Horun wrote on 2023-10-01, 22:51:
Today I bought a 16 camera port security DVR for ~$10 at a thrift store (after looking up the model and seeing it has an OK HD and they give 3 days to return on electrical).
The drive has 16k hours and CrystalDisk says it is GOOD. Is not a something for old computers as a 2TB WD SATA but good for storage, it had two "non windows" partitions (one small and one huge).
Easily removed them under Win7 and made 2 x 1TB NTFS parts, works just fine so will go into a ext. sata bax....added: used on ebay with "proof" of tested are about $40+ with shipping so no a bad bargain at $10 😁
You always stumble on the good stuff at thrift stores, lucky you. 😉
Another potential source of cheap SATA HDDs consists of cable TV settop boxes with DVR functionality. A lot of the newer ones do not have a hard disk (the DVR functionality is cloud-based), but older 4K models from the likes of Cisco and Samsung, for example, often have completely standard 2TB SATA HDDs .
Fair warnings, though, that
a) these units often have relatively high power-on hours AND load cycle counts
b) a secure torx screwdriver is required to dissassemble at least some settop box models
I took a few chances and I got lucky a couple of times when I stumbled upon a few low-use units that probably sat in storage for years.