Toshiba MG04 5TB
Enterprise HDD
Part number MG04SCA50EA · MG04 series · NL-SAS 12Gb/s. If your machine is listed below, this drive is officially supported — not a forum workaround.
Check MG04SCA50EA price on Amazon partner link
No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet — check the exact model for CMR vs SMR before buying it as a large cold copy (SMR is the one trait that makes a 16 TB+ backup copy painfully slow). The 3-2-1 guide and the backup tools encyclopedia cover what to schedule it with.
Compatibility verdict
It appears on the official compatibility lists of 4 machines and series — 4 QNAP. This is a Enterprise-class drive: rated for heavier sustained workloads than desktop drives. It is a strong pick for a NAS running 24/7, large-array rebuilds or camera workloads, and enterprise lines are also the drives most widely listed across all five vendors' HCLs. No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet, so check CMR vs SMR on the exact model before buying for an array.
Compatible NAS models
Same-capacity alternatives
Other drives listed at 5 TB capacity, ranked by how many machines list them:
Quick answers
Is the MG04SCA50EA officially compatible with my NAS?
It appears on the official compatibility lists of 4 machines and series — 4 QNAP. Every machine page linked below shows the vendor's own list entry, refreshed daily.
Is the MG04SCA50EA a good NAS drive?
This is a Enterprise-class drive: rated for heavier sustained workloads than desktop drives. It is a strong pick for a NAS running 24/7, large-array rebuilds or camera workloads, and enterprise lines are also the drives most widely listed across all five vendors' HCLs. No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet, so check CMR vs SMR on the exact model before buying for an array.
Can I use the MG04SCA50EA for a 3-2-1 cold backup copy?
No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet — check the exact model for CMR vs SMR before buying it as a large cold copy (SMR is the one trait that makes a 16 TB+ backup copy painfully slow). The 3-2-1 guide and the backup tools encyclopedia cover what to schedule it with.
What are alternatives to the MG04SCA50EA?
At the same capacity, the most widely listed alternatives are Toshiba MG04ACA500E (348 machines), Western Digital HUS726050ALE610 (281 machines), Seagate ST5000NM0084 (274 machines). The full ranked list is below.