Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB vs Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is at least the equal of the other on every measure that decides this, and ahead on at least one.
| Specification | SeagateBarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB | SeagateSkyHawk HDD 8TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 8000 | 8000 |
| Current best price | £258.96betterat Amazon.co.uk · captured 2026-09-13 | £316.02at Amazon.co.uk · captured 2026-09-13 |
| Price per TB | £32.37better | £39.50 |
| Cache (MB) | 256 | 256 |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch | 3.5-inch |
| Warranty (years) | 2 | 3better |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is rated 190 MB/s read and 190 MB/s write; Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB, 180 MB/s read and 180 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB carries the higher one.
Price
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is £258.96 (£32.37 per TB); Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB is £316.02 (£39.50 per TB).
Cache
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB ships with 256 MB of cache built in, Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB with 256 MB. The buffer lets the drive take in a burst of writes before the platter catches up and keeps recently read data close — useful under mixed, stop-start load, less so for a single large copy.
Warranty
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is warranted for 2 years, Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB for 3. The cover is the maker's own commitment; a longer one usually signals a drive built for heavier duty, though it is the mechanism, not the paperwork, that has to last.
Which to buy
Against the other, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, the one case where the choice needs no compromise.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB or Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB?
- Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is rated 190 MB/s read and 190 MB/s write; Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB, 180 MB/s read and 180 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB carries the higher one.
- Which costs less per terabyte, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB or Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB?
- Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is £258.96 (£32.37 per TB); Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB is £316.02 (£39.50 per TB).
- Should you buy Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB or Seagate SkyHawk HDD 8TB?
- Against the other, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 8TB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, the one case where the choice needs no compromise.