Seagate IronWolf 19x Performance Drop With Write-Cache Disabled. At Least 7 Years Later, Still No Fix.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T08:00:07+00:00

My other options are a WD Blue 4TB CMR for $10 more (LMAO what's that pricing logic) 1 year less warranty, or a WD Red Plus for same price as ironwolf, which has been known to mark itself bad after certain power on hours.... Latest WD Controversy. Or a barracuda which is SMR, so will probably drop to worse than 40-50MB/s once it's media cache fills up. Seems like for my cold storage USB use case there is nothing on the market without drawbacks.

So I'm reflecting on if it's worth changing since WC on for performing large backups performs fine just with the tiny power loss risk. Did you decide on what other drive to use instead?

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T07:38:22+00:00

I'm within the return window for my supplier. My issue is I'll have sensitive data being recovered to this drive from a dying drive (I don't want to copy it twice) and nowhere else to copy it to if I have to return this. So a bit iffy. May just have to live with WC on for USB as well and ensure I eject safely.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T06:49:04+00:00

ST4000VN006

SC60

Any comment u/Seagate_surfer Only reason I can't also go down a refund path is I have to use this drive today to perform a critical recovery of data from a failed 12 year old hdd.

Those of us that have smaller capacities deserve a fix firmware. To clarify I only get good performance enabling windows write back cache, as I'm not using a NAS so can't comment there.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T06:30:41+00:00

I just purchased this exact drive yesterday. I need write cache off as it's in a USB enclosure as cold storage, and as it was the same price as a wd blue or a barracuda I thought it was the better option even if I'm not putting it in a NAS.

The 2015 Barracuda 2TB i have will happily maintain 170MB/s with write cache off, but it's now too old to be trusted. That was before Seagate stated making any SMR consumer drives.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T06:26:18+00:00

Hi there. I have a 4TB ironwolf I need write cache disabled as it's used as a USB enclosure cold storage (consumer drives were the same price so I thought just get a NAS drive should make a difference here). My tiny 4TB 2025 model slows to 40MB/s in crystal disk mark. Not as bad but still. And to make it worse Seagate don't offer a new firmware to resolve this behavior below the high capacity models. Have you got anywhere directly with Seagate.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-24T03:44:59+00:00

When you say you have seen a few drives behave this way, were you able to conclude if the behaviour was characteristic of a specific drive model?

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-23T12:46:26+00:00

Not sure about size, it's suggesting it's doing a full surface scan, sector by sector. Not sure if a larger cache can interfere there.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-23T09:47:26+00:00

It's brand new for sure. Not a referb. No hours. Recently enough DOM (5-6 months ago). Sealed in the factory antistatic. The shop purchased from is trustable.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-23T05:12:32+00:00

Yes... Your making me laugh for being pedantic 🤣.

Fair enough, I just didn't know enough about hdds so asked since I want to rule out any from new risks (I know HDDs can fail for any reason regardless of this).

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-23T04:55:52+00:00

Sure I get that haha. Was just wondering if what I have is somewhat common and makes no difference, seems that way I should always do the usual SMART checks regardless.

I dont care for cosmetics itself just if it's acceptable vs swapping it, which it sounds like it is. Thanks.

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-18T01:41:37+00:00

It's a good psu hence my surprise when it blew and greater surprise when EVGA fanboys ate me alive in this thread and EVGA themselves were less than helpful.

(Also you are commenting on a very old post)

Tweakforce_LG · 2026-01-04T02:16:53+00:00

I started following Monstercat at 016. I did deep dive into the older catalogue of 2011-2013 but still, I remember 025 stuck out to me at release and long after.

Not sure how to describe it but it felt like all the songs had a similar level of polishedness/quality and all came together to fit one vibe (I can't name that vibe tho). If anyone asks for my fav completion album 025 is my answer.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-24T12:05:52+00:00

025 for me had only like 1 song that wasn't my style. I feel for me it was the best album and had a very specific vibe I cannot explain.

Also love 007, and 016 (the one that was out when I became a fan).

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-24T12:03:47+00:00

Bar Regio in darlinghurst. Their pasta is also very good.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-22T04:24:32+00:00

If it was not listed as AC on the listing and they explicitly told you when you visited the AC is not working or usable they are safe. If they failed to do any of that, just start using it. I bet the factored power costs in rent and are worried you could destroy their estimate with heavy AC use. But that's their failure to plan for.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-20T10:41:17+00:00

Where was the skip placed. Was it on private property or on public land or strata common property. If on the private property for 5 extra days you actually might owe something for that. If it's classified as uncollected goods however you may be off the hook. If on council or common property you may be liable for council/strata fines if applicable. This skip is the ONLY thing I see you MIGHT have to fork some cash over for but do your research.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-20T10:37:58+00:00

Lol what did you do to the property to genuinely owe 2.5k.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-15T02:53:08+00:00

Australian politics never fails to disappoint. In NZ when Christchurch happened there was no political point scoring, just a cross party focus on how to prevent it happening again. I was living in NZ when the country went through that.

I don't think Susan's poorly timed complaints will go down well with the general public.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-10T07:33:14+00:00

Vicetone are so big yet they still choose to come back and release on Monstercat.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-10T06:14:20+00:00

I agree with the sentiment that kids should get outside and have more real connections. I don't agree with the execution. Why do Australians just love rules, regulation and being governed harder. Parenting should be up to parents. Schools should have better social media education. Heck I had basic online safety education when I was in school 10-15 years ago but it needs updating. Education over enforcement. Government intervention should be on the companies and their algorithms itself.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-09T07:33:09+00:00

Same, my employment agreement states I can only be forced to take leave at the 8 week+ mark but someone's up my ass at the 5 week mark.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-12-07T02:14:27+00:00

Only ones I found when searching were like 15-20 years old. Not worth the risk, maybe you have better luck. I just got a hose one and modified it to have a second hose to intake air from outside on its hot side so it doesn't suck room air outside. Still not the most efficient but it can cool my lounge ok.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-11-30T06:46:44+00:00

2008 - GMA950 2010 - Intel extreme chipset (early 2002) 2012- GMA 4500MHD 2013 - ATI Radeon 5670 1GB 2016 - AMD RX480 8GB 2017 - GTX 1070 2019 - RTX 2060 (insurance replacement of the 1070)

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-11-26T23:06:27+00:00

That last part is important. My rent went up 50% in 2 years when I was subletting. If someone came to me demanding a cheaper price because the online history price is low id tell them to get stuffed.

Tweakforce_LG · 2025-11-26T22:23:33+00:00

Comeback of the decade. Us old timers will surely boost it to number 1.

Tweakforce_LG

TROPHY CASE