Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s 7.2K RPM Hard Drive WUH721818ALE604 by Western Digital
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Product Overview
Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 18TB Enterprise Hard Drive
- Model: WUH721818ALE604
- Product Line: Ultrastar
- Series: Ultrastar DC HC550
General Information
- Manufacturer: Western Digital
- Product Name: Ultrastar DC HC550 18TB Hard Drive
Applications and Use Cases
Optimal Environments:
- Cloud and hyperscale storage solutions
- High-density data centers for massive scale-out (MSO)
- Distributed file systems for improved data access
- Bulk storage solutions utilizing object storage technologies like Ceph™ and OpenStack® Swift
- Primary and secondary storage for Apache Hadoop® in big data analytics
Key Specifications
- Total Storage Capacity: 18TB
- Form Factor: 3.5-inch internal drive
- Interface: SATA 6Gb/s
- MTBF: 2.5 million hours
Performance Metrics
Drive Performance Features:
- Interface Transfer Rate: 600MB/s
- Sustained Transfer Rate: 257MB/s
- Average Latency: 4.16ms
- Cache Buffer: 512MB
- Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Physical Attributes
Dimensions and Weight:
- Z-Height: 26.1mm
- Physical Dimensions: 101.6mm x 147mm
- Weight: 690g
Capacity: 18TB
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive is a powerhouse when it comes to storage capacity. With a massive 18TB of space, users can store a vast amount of data, including documents, photos, videos, and more. Whether you are a professional working with large files or an individual with a growing collection of digital content, this hard drive has the capacity to meet your needs.
Benefits of 18TB Capacity
1. Ample Storage Space: The 18TB capacity ensures that you will never run out of space to store your files. You can keep all your important documents, multimedia files, and backups in one place without worrying about filling up the drive too quickly.
2. Efficiency and Organization: With such a large capacity, you can easily organize your files and keep them in one location. This makes it convenient to access and manage your data whenever you need it.
3. Future-Proofing: As technology advances and file sizes continue to increase, having ample storage capacity is crucial. The 18TB capacity future-proofs your storage needs, ensuring that you will have enough space for years to come.
Professional Use
For professionals working with large files, such as photographers, videographers, and graphic designers, the 18TB capacity provides the necessary space to store high-resolution images, raw video footage, and complex design projects. It eliminates the need to constantly transfer files or invest in additional storage devices.
Media Enthusiasts
If you are a media enthusiast with an extensive collection of movies, TV shows, or music, the 18TB capacity allows you to store your entire library in one place. No more worrying about running out of space or having to choose which files to keep and which to delete.
Backup and Data Redundancy
With the 18TB capacity, you can create comprehensive backups of your important data, ensuring that you have multiple copies in case of hardware failures or data loss. This is particularly valuable for businesses or individuals who rely heavily on their data and cannot afford any downtime.
Interface: SATA 6GB/s
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive boasts a high-speed SATA 6GB/s interface, providing fast and efficient data transfer rates. This interface is designed to deliver optimal performance and compatibility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Benefits of SATA 6GB/s Interface
1. Faster Data Transfer: The SATA 6GB/s interface offers significantly faster data transfer rates compared to its predecessors. This means you can transfer large files quickly and efficiently, saving you valuable time.
2. Compatibility: SATA 6GB/s is a widely supported interface, ensuring compatibility with most modern computers and storage devices. Whether you are upgrading your existing system or building a new one, this interface will work seamlessly with your setup.
3. Improved System Performance: The faster data transfer rates provided by the SATA 6GB/s interface can result in improved overall system performance. Applications load faster, files transfer quicker, and multitasking becomes smoother, enhancing your productivity.
Gaming
For gamers, the SATA 6GB/s interface is essential for optimal gaming performance. It allows games to load faster, reducing waiting times and providing a smoother gaming experience. Additionally, it enables faster installation and updates, allowing you to get into the action quicker.
Media Editing
If you work with large media files, such as video editing or audio production, the SATA 6GB/s interface ensures that your files can be transferred to and from the hard drive quickly. This allows for efficient editing and rendering processes, saving you valuable time in your workflow.
Data Intensive Applications
For professionals working with data-intensive applications, such as data analysis or scientific research, the SATA 6GB/s interface ensures that data can be accessed and processed rapidly. This leads to improved efficiency and productivity in these demanding tasks.
Cache: Not specified
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive's cache size is not specified, meaning that the manufacturer has not provided information about the cache capacity. While cache size is an important consideration for some users, it may not be a critical factor for everyone.
Importance of Cache
Cache serves as a temporary storage area for frequently accessed data, allowing for faster retrieval and improved overall performance. A larger cache size can result in better performance, particularly in scenarios where data access patterns are repetitive or require random access.
Read and Write Performance
A larger cache size can enhance both read and write performance. It enables the hard drive to store more frequently accessed data, reducing the time required to retrieve it. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with small files or random access patterns.
Multi-Tasking
A larger cache can also improve multi-tasking capabilities. When running multiple applications simultaneously or performing complex tasks, having a larger cache allows the hard drive to handle multiple data requests more efficiently, resulting in smoother overall system performance.
Importance Varies
While cache size can have a significant impact on performance in certain scenarios, its importance may vary depending on the specific use case. For some users, such as casual users or those primarily storing large files, the cache size may not be a critical factor. However, for power users, gamers, or professionals working with data-intensive applications, a larger cache size can provide noticeable performance benefits.
Form Factor: 3.5 inch
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive features a 3.5-inch form factor, which is the standard size for desktop hard drives. This form factor ensures compatibility with most desktop computer cases and drive bays.
Benefits of 3.5-inch Form Factor
1. Desktop Compatibility: The 3.5-inch form factor is widely supported by desktop computer cases and drive bays. Whether you are building a new system or upgrading an existing one, this hard drive will fit seamlessly into your setup.
2. Higher Capacity: Compared to smaller form factors, such as 2.5-inch drives commonly found in laptops, the 3.5-inch form factor allows for higher storage capacities. This makes it ideal for users who require large amounts of storage space.
3. Cooling and Heat Dissipation: The larger size of the 3.5-inch form factor allows for better airflow and heat dissipation within the hard drive enclosure. This helps to keep the drive cool during extended use, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.
Desktop Systems
The 3.5-inch form factor is specifically designed for desktop systems, making it the ideal choice for users building or upgrading their desktop computers. It provides ample storage space while maintaining compatibility with standard desktop cases and drive bays.
Expandable Storage
For users who require additional storage capacity, the 3.5-inch form factor allows for easy expansion. Most desktop cases have multiple drive bays, making it simple to add more hard drives as needed without having to invest in additional hardware or adapters.
RAID Configurations
The 3.5-inch form factor is commonly used in RAID configurations, where multiple hard drives are combined for increased performance, data redundancy, or both. The larger size allows for easier installation and management of multiple drives in a RAID array.
Rpm: Not specified
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive does not specify its rotational speed (RPM). While RPM is an important specification for hard drives, especially when considering performance, the absence of this information does not necessarily indicate inferior performance.
Importance of RPM
RPM refers to the rotational speed of the hard drive's platters and is directly related to its performance. Higher RPM typically translates to faster data access times and improved overall performance.
Faster Data Transfer
A higher RPM can result in faster data transfer rates, particularly when dealing with small files or random access patterns. This is beneficial for tasks that require quick access to data, such as gaming or multimedia editing.
Application Load Times
Higher RPM can also reduce application load times, allowing software and games to launch more quickly. This enhances user experience and improves productivity, especially in scenarios where frequent application launches are common.
Importance Varies
While RPM is a significant factor in determining hard drive performance, its importance varies depending on the specific use case. For users primarily storing large files or utilizing the hard drive for backup purposes, the RPM may not be as critical as capacity or reliability. However, for power users, gamers, or professionals working with data-intensive applications, a higher RPM can provide noticeable performance benefits.
Encryption: Not specified
The Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive does not specify whether it includes encryption features. While data security is essential for many users, the absence of this specification does not necessarily mean that the hard drive lacks encryption capabilities.
Importance of Encryption
Data encryption provides an additional layer of security, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. It is particularly crucial for users who store personal or confidential data on their hard drives.
Data Protection
Encryption ensures that even if the hard drive falls into the wrong hands, the data remains secure and inaccessible without the encryption key. This protects sensitive information from being compromised in case of theft or unauthorized access.
Compliance and Regulations
For businesses or organizations that handle sensitive customer data, encryption is often necessary to comply with industry regulations and safeguard customer privacy. Encryption can help meet security requirements and mitigate the risk of data breaches.
Peace of Mind
Using an encrypted hard drive provides peace of mind, knowing that your data is protected against unauthorized access. This is especially valuable for individuals who store personal information, financial records, or confidential work-related files on their hard drives.
In conclusion, the Western Digital Ultrastar 18TB SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive offers a massive storage capacity of 18TB, ensuring users have ample space to store their files. The SATA 6GB/s interface provides fast data transfer rates, improving overall performance and compatibility. While the cache size, rotational speed (RPM), and encryption features are not specified, their importance may vary depending on the specific use case. The 3.5-inch form factor ensures compatibility with desktop systems and offers higher storage capacity compared to smaller form factors. Overall, this hard drive is a reliable choice for users with high storage needs and a variety of applications.