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WD HC620 User GuideWho exactly is using the HC620? Given the current skyrocketing storage market prices, the HC620 has become one of the few relatively affordable mechanical hard drives. As for why it's so affordable, we have the HC620's dual debuff to thank — Host Managed + SMR (shingled) — which raises the usage barrier compared to regular drives. That said, there are suitable use cases for it. With proper usage, it can deliver solid value for money. This article covers common misconceptions about the HC620, suitable use cases, hardware and software requirements, and a summary of how to properly use the HC620 to save on storage costs. About HM-SMRSMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology was designed to increase disk storage density. It overlaps data tracks to boost storage capacity per square inch, but this comes at the cost of degraded write performance, especially in scenarios requiring frequent writes and deletes. Host Managed means the drive requires cooperation from the host operating system to manage data writes and deletes. This means that if the OS doesn't support Host Managed, or if the user hasn't configured it properly, performance issues or even data loss may occur. Use CasesFor the HC620, it should not be used in scenarios with frequent read-write-delete cycles. Treating it like a large-capacity random-access tape drive — sequential writes, random reads — works perfectly well. Therefore, for my use case, the HC620 is best suited for cold data storage and backups, media libraries, PT seeding, and other scenarios involving one-time writes followed by online retrieval reads. For applications requiring frequent writes and deletes, such as databases, download directories, or workspaces, the HC620 is not the right choice. Hardware CompatibilityThe HC620's Host Managed characteristics leads to higher hardware compatibility requirements. Although it theoretically supports native SATA interfaces, compatibility issues may arise in practice, especially with USB adapters or certain expansion cards. Therefore, using a passthrough/HBA card to connect the HC620 is recommended for stable performance and data safety. Failed to recognize the HC620 after installation. The drive head emitted continuous clicking sounds and could not be used normally. The Inspur 9300 uses the LSI-3008 chip. After flashing the latest HBA firmware, it correctly recognizes and works with the HC620, with good performance. A RAID card with the LSI-3108 chip. The HC620 is recognized after enabling JBOD mode. Not extensively tested — using a RAID card for drive passthrough is overkill. Same as the LSI-9362 — a RAID card with the LSI-3108 chip. The HC620 is recognized after enabling JBOD mode. Failed to recognize the drive. Likely caused by the PCIe-to-SATA bridge chip being incompatible with the HC620's Host Managed characteristics. Software CompatibilityDS918+ failed to recognize the HC620 after installation. The drive head emitted continuous clicking sounds. In the newer version 24.04, the drive is correctly recognized and usable without any slowdown or performance issues. Feiniu has two version lines. Versions 1.1.26 and earlier support Btrfs and F2FS file systems and can properly recognize and use the HC620. Version 1.1.20 and later cannot properly mount F2FS. Hands-on GuidePlease confirm there is no important data on the drive. If there is, back it up first! First, check the HC620's device information to confirm it's properly recognized: If mount information is shown, unmount first: Then format the drive with Btrfs using:
After formatting, mount it: SummaryThis drive is not recommended for purchase. If you don't have urgent storage needs, it's better to wait for prices to drop or just buy a CMR drive. My use case is fairly narrow, so this guide may not apply to everyone. For users who need frequent writes and deletes, a proper CMR drive is the way to go.
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