Hey everyone,
I’m planning to build a Mac mini 2012 home server to run Plex (media archive), SMB file sharing, and Time Machine backups. I’m now looking for a quiet external USB hard drive in the 8–18TB range, ideally 3.5″ — no shucking, just plug-and-play over USB.
My use case:
- Light, predictable access: mostly idle, occasional reading (media), and scheduled Time Machine backups
- Runs 24/7 near my desk → low noise and vibration is important
- I’d prefer a 3.5″ drive (e.g. WD Elements or Seagate Expansion), but I’m open to 2× 2.5″ USB drives if they’re truly much quieter
So far I’m considering:
- WD Elements Desktop
- Seagate Expansion Desktop
- Or maybe 2× 2.5″ USB HDDs (if significantly quieter)
If you’ve used any of these in a similar setup recently (2023–2025), I’d love to hear:
- Which model and capacity you picked
- Noise level (idle vs load)
- Overall experience in 24/7 use
- Whether 2× 2.5″ is noticeably quieter and worth it?
Thanks a lot – I’d really appreciate your insight!