Western Digital 2TB
Desktop HDD
Part number WD20EARS - 00S8B1 · 3.5" SATA HDD. If your machine is listed below, this drive is officially supported — not a forum workaround.
Check WD20EARS 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 66 machines and series — 66 Synology. Check the class badge above: drives tagged NAS or Enterprise are built for 24/7 multi-bay operation. Desktop-class drives often lack vibration resistance and are usually absent from vendor 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 2 TB capacity, ranked by how many machines list them:
Quick answers
Is the WD20EARS - 00S8B1 officially compatible with my NAS?
It appears on the official compatibility lists of 66 machines and series — 66 Synology. Every machine page linked below shows the vendor's own list entry, refreshed daily.
Is the WD20EARS - 00S8B1 a good NAS drive?
Check the class badge above: drives tagged NAS or Enterprise are built for 24/7 multi-bay operation. Desktop-class drives often lack vibration resistance and are usually absent from vendor 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 WD20EARS - 00S8B1 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 WD20EARS - 00S8B1?
At the same capacity, the most widely listed alternatives are Western Digital WD2005VBYZ (451 machines), Toshiba MG04ACA200E (416 machines), Seagate ST2000NE0015 (372 machines). The full ranked list is below.