What hard drives can I use with my recorder?
This article outlines the recommended 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives for recorders. These selections are designed to enhance performance, ensuring they meet your specific security requirements with efficiency and reliability.
NOTE: Please check our main website and search your recorder to see the maximum capacity supported. If you have a Legacy product (not searchable on the website), it is safe to upgrade up to 4TB only.
DISCLAIMER: These recommendations are not connected to Swann in any way. You are free to use any brand and capacity (as long as it doesn't exceed the maximum supported capacity) of the HDD that you prefer.
Top 3.5-Inch Surveillance HDDs
While most of our recorders support both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch HDDs, this form factor is recommended for recorders with the option to record 24/7 as it has a wider range of options since you will need surveillance-grade HDDs suitable for recorders. Here are some recommendations:
Western Digital Purple (WD Purple)
The WD Purple is engineered for 24/7 operation and supports up to 64 HD cameras. Equipped with AllFrame technology, it minimizes frame loss and ensures smooth, reliable footage capture.
Seagate SkyHawk
Designed with ImagePerfect firmware, the Seagate SkyHawk supports continuous operation and handles up to 64 HD cameras. This drive is built to manage heavy workloads, offering the reliability and endurance your security setup demands.
Toshiba S300 Surveillance
Toshiba’s S300 is tailored for 24/7 surveillance environments. It supports up to 32 HD cameras, delivering consistent performance and dependability, essential for maintaining round-the-clock security.
Top 2.5-Inch HDDs
Recorders with a smaller chassis only support this form factor as these recorders only record when there's motion detected; basically, not recording 24/7. A surveillance-grade HDD is not required because of that which means, virtually any 2.5-inch HDD works. Nevertheless, here are some recommendations:
Seagate BarraCuda 2.5" Hard Drive
The Seagate BarraCuda 2.5" Hard Drive offers a versatile range of options, providing up to 5 TB of storage capacity. Available in both 7 mm and 15 mm form factors, it is suitable for a wide array of computing needs.
Toshiba L200 Laptop PC Internal Hard Drive
The Toshiba L200 Internal Hard Drive is an ideal upgrade for CCTV recorders, offering up to 2 TB of storage to accommodate extensive surveillance footage. Its low power profile, advanced cache technology, and built-in shock and vibration protection ensure robust performance.
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Seagate Video 2.5 HDD
A 500GB option designed for small-scale surveillance, the Seagate Video 2.5 HDD is built for 24/7 video recording with lower power consumption. It’s an efficient and reliable choice for basic surveillance needs.
Other Storage Option
Compatible with External Hard Drives
If your recorder has an eSATA port on the back panel, it means your recorder is capable of connecting an external surveillance-type hard drive.
The function of the external eSATA port may either be for exporting recordings or recording depending on your recorder's model. For example: Can I use an external SATA hard drive to my DVR8-3000 to increase recording capacity?
The following recorder series have an external eSATA port for a hard drive of up to 3TB in capacity for external recording:
- NVR-7072, NVR-7082, NVR-7300, NVR-7400
Compatible microSD Cards
If your recorder model contains a microSD slot, it can support up to 128GB capacity for the microSD card.
The following recorder models are compatible with up to 4TB capacity for the hard drive and 128GB capacity for the microSD card.
- DVR-4480G. DVR-4480RN, DVR-4480V, DVR-4685, DVR-4685RN, DVR-4480, NVW-490
Note: Simultaneous recording to both the internal hard drive and microSD card is not supported. If there is a hard drive internally, recording to the hard drive will be prioritized.
Not Recommended or Compatible
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Solid State Drives (SSD) for recorders are not recommended for continuous recording, operation in high-temperature settings, and large disk space; not to mention that they cost more compared to an HDD and the speed that an SSD has won't benefit when used in recorders.
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Desktop hard drives are not recommended for recorders that capture events 24/7 as they are not optimized to support 24/7 read-and-write access.
- USB External hard drives are not compatible with most Swann recorders for real-time recording. Kindly check the specifications of your recorder to see if it is supported
Conclusion
While any HDD or SSD can technically be used with a CCTV recorder, the drives listed in this article are our recommendations. These particular models are designed with surveillance in mind, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for your security needs.
As a tip, there are two things to keep in mind before upgrading your internal storage: if the recorder captures events 24/7 and what form factor it supports. It is best to follow the form factor of your recorder's HDD, if it comes with one, and choose a higher storage capacity available.