NAS hard-drive comparison
ST8000VN004 vs ST8000VN002
Compare the two current Seagate IronWolf 8TB model numbers and see why the faster drive is not automatically the better home-NAS choice.
Specifications reviewed August 2, 2026 · Amazon US offers · Verify the exact model before checkout
Quick answer
Which one should you choose?
Choose ST8000VN004 for 7,200 RPM, the stronger 10^15 unrecoverable-read-error specification and slightly higher sustained speed. Choose ST8000VN002 for much lower operating and idle power, quieter seeks and a home-NAS profile where the network is usually the bottleneck. Both are 8TB CMR IronWolf drives for one-to-eight-bay systems.
Seagate IronWolf ST8000VN004
The performance or feature profile described in the guide.
Seagate IronWolf ST8000VN002
The quieter, lower-cost or alternative profile described in the guide.
Verified specifications
Side-by-side comparison
| Specification | Seagate IronWolf ST8000VN004 | Seagate IronWolf ST8000VN002 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 8TB | 8TB |
| Recording | CMR, air | CMR, air |
| RPM | 7,200 | 5,400 |
| Max sustained transfer | 210MB/s | 202MB/s |
| Cache | 256MB | 256MB |
| Operating power | 10.1W | 5.3W |
| Idle power | 7.8W | 4.0W |
| Standby/sleep | 1.0W | 0.25W |
| Idle acoustics | 28dBA | 25dBA |
| Seek acoustics | 32dBA | 26dBA |
| Max stated URE rate | 1 per 10^15 bits | 1 per 10^14 bits |
| Weight | 720g | 630g |
| Workload | 180TB/year | 180TB/year |
| MTBF | 1 million hours | 1 million hours |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Specifications apply to the exact cited models or current family data sheets. Retail stock can include older revisions.
Current offers
Compare live prices and exact models
Retail listings can combine capacities, revisions and conditions. Confirm the exact model number, seller, warranty region and final checkout price.
Interactive planning tool
Annual power-cost comparison
Estimate the electricity difference across an always-on array. The calculation blends active and idle power from Seagate’s cited specifications.
The short model number changes the drive’s character
ST8000VN004 and ST8000VN002 share the IronWolf brand, 8TB capacity, CMR recording, 256MB cache, SATA 6Gb/s interface, one-to-eight-bay positioning and 180TB/year workload rating. They are not minor packaging revisions. Seagate publishes different RPM, power, acoustics, performance and unrecoverable-read-error specifications.
Retail pages often use the generic phrase “IronWolf 8TB,” so the suffix must be verified before buying. Check the title, technical details and label image. When a seller cannot confirm the model, the offer cannot be compared accurately and may not match the review that led to the purchase.
ST8000VN004: 7,200 RPM and stronger error-rate class
ST8000VN004 runs at 7,200 RPM and is rated up to 210MB/s. It also carries Seagate’s maximum unrecoverable-read-error specification of one per 10^15 bits, compared with one per 10^14 for ST8000VN002. The stronger class and higher spindle speed can make it more attractive for busier arrays, frequent scrubs and rebuilds.
The sequential speed difference is only eight megabytes per second on the sheet, so the main performance benefit is broader mechanical behaviour rather than a dramatic headline increase. Workloads with many seeks, multiple users or parity operations can react differently from a single large-file benchmark.
ST8000VN002: efficiency and acoustics
ST8000VN002 runs at 5,400 RPM and is rated up to 202MB/s. Average operating power is 5.3W and idle power 4.0W, compared with 10.1W and 7.8W for ST8000VN004. Seagate also lists 25dBA idle and 26dBA seek, below the faster model’s 28/32dBA.
Those differences are meaningful in an always-on four- or eight-drive home NAS. Lower heat can reduce fan demand, and quieter seeks can make the system easier to place near users. The energy calculator estimates annual cost using a blended active and idle duty cycle.
Why the sequential-speed gap is small
Although one drive spins 33 percent faster, the stated sustained-transfer gap is only about four percent. Areal density, platter design, track position and firmware shape sequential transfer in addition to RPM. This is a useful warning against using spindle speed as the sole performance metric.
On a one-gigabit network, both drives can exceed the client link during a single large-file transfer. The faster model matters more when several drives work together behind 2.5GbE or 10GbE, when the NAS performs local operations or when random access contributes to the workload.
The unrecoverable-read-error specification
Seagate publishes a maximum URE rate of one per 10^15 bits for ST8000VN004 and one per 10^14 for ST8000VN002. This is a specification limit across a population, not a schedule predicting that one error will occur after a fixed number of bytes. It should not be converted into a simple failure probability for one rebuild without additional assumptions.
The stronger VN004 class is still relevant for buyers building large parity arrays. Regardless of model, maintain backups, run scrubs and choose a RAID level that matches the amount of data and tolerated downtime. RAID 6 or RAID 10 can be more appropriate than RAID 5 when rebuild risk is a major concern.
Electricity and heat across several drives
The 3.8W idle difference becomes roughly 15W across four drives and 30W across eight before power-supply losses. Over a year, that can produce a noticeable cost and heat difference. The exact result depends on how often the disks are active, whether they sleep and the local electricity rate.
Power should not override performance requirements, but it belongs in total ownership cost. A lower-power model can also reduce enclosure fan speed and ambient noise. Keep adequate airflow; operating a NAS too hot to save fan energy is a poor trade.
Which is better for a home media server
For Plex, photo storage and routine backups over one-gigabit Ethernet, ST8000VN002 is usually the more balanced choice when it is priced competitively. Its 202MB/s rating leaves ample headroom above the network, while lower noise and power improve daily ownership.
Choose ST8000VN004 when the NAS has faster networking, several concurrent workloads, frequent rebuild or scrub activity, or when the stronger stated URE class is worth the extra power. The decision is workload-specific rather than a simple newer-versus-older judgment.
Price, condition and old stock
Both models can appear as new, renewed or recertified stock. Compare condition and warranty, not just the number on the product page. A heavily discounted recertified drive may suit a secondary backup with clear risk controls, while a primary production array usually benefits from new stock and straightforward regional warranty.
When the price is similar, choose by use case: VN004 for performance and specification class, VN002 for efficiency and noise. When one is substantially cheaper, calculate the full array saving and decide whether it compensates for the trade-off. Confirm that every ordered unit carries the same suffix.
Firmware, health reporting and model identification
Both models participate in the IronWolf ecosystem, but health features depend on the NAS platform and firmware. Check the NAS vendor’s compatibility page and confirm whether IronWolf Health Management is supported for the exact model. SMART attributes remain useful even when the enhanced integration is unavailable, but attribute interpretation should follow the manufacturer and NAS guidance rather than a generic desktop utility alarm.
The model number can be read from the drive label, SMART identity page or retailer specification. Do not confuse ST8000VN002 with older ST8000VN0022 or ST8000VN0004 strings found in historic reviews. One missing or additional digit can identify a different generation with different specifications. Cloudzat’s comparison is limited to the exact ST8000VN004 and ST8000VN002 models in the cited current data sheet.
Official specifications used
Manufacturer specifications can change by exact model and region. These sources were used for the factual comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is ST8000VN004 faster than ST8000VN002?
Yes on the cited specifications: 210MB/s versus 202MB/s and 7,200 versus 5,400 RPM. The real difference depends on workload and system bottlenecks.
Which model is quieter?
ST8000VN002 is listed at 25dBA idle and 26dBA seek, compared with 28/32dBA for ST8000VN004.
Which model uses less power?
ST8000VN002. Its cited operating and idle figures are roughly half those of ST8000VN004.
Are both CMR?
Yes. The cited current IronWolf sheet lists both as CMR, air-filled drives.
Why is the URE specification different?
Seagate publishes different maximum nonrecoverable-read-error classes for the models. It is a population specification, not a fixed failure schedule.
Can I mix VN004 and VN002 in one RAID?
Many NAS systems can, but the array will reflect the slower drive’s performance and mixed acoustics. Check compatibility and maintain a backup.
Methodology and disclosure
Cloudzat separates standard, Pro, capacity and exact-model results; excludes obvious accessories and SSDs; and does not apply one revision’s RPM, noise or power specification to an entire family. Price data comes from the existing Cloudzat catalogue when a compatible source is available.
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