500GB Hard Drives: 3.5" SATA for 24/7 CCTV Recording
4 products · prices include VAT
Pick the capacity by how many days of footage you want to keep, then check the drive is rated to run around the clock — an ordinary desktop drive is not built for that.
4 products
This range holds four 500GB hard drives in the 3.5" SATA format. Seagate, Toshiba and Western Digital each have one, and the fourth is listed without a brand name. All four are described as suited to 24/7 continuous recording.
What the specs mean
- 500GB: the storage capacity. It is the entry size for a recorder, so it suits a small system or a short retention period.
- 3.5" form factor: the full-size desktop drive. Check that your recorder has a bay for this size.
- SATA (Serial ATA): the connection between drive and recorder. Check that your recorder takes SATA drives.
- 24/7 recording: the drives are listed as suitable for recording that never pauses.
How to choose
- Count the cameras. More cameras fill a drive faster.
- Consider resolution. Higher-resolution footage uses more space per hour.
- Decide how long to keep footage. If 500GB is too small, a larger capacity may suit better.
- Check the recorder. It needs a free bay and SATA support.
Because all four drives share the same capacity and format, the choice between them is mostly about brand preference.
500GB — frequently asked questions
Will a 500GB drive fit my CCTV recorder?
These are 3.5" SATA drives, so the recorder needs a free bay of that size and a SATA connection. Check the recorder's specification first.
How long will a 500GB drive keep recording before it overwrites?
It depends on the number of cameras, their resolution and whether the recorder records continuously or only on motion. The listing does not give a figure.
Are these drives suitable for continuous recording?
Yes. Each product is described as ideal for 24/7 continuous recording.
What is the difference between the four drives?
They share the same 500GB, 3.5" SATA description. They differ by brand: Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital, and one listed without a brand.
Related guides
- How Much Storage Do I Need for CCTV? UK Guide 2026Each camera needs roughly its bitrate in Mbps × 10.8 GB per day of continuous recording.
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