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2.5" 2TB and 3TB CMR drives for Tivo Bolts

Discussion in 'TiVo Bolt DVR/Streamer' started by tommage1, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. Dec 27, 2020 #1 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    Edit, these would work with an Edge also. However many/most are 15mm which would be a really tight squeeze in an Edge. The Seagate/Samsung 2TB are 9.5mm I believe. So for an EDGE that might be the way to go. Any will work in a Bolt, 15mm no problem.

    Lot of people looking for 2.5" CMR drives that will work in a Bolt. So I did some research. Checked all I could find, WD, Seagate/Samsung and Toshiba. All discontinued models of course. But if you can find any of these in NEW condition they should work fine in a Bolt. Nothing over 3TB as max 2.5" CMR platter is 750GB and max platters in a 2.5 is 5 (well no 4TB for sure, could be some obscure size, 750GB x 5)

    My list is now as complete as I can make it, if a 2.5" drive 2TB and up is not on this list it is most likely SMR. One note, many of these are 15mm drives. However the Samsung/Seagate HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM003 uses 3 667GB platters and is only 9.5mm. So a better fit than a 15mm for an EDGE.

    WD 2.5" 2TB CMR drives.

    WD20NPVX Green
    WD20NPVZ Blue
    WD20NPVT Green
    WD20NMVW Not for Resale (this may be USB connection only, not Sata)

    WD 2.5" 3TB CMR drives

    WD30NMVW Not for resale (may be USB connection only, not Sata)
    WD30NMZW Not for resale (may be USB connection only, not Sata)
    WD30NPVX Blue
    WD30NPRZ Blue
    WD30NPZZ Blue


    Seagate 2.5" CMR drives 2TB and up, none manufactured by Seagate but some manufactured by Samsung and sold under Seagate name. Note, the 2TB use only 3 platters so are 9.5mm as compared to 15mm for most others. Which is a good thing ;)

    SpinPoint M9T (5400RPM, 32MB cache, SATA-600 interface, Advanced Format)

    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM003 2TB (3/6)
    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM004 2TB (3/6)
    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM006 2TB (3/6)
    HN-M201AAD / ST2000LM005 2TB (3/6)


    Toshiba 2TB CMR 2.5"

    MQ01ABB200
    MQ01UBB200
    MQ03ABB200
    MQ03ABB200M
    MQ03UBB200

    Toshiba 2.5/3TB CMR 2.5"

    MQ03ABB250 2.5TB (4/7 [short-stroked])
    MQ03ABB300
    MQ03UBB250 2.5TB (4/7 [short-stroked])
    MQ03UBB300
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2021
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  2. Dec 30, 2020 #2 of 13
    Mirfster

    Mirfster New Member

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    First off, thanks for this great post! Happened to come across it while searching for CMR 2.5" drives. :)

    In regards to Seagate, would the "Samsung Seagate M9T 2TB 5400RPM SATA HDD ST2000LM003" also fit the bill? While it is manufactured by Samsung, Seagate now owns them. I am trying to determine if indeed this is CMR and per their specs it lists as "TuMR/PMR head with FOD technology". Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks.
     
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  3. Dec 30, 2020 #3 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting, that drive is not listed under Seagate but is listed under Samsung. It appears to be CMR. I may have to update my list. Note, the site I get info from does not say if a drive is CMR, but it does say if it is SMR. So anything that is not listed as SMR should be CMR. This drive does not say SMR. Maximum platter size for 2.5" CMR is 750GB. These drives have 667GB platters. Oh, PMR is a generic term now, can be CMR or SMR.

    Note, the ST2000LM003, seems can be found NEW for $60 or so. A nice alternative to the Toshiba or WD 2TBs if can't find new.

    667GB/platter Section (all drives under here use platters that can hold 667GB of data apiece.)

    SpinPoint M9T (5400RPM, 32MB cache, SATA-600 interface, Advanced Format)

    HN-M171RAD / ST1750LM000 1.75TB (3/6 [short-stroked])
    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM003 2TB (3/6)
    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM004 2TB (3/6)
    HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM006 2TB (3/6)
    Note: Not even the datasheets explain what the differences between these models are.
    HN-M201AAD / ST2000LM005 2TB (3/6)
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
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  4. Dec 30, 2020 #4 of 13
    Mirfster

    Mirfster New Member

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    Yeah, as you stated "PMR" can apply to either CMR or SMR so I was hesitant. Now that you've helped clarify that I will start my search for purchasing some. :)

    Thanks again for your help.
     
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  5. Dec 30, 2020 #5 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    See some new ones at ebay for $60-70, not bad ;) Thanks to you, without your post I would not have checked Samsung and missed out on a few more CMR 2.5s.
     
  6. Dec 30, 2020 #6 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    Also FYI GoHarddrive has the Toshiba 2TB for $50, free shipping to boot. And no tax, at least to my zip code. I bought one even though I mostly use 3.5, price was so good.
     
  7. Dec 30, 2020 #7 of 13
    Mirfster

    Mirfster New Member

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    I am pretty much down to either the Toshiba MQ03ABB200 or Samsung ST2000LM003, but leaning towards the Samsung for a couple reasons:
    1. Not 100% sure that the Toshiba is truly 6Gbps. Even though their specs seem to indicate so, I have some reservations since elsewhere it is listed as 3Gbps. Also, some info from others I value stated they were "noticeably a bit slower".
    2. While the 15mm height won't bother me in my Servers, it may become a factor if I wanted to re-purpose them elsewhere.
    FWIW, my use case is for NAS so I am looking from a slightly different perspective and looking at using at least 24 drives. ;)
     
  8. Dec 30, 2020 #8 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    The speed does not matter for a Tivo, I think even Sata 1 (1.5Gbps?) is fine. For NAS or other use, well I leave that to you ;) The height is a big thing. 15mm will work in a Bolt. May not fit an Edge, or really tight. The 9.5 would always be preferable to a 15 IMO, for anything. And for only $10-20 more probably a good idea.
     
  9. Dec 30, 2020 #9 of 13
    milo99

    milo99 Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
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  10. Dec 30, 2020 #10 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    That's a REALLY good deal for the 3TB (depending on how much use, these 2.5 drives usually only last 3 years or so.) The 2TB I'd go with the Toshiba for $50 or the Samsung/Seagate for $60-70 (the Samsung/Seagate is only 9.5mm too.) And US shippers.
     
  11. Jan 6, 2021 #11 of 13
    milo99

    milo99 Well-Known Member

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  12. Jan 10, 2021 #12 of 13
    High Technology

    High Technology Member

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    I bought a Toshiba MQ03ABB200 from gohardrives, knowing it would be NOS (new-old stock), and assuming the 3-year warranty would be solely though them. I have a BoltVox that's periodically rebooting, so I am thinking (yet another) drive failure may be coming soon, so I wanted to have this on-hand...

    To my surprise, the drive I received has a manufacture date of March 2019, and the Toshiba warranty check shows the drive is warranted through 12-2022 (just under 2 years from now). Honestly, I expected to receive a drive manufactured in 2017 or so, with no factory warranty left. All this is somewhat irrelevant since it's likely that I won't want a warranty replacement from either party once the drive fails (I will probably go external at that point, if TiVo still exists), but I was happy to see they were still making these 15mm drives in 2019...
     
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  13. Jan 10, 2021 #13 of 13
    tommage1

    tommage1 Well-Known Member

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    That is interesting. I just got one this week (I use external for my Bolt but was so cheap I got one anyway), my DOM is August 2018. On another note, these are 15mm drives. Fine for a Bolt. But a really tight squeeze for an Edge from what I hear. The Samsung/Seagate HN-M201RAD / ST2000LM003 2TB uses 3 667GB CMR platters and is only 9.5mm. So definitely better for the Edge, at least size wise. Not as easy to find from a large seller though, mostly small guys, can get in the $60-70 range new.
     

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