The Seagate Barracuda 8TB and the Seagate FireCuda 540 2TB represent a tie in this objective comparison, as each component secures two spec victories with one remaining category tied. The most impactful advantage for the Barracuda is its capacity, which is 300% better than the alternative. Conversely, the FireCuda offers a significant performance edge, boasting a sequential read speed that is 5163% better than the capacity-focused model.

Choose the Seagate Barracuda 8TB if your primary requirement is massive storage space for large archives or extensive media libraries. Opt for the Seagate FireCuda 540 2TB if your workflow demands high-speed data access and rapid sequential read performance. These two drives serve fundamentally different needs, so select the one that aligns with your specific priority between total storage volume and raw transfer speed.