CMR vs SMR — get it right for RAID
For RAID, NAS and RAIDZ, you want CMR — it rebuilds reliably under load. SMR packs more TB for the money but re-writes overlapping tracks, so array rebuilds and random writes can stall. Toshiba MG and N300 are CMR.
A drive for every storage role
MG Series
Enterprise · CMRCloud-scale capacity HDDs — MG11 up to 24TB and MG10 up to 20TB, helium-sealed, 7,200rpm, FC-MAMR. Rated for 550TB/year workload, 2.5M-hour MTTF and 0.35% AFR, in 6Gb SATA or 12Gb SAS. The drive for arrays, servers and backup at scale.
N300 / MN Series
NAS · CMRPurpose-built NAS drives up to 22TB — 7,200rpm with rotational-vibration (RV) sensors for multi-bay enclosures and 24/7 operation. CMR throughout, so they rebuild reliably in RAID and SHR — ideal for QNAP and Synology.
AL Series
Performance · SASMission-critical 2.5" enterprise performance HDDs at 10,500rpm with a 12Gb SAS interface — for transactional and latency-sensitive tiers where small, fast spindles still beat capacity drives on cost-per-IOP.
X300 / S300
Desktop · SurveillanceX300 high-performance desktop/workstation drives for creative and gaming workloads, and S300 surveillance drives tuned for the constant, write-heavy streams of NVR and CCTV systems with many cameras.
Indicative positioning across the Toshiba range — exact model confirmed to your array on quote.
High-capacity CMR HDDs remain the lowest cost-per-TB for bulk, NAS and backup — flash for performance, disk for capacity.
The right disk, matched to the array
CMR by default — safe in RAID
Toshiba’s enterprise (MG) and NAS (N300/MN) drives are CMR (conventional magnetic recording), which rebuilds predictably in RAID, RAIDZ and SHR. That matters: SMR drives can stall and fail array rebuilds. We make sure the drive matches the array — check the rebuild maths in our RAID calculator.
FC-MAMR capacity leadership
Toshiba’s Flux-Control Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording lifts areal density ~20%, taking helium-sealed MG11 CMR drives to 24TB (and SMR to 28TB) — high density with the reliability profile data centres need.
Enterprise reliability ratings
MG enterprise drives carry a 550TB/year workload rating, 2.5-million-hour MTTF and 0.35% AFR; NAS drives add RV sensors for multi-bay vibration. We size drive class to your duty cycle so the array lasts its warranty and beyond.
The right drive for the array
Capacity, workload rating, CMR/SMR, RPM and interface (SATA vs SAS) all decide whether a drive belongs in your RAID set, NAS or backup target. We pick the Toshiba model that fits the role — not just the cheapest TB.
A credible third supply source
Standardising on one drive maker is a supply risk. Toshiba is a genuine enterprise-grade alternative to Seagate and WD, so you can diversify supply, manage cost and avoid single-vendor lead-time exposure.
UK supply, matched & supported
Servnet supplies Toshiba drives in the UK, fits them to the right array or NAS (including compatibility-list checks for QNAP/Synology), and supports them as part of your wider storage estate.
Toshiba hard drives — common questions
CMR vs SMR — which Toshiba drive do I need for RAID or NAS?
For any RAID array, NAS or RAIDZ pool, use CMR (conventional magnetic recording). Toshiba’s MG enterprise and N300/MN NAS drives are CMR, which rebuilds predictably under load. SMR (shingled) drives — like Toshiba’s MA series — re-write overlapping tracks, so random writes and array rebuilds can stall or fail; reserve SMR for sequential, archival, write-once workloads. Our RAID calculator shows how rebuild reads work, which is exactly where SMR struggles.
What is the difference between Toshiba MG and N300 drives?
MG is the enterprise/cloud-scale line — highest workload rating (550TB/year), SATA or SAS, up to 24TB, for arrays, servers and data centres. N300 (and the OEM MN series) is the NAS line — 7,200rpm with rotational-vibration sensors for multi-bay enclosures, up to 22TB, ideal for QNAP and Synology. Both are CMR; choose MG for enterprise duty cycles and SAS, N300/MN for NAS.
What is FC-MAMR?
Flux-Control Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording — Toshiba’s recording technology that adds a microwave field to help write data more densely, raising areal density by around 20%. It is what allows helium-sealed MG11 CMR drives to reach 24TB while keeping the reliability profile enterprise and cloud customers require.
What is the largest Toshiba hard drive?
In CMR (the RAID/NAS-safe type), Toshiba’s MG11 reaches 24TB. Toshiba also offers higher-capacity SMR drives (the MA series, up to 28TB) for sequential/archival use only — not for RAID arrays. For most servers, NAS and backup targets you want the 24TB-class CMR drives.
Are Toshiba drives good for QNAP and Synology NAS?
Yes — the N300/MN NAS drives are CMR with RV sensors and 24/7 ratings, well suited to multi-bay NAS. For Synology in particular, we fit drives that are on the compatibility list so you keep full features and support. See our QNAP and Synology pages.
Can Servnet supply Toshiba drives in the UK and match them to my array?
Yes — we supply Toshiba MG, N300/MN, AL and surveillance drives in the UK, and crucially we match the model (capacity, CMR, workload rating, SATA/SAS) to your RAID array, NAS or backup target, and support them as part of your estate. Tell us the array and we’ll specify the right drive.
Match the drive to the array
Need the right Toshiba drives?
Tell us the array, NAS or backup target — we’ll specify the right Toshiba model (capacity, CMR, workload rating, SATA/SAS), check NAS compatibility, and quote it for the UK.
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