After the release of Seagate's IronWolf hard drive series, I've always been very interested in it. I had previously published tests on the 10T and 8T models. When my data center replaced a new batch of drives, a friend mentioned that some of them were IronWolf Pro units. He said that the IronWolf Pro is even more powerful than the original IronWolf, so I borrowed two to test and share with you all.
According to the official website:
The IronWolf Pro and the original IronWolf are shown together. From all the data points, the IronWolf Pro seems to be the superior option. It’s worth noting that the IronWolf Pro isn't just for NAS and server environments — it also comes with a 5-year data recovery service, which is a big plus.
Out of the box:
When I first saw the packaging, I was a bit confused because it looked similar to the original IronWolf. My friend assured me that this was indeed the correct product, and I ended up borrowing it back. The slogans "tough, smart, and symbiotic" remain unchanged.
On the back of the package, the main data is clearly marked.
It might be because this was a bulk purchase for the data center, so there's no volume information on the side of the package.
Inside the box, there's standard hard drive protection.
The IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T use the same body and technology. Unlike the original IronWolf 8T, which is an air disk, the IronWolf Pro uses a different design.
Although they share the same body and technology, there are minor differences in details.
IronWolf Pro hard disk real shot and close-up (including IronWolf 10T and 8T contrast):
Here you can see the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T side by side.
The black model is the IronWolf 8T.
The front of the IronWolf Pro 10T looks different from the original IronWolf.
IronWolf Pro and IronWolf 10T backside shot.
In the 8T photo, the difference between the IronWolf Pro and the original IronWolf is quite noticeable.
IronWolf Pro and IronWolf 8T on the back.
Hard disk close-up:
Before I got the original IronWolf, I was really impressed by how beautiful the design was. The entire CNC processing gives it a metal matte finish, which feels great in hand. I spent a while playing with it, and the value and feel were excellent. The IronWolf Pro not only inherits the design of the 10T version but also adds the 8T model. Both use the same body and technology. Here are some close-up photos.
Note: If you don’t clean your hands, you’ll leave fingerprints. Don’t ask me how I know.
IronWolf Pro 8T Disk Information:
AIDA64 hard disk properties map shows the unformatted capacity of IronWolf Pro 8T as 7452GB.
CrystalDiskInfo and HDtune disk information.
IronWolf Pro 10T disk information:
AIDA64 hard disk properties map shows the formatted capacity of IronWolf Pro 10T as 9314GB.
CrystalDiskInfo and HDtune disk information.
IronWolf Pro 8T and 10T comparison test:
I tested both the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T using HD TunePro 5.60, ATTO Disk Benchmark, TxBENCH, CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1, and 5.2.0. All tests were done after a restart. However, I should note that from the test data, the IronWolf Pro 10T is slightly better than the original IronWolf 10T, and the IronWolf Pro 8T is also improved compared to the original IronWolf 8T. For other detailed professional data, you can check the official website.
IronWolf 8T test on top:
For the IronWolf Pro 10T, HD TunePro 5.60 showed a write speed of 244MB/s, minimum speed of 115.5MB/s, average speed of 192.9MB/s, and access time of 5.86ms. For the 8T version, the write speed was 226.5MB/s, minimum speed of 104.3MB/s, average speed of 179.2MB/s, and access time of 5.73ms.
The read speed for the IronWolf Pro 10T was 244.5MB/s, minimum speed of 110.3MB/s, average speed of 193.9MB/s, and access time of 12.1ms. For the 8T version, the read speed was 225.7MB/s, minimum speed of 103.5MB/s, average speed of 179.4MB/s, and access time of 12.1ms.
HD Tune additional test read test.
HD Tune additional test write test.
HD Tune Random Access Read Test.
HD Tune Random Access Write Test.
In CDM5.2.0, the sequential read/write speed of the IronWolf Pro 10TB HDD was 247.1MB/s read and 245.3MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.783MB/s read and 7.285MB/s write. For the 8TB version, the sequential read/write speed was 231.7MB/s read and 230.7MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.77MB/s read and 7.915MB/s write.
In CDM3.0.1, the sequential read/write speed of the IronWolf Pro 10TB HDD was 247.3MB/s read and 246.1MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.769MB/s read and 6.074MB/s write. For the 8TB version, the sequential read/write speed was 231.4MB/s read and 230.1MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.777MB/s read and 5.882MB/s write.
ATTO Disk Benchmark Test.
TxBENCH test.
Synology IHM Test:
"Seagate's DSM 6.1 introduced the IronWolf Health Management tool (IHM) for Seagate IronWolf platters into Synology NAS. It's said that Synology NAS users who use specific IronWolf and IronWolf Pro drives can use IHM's big data and intelligent analysis to deeply monitor the health status of the hard drive. This allows users to understand the health status of their hard drive before it fails, enabling them to take necessary measures and significantly reducing the chance of data loss." — This information comes from Seagate's advertising, but what exactly IHM is and whether it supports the IronWolf Pro, I had to try it myself. After all, there were cases where the original IHM didn't support the IronWolf 10T, although later versions did support it. Still, testing the IronWolf Pro was worthwhile.
The IHM functions from Seagate and Synology are not integrated as a suite in DSM 6.1. Instead, they are directly embedded in the storage space administrator. As long as you use the IronWolf Pro or IronWolf drives, you can access the HDD/SSD tags directly. When you see the hard disk icon change to the wolf head tag, you can view the additional IronWolf status tag by checking the status information and perform IHM detection. My DS416play already had 2 IronWolf drives. This time, the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T were also recognized at once. Since they weren't processed, they remained uninitialized.
The IronWolf Health Status is also listed in the Overview Options Bar, just below SMART.
To see the specific IronWolf health options, you need to open the hard disk status information. However, the IronWolf Pro offers a 5-year data recovery service, which is noted on the official website. The IHM prompts on the group Hui have been reduced, and I'm not sure if Seagate and Qunhui are properly integrated. It might just be an emotional breakdown. Seriously, I think Seagate upgraded its data recovery service, and the group hasn't had time to update the instructions. After all, there were times when the IHM Beta version didn't recognize the IronWolf 10T.
After checking the IronWolf Health Test, the results are shown above. After the test, the words "Normal" and "Concise" appear directly. There should be many other codes, but I’m too lazy to look them up.
If clicking on the plan hard disk detection doesn't respond, don't worry — the plan hard disk detection isn't displayed in the hard disk overview prompt. You need to view and edit/delete it in the detection program under the HDD/SSD main interface.
The data security of Synology NAS is mainly based on software applications and warnings. Through synchronization, backup, and snapshots, it protects data security. From a hardware perspective, the SMART detection function is always better than nothing. Often, bad sectors are found after they’ve already formed. Therefore, the IHM detection function added by DSM 6.1 adds a security mechanism based on the hard drive itself, achieving dual security protection through software and hardware. As for the actual results, it must be verified through use and time.
In summary:
At the end of the test, I returned the two hard drives to the data center for installation. As seen from the test data, the IronWolf Pro 10T is basically on par with the 8T version. Considering that both have an MTBF of 120 million hours, 300TB/year data, and other technical standards are the same, and both come with a 5-year warranty and the same data recovery service. I think the reason for choosing the IronWolf Pro 10T or 8T should be based on budget and capacity needs. Additionally, the data center told me that the IronWolf Pro cannot be purchased online (this might be bragging — there are sales, but I can't verify authenticity), and it's only available for bulk orders like our data center projects. This reminds me of a phrase I haven’t heard in a while — "special offers are only this time, not Moutai, but IronWolf Pro."
The IronWolf Pro and the original IronWolf are shown together. From all the data points, the IronWolf Pro seems to be the superior option. It’s worth noting that the IronWolf Pro isn't just for NAS and server environments — it also comes with a 5-year data recovery service, which is a big plus.
Out of the box:
When I first saw the packaging, I was a bit confused because it looked similar to the original IronWolf. My friend assured me that this was indeed the correct product, and I ended up borrowing it back. The slogans "tough, smart, and symbiotic" remain unchanged.
On the back of the package, the main data is clearly marked.
It might be because this was a bulk purchase for the data center, so there's no volume information on the side of the package.
Inside the box, there's standard hard drive protection.
The IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T use the same body and technology. Unlike the original IronWolf 8T, which is an air disk, the IronWolf Pro uses a different design.
Although they share the same body and technology, there are minor differences in details.
IronWolf Pro hard disk real shot and close-up (including IronWolf 10T and 8T contrast):
Here you can see the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T side by side.
The black model is the IronWolf 8T.
The front of the IronWolf Pro 10T looks different from the original IronWolf.
IronWolf Pro and IronWolf 10T backside shot.
In the 8T photo, the difference between the IronWolf Pro and the original IronWolf is quite noticeable.
IronWolf Pro and IronWolf 8T on the back.
Hard disk close-up:
Before I got the original IronWolf, I was really impressed by how beautiful the design was. The entire CNC processing gives it a metal matte finish, which feels great in hand. I spent a while playing with it, and the value and feel were excellent. The IronWolf Pro not only inherits the design of the 10T version but also adds the 8T model. Both use the same body and technology. Here are some close-up photos.
Note: If you don’t clean your hands, you’ll leave fingerprints. Don’t ask me how I know.
IronWolf Pro 8T Disk Information:
AIDA64 hard disk properties map shows the unformatted capacity of IronWolf Pro 8T as 7452GB.
CrystalDiskInfo and HDtune disk information.
IronWolf Pro 10T disk information:
AIDA64 hard disk properties map shows the formatted capacity of IronWolf Pro 10T as 9314GB.
CrystalDiskInfo and HDtune disk information.
IronWolf Pro 8T and 10T comparison test:
I tested both the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T using HD TunePro 5.60, ATTO Disk Benchmark, TxBENCH, CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1, and 5.2.0. All tests were done after a restart. However, I should note that from the test data, the IronWolf Pro 10T is slightly better than the original IronWolf 10T, and the IronWolf Pro 8T is also improved compared to the original IronWolf 8T. For other detailed professional data, you can check the official website.
IronWolf 8T test on top:
For the IronWolf Pro 10T, HD TunePro 5.60 showed a write speed of 244MB/s, minimum speed of 115.5MB/s, average speed of 192.9MB/s, and access time of 5.86ms. For the 8T version, the write speed was 226.5MB/s, minimum speed of 104.3MB/s, average speed of 179.2MB/s, and access time of 5.73ms.
The read speed for the IronWolf Pro 10T was 244.5MB/s, minimum speed of 110.3MB/s, average speed of 193.9MB/s, and access time of 12.1ms. For the 8T version, the read speed was 225.7MB/s, minimum speed of 103.5MB/s, average speed of 179.4MB/s, and access time of 12.1ms.
HD Tune additional test read test.
HD Tune additional test write test.
HD Tune Random Access Read Test.
HD Tune Random Access Write Test.
In CDM5.2.0, the sequential read/write speed of the IronWolf Pro 10TB HDD was 247.1MB/s read and 245.3MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.783MB/s read and 7.285MB/s write. For the 8TB version, the sequential read/write speed was 231.7MB/s read and 230.7MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.77MB/s read and 7.915MB/s write.
In CDM3.0.1, the sequential read/write speed of the IronWolf Pro 10TB HDD was 247.3MB/s read and 246.1MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.769MB/s read and 6.074MB/s write. For the 8TB version, the sequential read/write speed was 231.4MB/s read and 230.1MB/s write. The 4K read/write speed was 0.777MB/s read and 5.882MB/s write.
ATTO Disk Benchmark Test.
TxBENCH test.
Synology IHM Test:
"Seagate's DSM 6.1 introduced the IronWolf Health Management tool (IHM) for Seagate IronWolf platters into Synology NAS. It's said that Synology NAS users who use specific IronWolf and IronWolf Pro drives can use IHM's big data and intelligent analysis to deeply monitor the health status of the hard drive. This allows users to understand the health status of their hard drive before it fails, enabling them to take necessary measures and significantly reducing the chance of data loss." — This information comes from Seagate's advertising, but what exactly IHM is and whether it supports the IronWolf Pro, I had to try it myself. After all, there were cases where the original IHM didn't support the IronWolf 10T, although later versions did support it. Still, testing the IronWolf Pro was worthwhile.
The IHM functions from Seagate and Synology are not integrated as a suite in DSM 6.1. Instead, they are directly embedded in the storage space administrator. As long as you use the IronWolf Pro or IronWolf drives, you can access the HDD/SSD tags directly. When you see the hard disk icon change to the wolf head tag, you can view the additional IronWolf status tag by checking the status information and perform IHM detection. My DS416play already had 2 IronWolf drives. This time, the IronWolf Pro 10T and 8T were also recognized at once. Since they weren't processed, they remained uninitialized.
The IronWolf Health Status is also listed in the Overview Options Bar, just below SMART.
To see the specific IronWolf health options, you need to open the hard disk status information. However, the IronWolf Pro offers a 5-year data recovery service, which is noted on the official website. The IHM prompts on the group Hui have been reduced, and I'm not sure if Seagate and Qunhui are properly integrated. It might just be an emotional breakdown. Seriously, I think Seagate upgraded its data recovery service, and the group hasn't had time to update the instructions. After all, there were times when the IHM Beta version didn't recognize the IronWolf 10T.
After checking the IronWolf Health Test, the results are shown above. After the test, the words "Normal" and "Concise" appear directly. There should be many other codes, but I’m too lazy to look them up.
If clicking on the plan hard disk detection doesn't respond, don't worry — the plan hard disk detection isn't displayed in the hard disk overview prompt. You need to view and edit/delete it in the detection program under the HDD/SSD main interface.
The data security of Synology NAS is mainly based on software applications and warnings. Through synchronization, backup, and snapshots, it protects data security. From a hardware perspective, the SMART detection function is always better than nothing. Often, bad sectors are found after they’ve already formed. Therefore, the IHM detection function added by DSM 6.1 adds a security mechanism based on the hard drive itself, achieving dual security protection through software and hardware. As for the actual results, it must be verified through use and time.
In summary:
At the end of the test, I returned the two hard drives to the data center for installation. As seen from the test data, the IronWolf Pro 10T is basically on par with the 8T version. Considering that both have an MTBF of 120 million hours, 300TB/year data, and other technical standards are the same, and both come with a 5-year warranty and the same data recovery service. I think the reason for choosing the IronWolf Pro 10T or 8T should be based on budget and capacity needs. Additionally, the data center told me that the IronWolf Pro cannot be purchased online (this might be bragging — there are sales, but I can't verify authenticity), and it's only available for bulk orders like our data center projects. This reminds me of a phrase I haven’t heard in a while — "special offers are only this time, not Moutai, but IronWolf Pro."Differential Mode Ring Inductance,Differential Mode Inductor Series,Differential Mode Filter Inductor,Differential-mode choke
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