Western Digital WUS5EA176ESP7E3 Ultrastar DC SN655 7.68TB PCI-E Gen4, NVMe 1.4b U.3 15mm ISE SSD

Western Digital Ultrastar DC SN655 – 7.68TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD for Enterprise Workloads

Designed for high-performance environments, the Ultrastar DC SN655 from Western Digital delivers exceptional speed, endurance, and reliability. With a U.3 15mm form factor and NVMe 1.4b protocol over PCIe Gen4, this 7.68TB solid-state drive is ideal for data-intensive applications across modern IT infrastructures.

Manufacturer & Product Identity

• Brand: Western Digital Corporation
• Model Number: WUS5EA176ESP7E3
• Series: Ultrastar DC SN655
• Product Line: Ultrastar Enterprise SSDs

System Compatibility

• Compatible with major operating systems including Windows, Windows Server, and Linux
• Supports integration into cloud-native platforms and hybrid environments

Ideal Use Cases

• Cloud data centers and hyperscale deployments
• Software-defined storage and scale-out architectures
• Big data analytics and distributed NoSQL databases
• AI/ML workloads including deep learning pipelines
• Long-term data archiving and high-volume storage tiers

Technical Specifications

• Storage Capacity: 7.68 Terabytes
• Endurance Rating: 1 Drive Write Per Day (DWPD)
• Total Write Limit: 14.0 Petabytes Written (PBW)
• Interface: PCIe Gen4 with NVMe 1.4b protocol
• Form Factor: U.3, 15mm height
• Security Feature: Instant Secure Erase (ISE)

Performance Benchmarks

• Sequential Read Speed: Up to 6800 MB/s
• Sequential Write Speed: Up to 2000 MB/s
• Random Read IOPS: 980,000 operations per second
• Random Write IOPS: 80,000 operations per second
• Read Latency: 100 microseconds
• Write Latency: 15 microseconds

Power Consumption & Environmental Tolerance

• Voltage Requirements: +12V and 3.3V DC (±10%)
• Typical Power Usage: 16W to 18W during operation
• Idle Power Draw: Approximately 8W
• Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 70°C
• Storage Temperature Range: -40°C to 85°C

SN655 7.68TB PCI-E Gen4 NVMe U.3 15mm ISE SSD Overview

The Western Digital WUS5EA176ESP7E3 Ultrastar DC SN655 7.68TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe U.3 ISE SSD is a next-generation enterprise-class solid state drive built for performance, scalability, and security in modern data centers. Leveraging the NVMe 1.4b protocol, U.3 interface, and PCIe Gen4 connectivity, this SSD provides high bandwidth, low latency, and consistent throughput designed to handle demanding workloads in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, hyperscale deployments, and enterprise IT infrastructures.

Key Specifications of Western Digital Ultrastar DC SN655 WUS5EA176ESP7E3

• Model: Western Digital WUS5EA176ESP7E3
• Series: Ultrastar DC SN655
• Capacity: 7.68TB
• Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch U.3, 15mm
• Protocol: NVMe 1.4b
• Endurance: Read-intensive with ISE (Instant Secure Erase)
• Security: Advanced data protection, power-loss protection, and optional secure erase functions

Performance Capabilities of the Ultrastar DC SN655

High Throughput with PCIe Gen4 Technology

The Western Digital WUS5EA176ESP7E3 harnesses the power of PCIe Gen4, enabling faster sequential read and write speeds compared to legacy PCIe Gen3 SSDs. This upgrade provides lower latency, faster application response, and higher IOPS, making it suitable for business-critical applications and performance-sensitive workloads.

Low Latency with NVMe 1.4b

Built on the NVMe 1.4b protocol, this SSD ensures optimized queue management, advanced namespace capabilities, and efficient command execution. The reduced latency allows data centers to improve transaction rates and provide consistent service levels under varying workloads.

Enterprise-Grade Read-Intensive Optimization

The SN655 WUS5EA176ESP7E3 is tailored for read-intensive environments where large volumes of data are accessed frequently. This makes it ideal for streaming services, data retrieval applications, online transaction processing (OLTP), and high-performance databases that rely heavily on fast read access.

Enterprise-Class Reliability and Endurance

Data Protection and Integrity

The Ultrastar DC SN655 features advanced ECC (Error Correction Code), end-to-end data path protection, and power-loss protection to safeguard data against corruption, unexpected shutdowns, and drive errors. These reliability features guarantee that mission-critical operations run smoothly without risk of data compromise.

Instant Secure Erase (ISE) Functionality

With ISE technology, organizations can quickly sanitize the drive, making it compliant with stringent security policies. This ensures that sensitive business and customer data can be erased instantly before drive redeployment or decommissioning.

Workload Endurance

Optimized for read-intensive workloads, this SSD balances endurance and performance. The 7.68TB capacity provides sufficient scalability for large data storage environments without compromising long-term reliability and consistent workload efficiency.

Form Factor and Interface Advantages

U.3 Backward Compatibility

The 2.5-inch U.3 form factor provides compatibility with both U.2 and U.3 backplanes, allowing seamless integration into existing storage infrastructure. This backward compatibility reduces upgrade costs and simplifies deployment across diverse server and storage systems.

Compact 15mm Height

Designed with a 15mm profile, the Ultrastar DC SN655 WUS5EA176ESP7E3 optimizes space efficiency in enterprise racks, enabling higher storage density per server while maintaining efficient airflow and thermal management.

Use Cases for the Western Digital WUS5EA176ESP7E3

Cloud Computing and Hyperscale Data Centers

Cloud providers can leverage the 7.68TB Ultrastar DC SN655 for fast VM provisioning, high-speed storage pools, and reliable data access at scale. Its large capacity and optimized read-intensive design make it well-suited for cloud-native applications.

Big Data Analytics and AI

Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications rely heavily on read-optimized storage for model training and inferencing. This SSD delivers consistent performance for datasets that require rapid retrieval and low-latency access.

Enterprise Databases and OLTP Systems

Enterprises running large relational databases and OLTP systems benefit from faster query responses and improved transaction throughput with the WUS5EA176ESP7E3, ensuring better application performance and reduced bottlenecks.

Streaming and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

CDN providers and video streaming platforms can optimize user experience by reducing content load times. The high read throughput and capacity ensure smooth content delivery across multiple users and geographic locations.

Comparison with Other Enterprise SSDs

Western Digital Ultrastar DC SN655 vs. Previous Generations

Compared to PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSDs, the PCIe Gen4-based WUS5EA176ESP7E3 doubles bandwidth and improves performance efficiency. This makes it a superior choice for enterprises seeking an upgrade path without sacrificing compatibility.

Ultrastar DC SN655 vs. Competing Enterprise SSDs

When benchmarked against similar enterprise SSDs, the WUS5EA176ESP7E3 stands out with its balance of capacity, reliability, and read-optimized performance. The inclusion of ISE security functionality further distinguishes it from competing drives in the same class.

Long-Term Value for Enterprise Storage Infrastructure

Scalability and Cost Efficiency

The 7.68TB capacity enables consolidation of workloads and reduction of storage footprints, lowering total cost of ownership (TCO). With fewer drives needed to meet capacity demands, enterprises save on power, cooling, and rack space.

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

With consistent low-latency performance and enterprise-grade endurance, IT teams can ensure that service level agreements (SLAs) are met without frequent drive replacements or unexpected downtime.

Sustainable Data Center Operations

Energy efficiency is a critical factor in hyperscale environments. The WUS5EA176ESP7E3’s optimized power consumption and reduced heat generation support greener, more sustainable operations while maintaining enterprise performance requirements.