Choose Between the Toshiba N300 and Seagate IronWolf
The same workload and warranty; the differences are bays, spindle speed and size
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Toshiba's N300 and Seagate's standard IronWolf are rated the same where it counts: 180TB of workload a year and a 3-year limited warranty. They differ in three ways. Toshiba supports the N300 in NAS of up to 12 bays; Seagate specifies IronWolf for one to eight. Every N300 spins at 7200 RPM; IronWolf models of 8TB and below include 5400 and 5900 RPM drives. And the N300 runs from 4TB to 22TB, where the IronWolf models in the Seagate data sheets we read run from 1TB to 16TB.
N300 vs IronWolf, from the makers
| Toshiba N300 | Seagate IronWolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Workload rate | Up to 180TB a year | 180TB a year, every model |
| Limited warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Reliability figure | MTTF up to 1.2 million hours, by model | MTBF 1 million hours |
| Bays supported | Up to 12 | 1-8 bays |
| Spindle speed | 7200 RPM | 5400, 5900 or 7200 RPM by model; 7200 RPM from 10TB up |
| Capacities | 4TB to 22TB | 1TB to 16TB in the data sheets read |
| Recording | CMR, all capacities | CMR on the models whose data sheet states it |
Seagate IronWolf ratings by model number
| Model number | Capacity | Workload rate | MTBF | Warranty | Bays supported | Seagate document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST16000VN001 | 16TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST12000VN0008 | 12TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST12000VNZ008 | 12TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS15.1-2501 |
| ST10000VN000 | 10TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST10000VN0004 | 10TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST8000VN002 | 8TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST8000VN0022 | 8TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST8000VN004 | 8TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST8000VNZ02 | 8TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS15.1-2501 |
| ST6000VN0041 | 6TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST6000VN006 | 6TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST6000VNZ06 | 6TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS15.1-2501 |
| ST4000VN006 | 4TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST4000VN008 | 4TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST4000VNZ06 | 4TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS15.1-2501 |
| ST3000VN007 | 3TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST2000VN003 | 2TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS1904.23-2509 |
| ST2000VN004 | 2TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
| ST2000VNZ03 | 2TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | 1-8 Bays | DS15.1-2501 |
| ST1000VN002 | 1TB | 180TB a year | 1 million hours | 3 years | Not stated | DS1904.4-1608 |
Where the figures come from
Toshiba's N300 product page and Seagate's IronWolf data sheets, read on October 12, 2026. Toshiba states MTTF and Seagate states MTBF; they are not the same measure, so they are shown as each maker writes them.
Checked on October 12, 2026. Sources: Toshiba: N300 NAS hard drive product page, with the N300 and N300 Pro line-up table; Seagate IronWolf data sheet DS1904.23-2509; Seagate IronWolf data sheet DS15.1-2501; Seagate IronWolf data sheet DS1904.4-1608.
How to choose
In a NAS of nine to twelve bays, the N300 is the one its maker supports there. Above 16TB, the N300 is the one with a data sheet rating in this class. At 8TB and below, an IronWolf at 5400 or 5900 RPM will generally run quieter and cooler than a 7200 RPM N300, which matters for a NAS on a desk.
Where neither of those applies, they are the same rating, and the live tables show which is cheaper per terabyte today.
Toshiba N300, by price per TB
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Type | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOSHIBA N300 Internal Hard Drive 22 Tb 7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5", W129161818 (Tb 7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5 Serial Ata Iii) | 22 TB | $799.99 | $36.36 | NAS HDD · SATACMR | - | Buy on Amazon |
| TOSHIBA N300 Internal Hard Drive 8 Tb 7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5" Serial, W129162310 (7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5 Serial Ata Iii) | 8 TB | $482.49 | $60.31 | NAS HDD · SATACMR | - | Buy on Amazon |
| TOSHIBA N300 Internal Hard Drive 4 Tb 7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5" Serial, W129162308 (7200 RPM 512 Mb 3.5 Serial Ata Iii) | 4 TB | $372.60 | $93.15 | NAS HDD · SATACMR | - | Buy on Amazon |
Seagate IronWolf, by price per TB
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toshiba N300 rated the same as IronWolf?
For workload and warranty, yes: 180TB a year and three years on both. Bay support, spindle speed and capacity range differ.
Which supports more bays?
Toshiba supports the N300 in NAS of up to 12 bays. Seagate's data sheet specifies IronWolf for one to eight bays.
Which is quieter?
Neither maker's summary figures settle it, but every N300 is 7200 RPM, and IronWolf models of 8TB and below include 5400 and 5900 RPM drives, which generally run quieter. Check the acoustic figures for the exact model.