Toshiba MG04 6TB
Enterprise HDD
Part number MG04SCA60EA · MG04 series · NL-SAS 12Gb/s. If your machine is listed below, this drive is officially supported — not a forum workaround.
Check MG04SCA60EA 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 6 TB capacity, ranked by how many machines list them:
Quick answers
Is the MG04SCA60EA 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 MG04SCA60EA 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 MG04SCA60EA 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 MG04SCA60EA?
At the same capacity, the most widely listed alternatives are Seagate ST6000NM021A (389 machines), Toshiba MG04ACA600E (382 machines), Seagate ST6000VN0033 (349 machines). The full ranked list is below.