Seagate head matching help.

[data-medics]

So I have a couple drives that I'm looking for donors right now, and I'm not finding a perfect match. Either it's wrong site code, wrong first 3 of serial, wrong part number, or wrong FW.

So my question is, what's your order of priority that you find best for matching Seagate drives when it comes down to ?

I've generally gone with:

1. Date
2. Site
3. First 3 of serial
4. P/N
5. FW

As order of what's most important in that order. However now I'm faced with choosing between these two options

Drive 1:
FW: Same
P/N: Same
First 3 of serial: Same
Site: off

or

Drive 2:
P/N: Same
Site: Same
FW: Same
First 3 of Serial: Off

So which is more important First 3 of serial, or site code?

[Doomer]

It is not possible to match Seagate heads just by looking on labels.

[MindMergepk]

So which is more important First 3 of serial, or site code?

both are important, For Site WU vs SU are ok sometimes.

[Tawfeek]

It is not possible to match Seagate heads just by looking on labels.

yes some times in same model head map arrange is physically different

[data-medics]

Of course I realize that there's no sure way to know. I'm just curious what others are using when shopping for drives trying to find a match.

[athena]

Dear Doomer
Can you pls. educate us on most critical matching parameters for Seagate from your vast experience.
thank you

[pcimage]

Dear Doomer
Can you pls. educate us on most critical matching parameters for Seagate from your vast experience.
thank you

As Doomer says, it's not possible to tell for sure from the label.

You need the drive in your hands