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Seagate Skyhawk Internal Hard Drive Review: Reliable 24/7 Surveillance Storage?

Seagate Skyhawk 4 TB, Video Internal Hard HDD – 3.5", SATA 6Gb/s, 256MB Cache, for DVR NVR Security Camera System, with in-house Rescue Services (ST4000VX016)
4.8
[Video-Optimized Storage]  Built for DVR/NVR systems to reliably record and playback surveillance video.
[Supports Heavy Workloads]  Handles up to 180TB/year and supports 64 simultaneous HD camera streams.
[RV Sensors Reduce Vibration]  Built-in RV sensors minimize noise and maintain performance in multi-bay systems.
[Power-Efficient Operation]  Lower power use reduces heat, boosting reliability and energy efficiency.
[Industry-Leading Reliability]  1M hours MTBF, three-year warranty, plus three-year Rescue Data Recovery service.
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Seagate Skyhawk Internal Hard Drive is a surveillance-grade internal hard drive engineered for reliable continuous video recording, optimised for multi-camera systems. Peace of mind comes from proactive health monitoring and three years of in-house data recovery when footage matters most. Is the combination of high workload tolerance and rescue support the right fit for your CCTV setup?

⚡ At a Glance
  • Recording Performance: Optimised for continuous writes, supports up to 64 simultaneously streaming HD cameras with minimal dropped frames
  • Best for: CCTV installers, small businesses and homeowners needing reliable 24/7 surveillance storage
  • Not ideal for: Primary desktop storage or workloads that demand fast random-access performance

Built for 24/7 surveillance with RV sensors and SkyHawk Health Management. Includes a three-year limited warranty and three-year in-house Rescue Data Recovery Services.


Continuous multi-camera recording – Thanks to 180TB/year workload support

Supports workloads of up to 180TB per year, equating to 64 simultaneously streaming HD cameras, enabling sustained sequential writes for long recording sessions.

Allows uninterrupted multi-camera recording with little to zero dropped frames, making it suitable for always-on surveillance systems.

Quieter, scalable multi-bay operation – With built-in RV sensors

Built-in rotational vibration sensors permit drives to maintain performance in multi-bay systems and reduce disturbance from neighbouring drives.

Eases expansion of storage arrays without compromising performance and keeps noise lower in dense rack or multi-bay installations.

Monitoring and recovery peace of mind – With SkyHawk Health Management and Rescue Services

SkyHawk Health Management enables drive health monitoring while an included three-year in-house Rescue Data Recovery Service and a 1,000,000-hour MTBF rating add resilience.

Makes it easier to spot issues early and provides professional recovery options if critical footage is at risk, reducing downtime.

✨ The 4 Key Reasons for Seagate Skyhawk Internal Hard Drive
  1. 256MB cache — Enables smooth sustained writes during long recording sessions
  2. SATA 6Gb/s interface — Reduces transfer bottlenecks for high-throughput video streams and backup tasks
  3. Energy-efficient design — Lowers power draw, helping reduce heat and failure risk
  4. 3.5-inch form factor — Simple swap-in replacement for most DVR and NVR bays
📋 Technical Details at a Glance
  • Category: Internal hard drive
  • Capacity: 4 TB
  • Form factor: 3.5-inch
  • Interface: SATA 6 Gb/s
  • Cache: 256 MB
❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this drive suitable for DVR and NVR security camera systems?

A: Yes, the drive is built specifically for video DVR and NVR security camera systems and is optimised for continuous surveillance recording.

Q: How many cameras can the drive support?

A: Supports workloads of up to 180TB per year, which equates to 64 simultaneously streaming HD cameras with little to zero dropped frames.

Q: What warranty and recovery options are included?

A: Includes a three-year limited warranty and three years of in-house Rescue Data Recovery Services, plus SkyHawk Health Management and a 1,000,000-hour MTBF rating.

🏆 Our Verdict

Drive suits CCTV installers, small businesses and homeowners who need dependable 24/7 recording and easy swap-in upgrades. High workload tolerance, RV sensors and SkyHawk Health Management combined with three-year Rescue Data Recovery Services form the unique selling points for long-term reliability. Overall value favours users prioritising uninterrupted surveillance and robust data protection.