TWO 24TB IRONWOLF PRO MODELS
Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB: ST24000NT002 vs ST24000NT031
A 24TB IronWolf Pro listing is not specific enough. Seagate documents the helium-based ST24000NT002 and the HAMR-based ST24000NT031 with different sustained-speed, acoustic and temperature figures. This guide keeps both exact models separate before comparing price, RAID capacity and NAS suitability.
Quick answer
Read the full model number before buying. ST24000NT002 is listed at up to 285MB/s with 20/26 dBA acoustics and a 65°C drive-reported maximum. ST24000NT031 is a HAMR model listed at up to 240MB/s with 28/32 dBA acoustics and a 60°C maximum. Both are 24TB, CMR, 7,200 RPM IronWolf Pro drives, but they should not share one blended specification card.
Exact model data
IronWolf Pro 24TB exact-model comparison
| Capacity | Model | Design | Cache | Max sustained | Idle / operating | Acoustics idle / seek | Drive-reported max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24TB | ST24000NT002 | Helium | 512MB | 285MB/s | 6.3W / 7.8W | 20 / 26 dBA | 65°C |
| 24TB | ST24000NT031 | HAMR | 512MB | 240MB/s | 6.7W / 7.8W | 28 / 32 dBA | 60°C |
ST24000NT002 and ST24000NT031 have the same nominal capacity but different published design, transfer, acoustic, power and temperature profiles. Do not infer one model’s figures from a listing that only says “IronWolf Pro 24TB.”
Live catalogue
Current new IronWolf Pro 24TB offers
Only fresh, new-condition IronWolf Pro HDD offers from the existing Cloudzat catalogue are eligible. Exact capacity and family matching are enforced.
Interactive decision tool
Plan a 24TB array using the exact drive model
Select ST24000NT002 or ST24000NT031 before entering drive count, RAID, price and operating assumptions. Capacity is identical, but the published speed, power, acoustic and temperature data are not.
There are two materially different IronWolf Pro 24TB models
ST24000NT002 and ST24000NT031 both present 24TB of nominal capacity and both are listed as SATA, CMR, 7,200 RPM IronWolf Pro drives. That common label can make retailer pages look interchangeable. They are not. The published maximum sustained rate, drive design, idle power, acoustic figures and operating-temperature limits differ.
This is exactly the kind of model-level distinction Cloudzat should preserve. A product title, image or generic family description cannot substitute for the full model number. Buyers should inspect the technical details before ordering and then verify the label when the drive arrives. If an offer omits the identifier, the price cannot be evaluated against the correct specification profile.
ST24000NT002 is the quieter, faster-listed helium variant
Seagate lists ST24000NT002 with a helium design, 512MB cache and maximum sustained transfer rate of 285MB/s. Typical acoustic figures are 20 dBA idle and 26 dBA seek. Published drive power is 6.3W idle and 7.8W average operating, with a 5°C ambient minimum and a 65°C drive-reported maximum.
Those numbers place NT002 alongside the 20TB and 22TB models in the lower published acoustic group. That can matter in a studio, office or home environment where the NAS sits near people. It does not make a multi-drive array silent, because enclosure resonance, fans, surface contact and simultaneous seeks affect perceived noise.
ST24000NT031 is the HAMR-based 24TB variant
ST24000NT031 is documented as a HAMR design while still using CMR recording behavior at the product level. Seagate lists a 512MB cache, 240MB/s maximum sustained rate, 6.7W idle and 7.8W average operating power. Its acoustic figures are 28 dBA idle and 32 dBA seek, with a 10°C ambient minimum and 60°C drive-reported maximum.
It therefore resembles the operating profile of the 28TB-to-32TB generation more than NT002. The lower published sustained rate does not automatically make it unsuitable; real NAS throughput can be constrained by networking, RAID and workload. It does mean that a buyer should not use NT002’s 285MB/s and 20/26 dBA figures to describe an NT031 array.
Firmware and compatibility checks must include the model suffix
A NAS compatibility list may validate one 24TB model without explicitly validating the other. Search for ST24000NT002 and ST24000NT031 separately, and record the NAS operating-system version used by the vendor’s test. A capacity-only compatibility claim is incomplete when the underlying drive platforms differ.
Before a production deployment, confirm firmware guidance with both Seagate and the NAS manufacturer. Avoid casual firmware changes inside an active array. Back up important data, review the vendor procedure and understand whether a drive must be updated outside the enclosure. The goal is not to chase the newest firmware number; it is to use a supported combination with a documented recovery path.
24TB RAID capacity is identical for both variants
Regardless of exact model, two mirrored 24TB drives provide approximately 24TB. Four drives yield about 72TB in RAID 5, 48TB in RAID 6 or 48TB in RAID 10. Six drives produce approximately 120TB, 96TB or 72TB respectively. Eight-drive RAID 6 reaches roughly 144TB.
These are decimal planning figures. Actual displayed and working capacity falls after binary reporting, formatting, snapshots, metadata and reserved free space. The model selector in the calculator changes power and speed assumptions, not nominal capacity. That separation makes it possible to compare the two 24TB variants without pretending their operating specifications are identical.
The price comparison must be model-specific
When two 24TB offers differ by price, first check whether they are the same model. A cheaper NT031 should not be presented as a simple discount against NT002 without acknowledging its different speed, acoustic and temperature profile. Likewise, a buyer seeking the HAMR platform should not assume an NT002 listing satisfies that requirement.
Compare each offer with the 22TB and 28TB alternatives on usable array cost. Twenty-four terabytes is 9.1% larger than 22TB and 14.3% smaller than 28TB. Those percentages provide a first-pass raw price-per-terabyte threshold. The value of an empty bay, compatibility status and environmental requirements can outweigh a small mathematical advantage.
Noise and cooling may decide between the two 24TB drives
NT002’s published 20/26 dBA figures are markedly lower than NT031’s 28/32 dBA figures. Decibels are logarithmic, and enclosure behavior can change what a user hears, so the numbers should not be converted into a simplistic “x times louder” claim. They are still a meaningful signal for desktop-adjacent installations.
Cooling guidance also differs. NT002 is listed with a 65°C drive-reported maximum and 5°C ambient minimum, while NT031 is listed at 60°C maximum and 10°C minimum. A well-designed NAS should operate comfortably inside the vendor envelope rather than near the limit. Measure sustained temperatures during scrubs and rebuilds, not only at idle.
How to buy the correct 24TB model
Demand the complete model identifier in the retailer listing or seller response. Match it against the specification table and the NAS compatibility list. Confirm new condition, SATA interface, single-drive quantity, regional warranty route and seller reputation. Reject listings that blend product families or use stock photos without enough identifying data.
Choose NT002 when its lower published acoustics and higher listed sustained rate better fit the environment and compatibility is confirmed. Choose NT031 when the HAMR model is specifically desired, supported and priced appropriately. In either case, include backups, a replacement plan and capacity reserve. The word “24TB” alone is not a sufficient purchase specification.
How Cloudzat evaluates high-capacity IronWolf Pro drives
Cloudzat treats every exact model separately rather than assuming that all IronWolf Pro drives with the same family name or capacity share one operating profile. ST20000NT001, ST22000NT001 and ST24000NT002 form the lower published acoustic group; ST24000NT031 is a distinct 24TB HAMR model; and ST28000NT000, ST30000NT011 and ST32000NT000 share the newer high-capacity profile. Offers are rejected when they appear to be standard IronWolf, Exos, SAS, SSD, renewed, recertified, used, bundled, an enclosure or a NAS appliance.
Price per terabyte is based on the current single-drive purchase price divided by decimal capacity. RAID and energy calculations are planning estimates. File-system overhead, snapshots, spare drives, reserved capacity, rebuild throttling and the NAS implementation can materially change real results. RAID protects service availability against selected failures; it does not replace an independent backup.
Frequently asked questions
IronWolf Pro 24TB model-variant questions
Why are there two IronWolf Pro 24TB model numbers?
Which 24TB model is listed as HAMR?
Which 24TB model has the higher listed sustained speed?
Do both models provide the same RAID capacity?
Can I mix ST24000NT002 and ST24000NT031 in one array?
Which model is quieter on the published figures?
Primary sources
- Seagate IronWolf Pro data sheet covering ST24000NT002
- Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB HAMR data sheet for ST24000NT031
- Seagate IronWolf Pro 32TB-to-24TB product manual
- Seagate warranty and replacement support
Cloudzat may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Product availability, pricing and specifications can change. Confirm the exact IronWolf Pro model, seller, condition, regional warranty route and NAS compatibility before buying.