SkyHawk CMR vs SMR lookup
Capacity alone cannot tell you whether a SkyHawk drive is CMR or SMR. This model list separates current CMR revisions from older SMR products that can still appear in retailer inventory and marketplace listings.
Quick answer
For a new purchase, choose the current CMR SkyHawk revisions. ST2000VX015 and ST4000VX013 are older SMR models, while current 2TB ST2000VX016/ST2000VX017 and 4TB ST4000VX015/ST4000VX016 models are CMR. Check the exact model printed on the drive or Amazon listing before buying.
Live Amazon prices
Live current and legacy SkyHawk listings
Compare the exact model, capacity, recording technology, seller and current Amazon price before you buy.
SkyHawk +Rescue 6TB (ST6000VX009)
SCOSCHE Seagate HDD Skyhawk 3,5
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk +Rescue 8TB (ST8000VX010)
Seagate Skyhawk 8TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with Data Rescue Services (ST8000VX010)
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk +Rescue 3TB (ST3000VX015)
Seagate Skyhawk Surveillance HDD ST3000VX015 - Hard Drive - 3 TB - SATA 6Gb
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk +Rescue 4TB (ST4000VX016)
Seag 4TB ST4000VX016 5900 SA3 Skyhawk
Checked 15 days ago
SkyHawk legacy 4TB (ST4000VX013)
Seagate Skyhawk ST4000VX013 4 TB Hard Drive - 3.5" Internal - SATA (SATA/600) - Network Video Recorder, Video Surveillance System Device Supported
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk +Rescue 2TB (ST2000VX017)
Seagate ST2000VX017 2TB Skyhawk 5400 Hard Drive
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk legacy 2TB (ST2000VX015)
Seagate ST2000VX015 3.5 in. 256 MB & 2TB Skyhawk Lite Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD
Checked 3 days ago
SkyHawk +Rescue 1TB (ST1000VX013)
SEAGATE Skyhawk 1TB Hard Drive, SATA III, 6 Gbit/s, Cache 256MB, 5400RPM, 3.5 Inches, Video Surveillance
Checked 15 days ago
Amazon prices and availability can change. Verify the final seller, condition and checkout total before ordering.
Decision tool
SkyHawk CMR/SMR lookup
Select an exact model to see its recording technology, family status and workload tier.
Exact model data
Current and legacy SkyHawk recording technology
| Capacity | Model | Family | Recording | RPM | Cache | Max sustained | Workload | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1TB | ST1000VX012 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 1TB | ST1000VX013 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 2TB | ST2000VX016 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 2TB | ST2000VX017 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 3TB | ST3000VX014 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 3TB | ST3000VX015 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 4TB | ST4000VX015 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 4TB | ST4000VX016 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 6TB | ST6000VX008 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 6TB | ST6000VX009 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 8TB | ST8000VX009 | SkyHawk | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 8TB | ST8000VX010 | SkyHawk +Rescue | CMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 2TB | ST2000VX015 | SkyHawk legacy | SMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
| 4TB | ST4000VX013 | SkyHawk legacy | SMR | 5,400 | 256MB | 180MB/s | 180TB/year | 3 years |
Legacy rows are shown so you can identify older stock. They are not presented as current buying recommendations.
Buying guide
What to know before you buy
Why the exact VX model matters
Seagate has sold different recording technologies under the SkyHawk name at the same nominal capacity. A search for “SkyHawk 4TB CMR” can therefore produce both current CMR and older SMR discussions that appear contradictory until the model numbers are compared.
The safest rule is simple: read the complete model from the drive label, Amazon model field or recorder inventory. Do not infer recording technology from the color, capacity or family name.
Current standard SkyHawk revisions are CMR
The current standard product manual identifies paired base and +Rescue models from 1TB through 8TB. The current revisions use CMR, 5,400 RPM operation, 256MB cache and a surveillance workload tier of 180TB per year.
The pair at each capacity generally reflects the service bundle rather than a change in recording technology. The +Rescue model should still be verified because regional service eligibility can vary.
The older 2TB SMR revision
ST2000VX015 is an older 2TB SMR SkyHawk revision. Current 2TB models ST2000VX016 and ST2000VX017 are CMR. A marketplace result that substitutes one for another is not a harmless variation because the recording method changes.
If you are buying new today, favor a current CMR revision unless you specifically need to identify or replace an older drive.
The older 4TB SMR revision
ST4000VX013 is an older 4TB SMR revision. Current 4TB ST4000VX015 and ST4000VX016 models are CMR. This is the most commercially important model-number distinction because 4TB remains a common DVR upgrade capacity.
Do not accept a listing whose title says only 4TB while the model field is missing or points to a different revision.
What SMR changes in a surveillance workload
SMR can be acceptable in workloads engineered around its behavior, but sustained rewriting, recovery operations and near-full conditions can expose longer write-management delays. A surveillance drive's firmware and recorder integration also matter, so a single benchmark cannot describe every recording pattern.
The purpose of this page is not to claim that every SMR drive fails. It is to stop buyers from receiving a different recording technology than the one they intended to purchase.
How to verify a delivered drive
Compare the model on the physical label with the order confirmation and the recorder's drive information screen. Keep a photograph of the label before installation. If the delivered model differs from the listing, do not rely on the listing's specification table.
Serial-number warranty checks can confirm regional support, but they do not replace exact model verification.
Why Amazon variation pages cause mistakes
One Amazon product page can contain several capacities and revisions. Search results may show the image or feature text for one variation while the selected offer points to another.
Confirm the exact model in the product title or structured model information, and make sure any capacity shown in the listing matches that model before ordering.
Keep current and legacy price tables separate
A legacy SMR offer can look cheaper because it may be old stock, OEM stock or sold through a different warranty route. That does not make it directly comparable with a current CMR model.
Compare current drives with current drives. Use the legacy rows mainly to identify hardware you already own or older stock you may encounter.
Before you buy a SkyHawk drive
- Match the exact model number and capacity to your recorder's supported-drive list.
- Confirm whether the model is standard SkyHawk, SkyHawk AI or an older revision.
- Check the seller, condition and regional warranty route before checkout.
- Size the drive for the retention period you actually need, with room for future camera growth.
Frequently asked questions
SkyHawk CMR and SMR questions
Is ST4000VX016 CMR?
Is ST4000VX013 CMR?
Is ST2000VX017 CMR?
Is ST2000VX015 CMR?
Can a model number appear only in Amazon feature text?
Should I replace a working legacy SMR SkyHawk immediately?
Sources
- Seagate SkyHawk current product manual
- Seagate SkyHawk archived data sheet with older revisions
- Seagate SkyHawk product page and current specifications
Cloudzat may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Product availability, pricing and specifications can change. Confirm the exact model, recorder compatibility, seller, condition and regional warranty route before buying.