favorite choice too.


And that’s our top 6 list of the best 12TB (3.5 Inch) HDD what you can get for your Desktop, CCTV, NAS or Server computer. Stay tuned for more! – So, what will you pick, if you wanted one for yourself? Let me know in the comments below:

Happy Shopping!!!






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