The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/quit_smoking1 on 2025-03-13 17:25:05.

I basically have two questions if anyone’s got the time…

1. If I’m specifically looking at Server Parts Deals for used 3.5" drives, would it be better to go with “Manufacturer Recertified” vs. “Seller Refurbished” (ignoring price)? Manufactrurer Recertified has 2 year warranty, so that alone might be worth it, but I’ve heard horror stories about companies like WD and Seagate not even checking or doing anything when they get return drives and just immediately turning around and selling them as “recertified”. Whereas maybe Server Parts Deals themselves put at least a little more effort into making sure their “refurbished” drives are good to go? Obviously, it might just all be a guessing game, but wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience or advice.
2. If I have a basic 2-bay Sabrent HDD dock, is there any issue using both an 18TB and 20TB drive at the same time? Assuming the dock can accommodate up to 20TB (which it does) and that there’s no mirroring/backup going on? I’m not trying to combine the drives, either; I just want to use two drives in the same dock but have them be separate on my PC.