Hello, I would consider this a warranty case.

They use different recording methods (CMR & SMR). SMR is best use for just storing data. CMR is better when it comes to "normal" usage, which means a lot of reading and writing from and to the HD.

In 07/2015 and 11/2015 I bought 8 WD Red 6 TB each. All were WD60EFRX, i.e. CMR types or today's "Plus". At that time, there was no SMR scam from WD and no "Plus" designations. Since then, they have all been in continuous operation (7 HD each as RAID6 + 1 HD as hot spare in 8-bay NAS). 1 CMR HD failure with bad sectors replaced 09/2019 with a WD60EFAX (SMR). Since then runs without problems in the RAID of a QNAP TS-853 PRO 8GB (not as hot spare). However, I have not yet had a RAID rebuild with this HD. 1 possible CMR HD failure with bad sectors now 11/2020. I/O Error, Bad Sector Scan currently running. CMR and SMR HD's are easily distinguishable in WD Red and WD60 by the model designation: EFRX = CMR / EFAX = SMR, or missing R in the second last position. Whether SMR HDs lead to problems in a RAID rebuild depends very much on the NAS. According to QNAP, the newer WD Red SMR HDs were tested in the TS-853 PRO NAS and found to be good. Depending on the NAS model and manufacturer, please do your own research to find out if HDs are compatible or if there are restrictions/hints. The failure frequency of the WD60EFRX corresponds to my experience with NAS HDs in seven other 4-bay NASes (the majority 4 TB HDs, presumably all CMR, no hot spares), some of which have been in continuous operation for much longer (periodically at least half of the time).(periodic NAS-to-NAS mirroring as a backup of important data - RAID6 mirroring may sound crazy, but my last data loss was in 1988 - since then I have maintained double or quadruple data redundancy as well as double hardware redundancy). Desktop HDs fail much more often and enterprise HDs almost never.

Have you deactivated the option in the power settings to set hard disks to sleep mode after a predefined time? To which storage controller is the disk connected? Does this storage controller have a management application? This could also be set there.

ICY BOX IB-366StU3+B (3.5") USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0). Removable drive (you can insert and remove the drive at any time without screws). I can highly recommend it.

Yes, it is. PS: You can check Compatibility for your Synology Products on the Manufacturer's Website: https://www.synology.com/en-global/compatibility?search_by=products&model=DS414&category=hdds&filter_brand=Western%20Digital&p=1

What kind of early loud scratching? Because normally in read-write you only hear a tiny one when they are new. If this is the case I will personally open a case for a defective sector maybe?

The best thing to do is to contact customer service to find out why this is the case. The product is still available from other providers. There may also be an error in the system. On TP, the product is listed as "available from stock" at Digitec. As I said, we in the community can only guess what the reason is.

No, the SATA cable is not included. You can find the SATA 3 cable on the following page: https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/producttype/datenkabel-intern-pc-444?pdo=1126-8714:1098&tagIds=554-726

Due to the lack of vibration sensors on the plates, problems or even a reduced service life are quite possible if more than 8 plates are used...

199.- That's right, they have adjusted it =D

I can't say why the 6TB version is not currently on sale. The other sizes could probably be obtained from the supplier at promotional prices. When it comes to pricing, as well as promotions, a wide variety of factors are always decisive.