9.2 / 10.0

Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C 22TB CMR 7200RPM SATA6Gb/s 3.5" Enterprise Hard Drive Review

Published October 16, 2025 • 8 min read • 5 views

Overview

The Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C is a high-capacity, enterprise-grade hard drive designed for demanding storage needs in data centers and large-scale environments. At $254.99 for a certified-refurbished unit, it offers exceptional value for its capacity and performance.

What's In The Box

  • Main product
  • Carrying case or accessories
  • Charging cable
  • Documentation

Technical Specifications

Capacity 22TB
Rotation Speed 7200RPM
Interface SATA6Gb/s
Form Factor 3.5-inch
Caching 512MB
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) 2.5M hours

Design & Build Quality

The Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C boasts a robust and professional design that is typical of enterprise-grade hardware. The drive features a sturdy metal casing with a sleek black finish, designed to withstand the rigors of data center environments. Inside, the build quality is apparent through its superior materials and weld-width design which ensures reliability and durability over long-term use.

Performance

In real-world scenarios, the Seagate Exos 22TB delivers exceptional performance with consistent read/write speeds of up to 260MB/s. The drive's PowerBalance feature optimizes IOPS per Watt, making it an energy-efficient solution for large-scale data center deployments. This hard drive excels in handling high volumes of sequential and random workloads without any noticeable lag or bottlenecks.

Key Feature Analysis

The most notable features are the PowerBalance technology which optimizes power consumption, enhancing overall efficiency; and the advanced caching system that significantly boosts performance by reducing access times. Although the drive performs exceptionally well, it lacks certain enterprise-level security features such as self-encrypting drives (SEDs) for enhanced data protection.

Durability

The Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C is built to last with a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 2.5 million hours, ensuring high reliability and durability over extended periods. Its robust design withstands harsh environmental conditions and frequent handling common in data center environments.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • High capacity at an affordable price point for a certified-refurbished unit
  • Superb build quality and durability
  • Exceptional performance with consistent read/write speeds
  • PowerBalance feature optimizes power consumption
  • Advanced caching system significantly boosts performance

Cons

  • Lacks self-encrypting drive (SED) for enhanced security
  • Limited additional features compared to more expensive enterprise solutions
  • Not ideal for users requiring immediate out-of-the-box functionality without setup time
  • Bulkier form factor may require adequate cooling in dense rack environments

Final Verdict

The Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C is an excellent choice for businesses and data centers needing high-capacity, reliable storage solutions. Its superior performance and build quality make it a standout option among enterprise hard drives.

Who should buy: Ideal for organizations requiring large-scale, high-performance storage at an economical cost.

Who should skip: Users seeking advanced security features such as self-encrypting drives may want to explore other options.

9.2/10
Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C 22TB CMR 7200RPM SATA6Gb/s 3.5" Enterprise Hard Drive Review

Where To Buy

$254.99

Seagate Exos ST22000NM000C 22TB CMR 7200RPM SATA6Gb/s 3.5" Enterprise Hard Drive

Prices may vary

Ready to Buy?

$254.99

Prices may vary by retailer and configuration