Thread: Internal HDDs for AZBox (copied from another site)

Tsakman at a UK site for the AZBox presented this information. I don't think that he will mind if we use it here. These are some of the recommended HDD makes and models that can be used as an internal HDD for the AZBox.

Note: Drives larger than 1000GB first partition. The largest partition can not exceed 1000GB
•Hitachi Deskstar P7K500 500GB, 16MB cache, SATA II (HDP725050GLA360)
•E7K1000 Hitachi Deskstar 1000GB, 16MB cache, SATA II (HDT721010SLA360)
•Samsung EcoGreen F1 1000GB, 32MB cache, 5400rpm, SATA II (HD103UI)>>> NOTE: Switch to SATA 1
•Samsung EcoGreen F2 1000GB, 32MB cache, 5400rpm, SATA II (HD103SI)>>> NOTE: Switch to SATA 1
•Samsung EcoGreen F2 1500GB SATA II (HD154UI)>>> Warning: partition 1 TB!
•Samsung SpinPoint F1 1000GB, 32MB cache, SATA II (HD103UJ)
•Seagate Barracuda M6s 320GB, 2.5 ", SATA (HM320JI)
•Samsung Spinpoint S166 160 GB SATA II (HD161HJ)
•Seagate Momentus 5400 160GB 2.5 "SATA II (ST91608220AS)
•Seagate Pipeline HD 500 GB SATA II (ST3500321CS)
•Seagate Pipeline HD Pro 1000GB SATA II (ST31000533CS)

Note: In all versions of Western Digital Green set OPT1
•Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB, 16MB cache, SATA II (WD5000AACS)
•Western Digital Caviar Green 1000GB, 32MB cache, SATA II (WD10EADS)
•Western Digital Caviar Green 1500GB>>> Warning: partition 1 TB!
•Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB 2.5 "SATA II (WD5000BEVT)

The following drives have not undergone positive test:
•ExcelStor Jupiter ESJ9250S 250GB SATA
•Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB, 16MB cache, SATA II (HD501LJ)
•Western Digital Caviar Green 2 TB
•Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EACS 1000GB SATA II

Please note that this list is not all - inclusive. It is just a starter list.

RADAR

Excellent Post! Thanks!

Addendum to HDD list:

•Western Digital Caviar Green WD10000CSRTL 1TB 5400 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive

Can you drop in a new unformatted drive? Or should it be formatted before hand?

Originally Posted by Magic Static

Can you drop in a new unformatted drive? Or should it be formatted before hand?

You can install a virgin HDD and tell the AZBox to format it for you (in the settings menu). This will format the HDD in LINUX ext2 style.
The advantage is that ext2 allows for larger file sizes. The disadvantage is that you cannot remove the HDD and use it with a PC that has a Windows or MAC OS easily. You would need a LINUX OS or at least a dual boot system (two OS on one computer).

You may also format the HDD ahead of time with your PC and select FAT32 style.
The advantage is basically the inverse of ext2. You may easily pop the HDD out and connect it to your Windows PC and manage files via the PC. This is quicker than TELNETing or FTPing files over to the AZBox HDD and less cumbersome than using the file manager on the AZBox. The disadvantage is that the maximum allowable file size is smaller and it may not record as well. The OS of the AZBox is LINUX, so it seems to work a little better if the HDD is formatted in ext2 (or LINUX style).

Either way is perfectly acceptable, it really boils down to personal preference I think. Depends mostly on what you are doing with the HDD. I get by just fine letting the AZBox format the HDD, but I wish I had easier access to the HDD via my PC for making backups or copies.

RADAR

I ordered a 1TB WD (WD10EURS) specially designed for DVR application. Hope to add that to the list above. I'll just let the AZBox do its thing and format the drive for me.

I'm using a WD 10EVDS 1 TB SATA2 drive in my Azbox Prem +.

Originally Posted by Magic Static

I ordered a 1TB WD (WD10EURS) specially designed for DVR application. Hope to add that to the list above. I'll just let the AZBox do its thing and format the drive for me.

The drive performs as it should. I've had zero problems installing and using the WD10EURS drive