Exact recording technology database
Seagate SkyHawk CMR and SMR Model List
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
The current standard SkyHawk models tracked here are CMR. Older ST2000VX015 and ST4000VX013 revisions are SMR, while current ST2000VX016/ST2000VX017 and ST4000VX015/ST4000VX016 revisions are CMR. Verify the exact label model before buying or diagnosing performance.
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 retained for identification, not presented as current recommendations. Retailers may still surface old stock or variation pages.
Live catalogue
Exact SkyHawk current and legacy listings
Only fresh, exact-model products returned by Amazon's new-condition search are eligible. Featured prices are shown when Amazon exposes them; products with no buy box are shown as buying options. Exact family, capacity and current-model matching are enforced.
Interactive decision tool
SkyHawk CMR/SMR lookup
Select an exact model to see its recording technology, family status and workload tier.
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 tracked 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 tracked as CMR. A marketplace result that substitutes one for another is not a harmless variation because the recording method changes.
Cloudzat keeps the legacy model in the lookup database so an owner can identify it, but excludes it from current-model price rankings.
The older 4TB SMR revision
ST4000VX013 is an older 4TB SMR revision. Current 4TB ST4000VX015 and ST4000VX016 models are tracked as 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 multiple capacities and revisions. Search results may show the image or feature text for one variation while the selected offer points to another. Model numbers mentioned only in feature text are therefore not trusted by this plugin.
A product is accepted only when the exact model appears in the title or Amazon's structured model or part-number field, and the capacity in the title matches the model database.
Keep current and legacy price tables separate
A legacy SMR offer can be cheaper because it is old stock, an OEM item or sold through a different warranty route. Mixing it into a current CMR price-per-terabyte table creates a misleading bargain.
Cloudzat's price page ranks current standard and AI models only. Legacy rows remain available here for identity, ownership and historical research.
How Cloudzat evaluates SkyHawk drives
Cloudzat attaches recording technology, RPM, cache, transfer rate, workload, stream support and warranty only to an exact model. Standard VX, legacy VX, SkyHawk AI VE and WD Purple comparison products remain separate. This prevents an older SMR 2TB or 4TB revision, a standard SkyHawk, or a SkyHawk AI model from inheriting another drive's specifications.
Live offers are screened for new single internal 3.5-inch SATA drives. SSDs, external drives, SAS products, complete NVR or DVR systems, camera bundles, accessories, multipacks, WD Purple Pro, other Seagate families and non-new listings are rejected. A listed camera-stream figure does not replace a retention calculation or the recorder manufacturer's exact compatibility list.
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?
Primary 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 SkyHawk or SkyHawk AI model, recorder compatibility, seller, condition and regional warranty route before buying.