787676-002 HPE 4TB 7.2K SAS 12GBPS LFF Hot-Plug Hard Disk Drive

HPE 787676-002 enterprise-grade 4TB SAS storage

The HPE 787676-002 is a purpose-built enterprise-class 4TB hard disk drive offered for HPE ProLiant servers and HPE storage arrays. It is a 3.5-inch (LFF) hot-plug drive engineered for datacenter workloads that require large-capacity, reliable spinning-disk storage. This SKU is typically sold either as an HPE-branded OEM drive or as a compatible Seagate/third-party drive that meets HPE validation and packaging standards. The HPE 787676-002 combines a high-capacity 4 terabyte platter layout with a 12 Gbps SAS interface and a dependable 7,200 RPM spindle speed—making it a strong fit for bulk storage, backup tiers, archival pools, and dense capacity shelves in SAN and DAS environments.

Choose HPE 787676-002 for enterprise deployments

Choosing the 787676-002 series drives brings several datacenter advantages. The combination of 4 TB capacity and 12 Gbps SAS makes these drives cost-effective for building high-density capacity shelves. They deliver predictable performance for sequential reads/writes, sustained throughput tasks, and bulk data movement. Because they are offered with HPE part packaging or HPE-compatible trays, they simplify procurement, warranty handling, and server integration—reducing configuration complexity when expanding storage arrays. Many resellers sell these drives new, refurbished, or as spares for legacy arrays, so they're often the practical option for maintenance refreshes and capacity expansions.

Compatibility and validated configurations

One of the most common buyer questions is which servers and arrays support the 787676-002. These drives were created to work with HPE MSA arrays and a wide range of ProLiant servers and storage backplanes that accept 3.5-inch hot-plug SAS drives. Before buying, verify your server or array support matrix to confirm firmware and enclosure compatibility—HPE publishes support and certification matrices to guide matching drives to server families and storage shelves. This check prevents unexpected behavior and ensures drives are recognized correctly by management tools.

Deployment patterns and architecture recommendations

The HPE 787676-002 fits into several datacenter storage patterns. Below are recommended architectural uses and considerations to guide systems architects and storage admins.

RAID and resiliency planning

Choose RAID levels that balance rebuild times and usable capacity. Because large-capacity drives increase RAID rebuild windows, provisioning with sufficient redundant capacity and considering RAID-TP/Erasure Coding (where supported) reduces the risk during rebuilds. Common enterprise approaches include RAID 6 for higher resiliency or RAID 10 where performance demands justify higher overhead.

New OEM HPE drives

Buying new from authorized HPE channels usually gives you the full HPE warranty and ensures factory-sealed packaging and firmware. New OEM drives are recommended for production arrays where vendor-backed support is a requirement.

OEM-compatible drives

Some buyers opt for compatible drives from leading disk manufacturers that are functionally identical but not sold in HPE-branded packaging. While they may reduce cost, this path can complicate warranty claims with HPE and should be used when budget constraints or legacy inventory needs dictate. Always verify server firmware acceptance and vendor return policies before deploying.

Inventory, lifecycle and replacement planning

For enterprises managing many HDDs, keeping a lifecycle plan for 787676-002 units avoids surprises and ensures business continuity. Consider these best practices:

Firmware and microcode management

Keep an inventory of firmware versions used in production arrays and apply vendor-recommended updates in controlled maintenance windows. Firmware harmonization across drives reduces the chance of incompatibility with array controllers or enclosure management tools.

End-of-life (EOL) considerations

When a drive model is approaching EOL, plan replacement cycles well before warranty expiration and consider migration strategies to newer, denser drives or to all-flash tiers for performance-critical workloads.

Product variants and similar part numbers

HPE part numbers and cross-reference SKUs can be confusing. The 787676-002 may appear alongside other HPE part numbers for 4TB 12 Gbps SAS drives; differences can include vendor OEM (Seagate, Western Digital), internal firmware revisions, and tray/carrier part numbers. When replacing or expanding an array, match both the logical characteristics (capacity, interface, rpm) and the HPE part number when possible to minimize surprises.

Product content blocks for category pages

To help shoppers convert, use modular content blocks on your continuous category page that expand on specific buyer concerns. Examples of blocks to include:

Technical documentation and resources

Link to authoritative technical resources to help advanced buyers: HPE compatibility matrices, enclosure quick specs, drive datasheets from the manufacturer, and reseller test reports. These resources assist system architects with integration and ensure warranty and firmware alignment.

Category content keeps page continuous

The HPE 787676-002 category targets buyers who need reliable, high-density SAS capacity on 3.5" hot-plug trays. Whether procuring new OEM spares for a warranty-backed deployment or cost-optimizing with certified refurbished units for archive tiers, this class of 4TB 12Gbps SAS 7.2K drives remains a core component of mixed-tier datacenter strategies. Provide clear compatibility information, detailed specs up-front, and easy filters for condition and warranty to help customers make rapid, confident purchasing choices.