• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Ambiguous Seagate 4TB Drive

crashtech

crashtech

Lifer
Hey guys, I just received a warranty 4TB drive from Seagate. The sticker on the drive says "Constellation ES.3" at the top, and that jazzed me up because I thought I may have received an upgrade. But the model number is ST4000DX000, which is the same model as the Barracuda XT that died on me. Is this a custom printed label, or something? I guess I can find out more if I open it and plug it in, but actually I was thinking of selling it. I don't want to misrepresent it, though. Has anybody seen this before?
 
Most likely, the serial number on the drive will either track the prior drive's warranty, or have a new even shorter warranty (in which case a future RMA within the original's warranty time frame would require the original's documents--frustrating, if it happens). Without a nice fresh 5yr warranty, there's not much to it. You should never get a smaller drive back, nor lower-end, but larger or higher-line they generally consider OK (which can be annoying when a 7200RPM drive is replaced by a 1.5-2x capacity 5400 RPM drive: you don't want to bitch about it, but it can't be really used as a main system drive 🙂).

Now, if you check the SN and find a far ahead warranty expiry date, then sure, take advantage of it, and flip it. But, don't necessarily assume that. I wouldn't be surprised if the PN is uniquely printed on the drive to match the drive that was replaced, but am not certain.

So, check the SN and see.
 
The SN gives warranty til 3 Nov 2016. The part # 1CL160-570 also indicates Barracuda XT.

I just can't understand why there is a Constellation label on it. If it's really an enterprise drive, I might keep it after all. I've had different stuff sent back to me before, but not different stuff with the same part number. It's weird.

I guess I'll have to open it up and run it to see what it really is.
 
In case anybody was wondering, the drive is a Barracuda XT with a Constellation label on it. I've never seen this before. I figure it kinda makes it not sellable, so I'm probably gonna keep it.
 
Refurbished Enterprise drive they reconditioned to Consumer end to suppy with RMA's?

im fairly sure theres 10 times more enterprise drives out there then consumer ends.

So they probably had more enterprise drives to refurbish for RMA purposes.
 
Well, the firmware says it's a Barracuda XT. Maybe it is a Constellation drive, but the firmware's been altered to call itself something else?

I've RMAed my share of drives, but this is the first time I've received one with such conflicting info.
 
Last edited:
crashtech said:
Well, the firmware says it's a Barracuda XT. Maybe it is a Constellation drive, but the firmware's been altered to call itself something else?

I've RMAed my share of drives, but this is the first time I've received one with such conflicting info.
Click to expand...

technically yes... u can flash firmware on the hdd.

So basically they had failed constellation drives... instead of refurbing enterprise stuff, which is kinda iffy to begin with.. they threw it down to consumer which is acceptable.
Also if u recall, there was a LOT of bad drives... look on newegg for almost every vendor... they have had there share of DOA or soon dead drives.
I wouldnt be supprised if Enterprise drives came in more needing RMA then consumer as the error will be discovered faster on an enterprise environment.

Your getting higher tier'd hardware which is refurbished and flashed down.

Of course its not as good as getting a new drive all together.. however if i had to pick between the two, id rather get a refurb'd enterprise then a refurb'd consumer.
 
I recall a thread at HDD Guru where a data recovery professional was looking at the internals of a 7200.11 HDD and the equivalent ES.2 HDD and couldn't see any physical difference. I suspect that most, if not all, of the differences are in the firmware.

Seagate's "New, Simplified Seagate Model Numbers" no longer tell you as much about the drive as the old ones did:

http://www.seagate.com/files/static...t-model-number-cheat-sheet-sc504-1-1102us.pdf

DX = Desktop Premium
 
I think they have diminished the resale value of my property. I've already decided to switch to Hitachi anyway. Too many Seagate problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top