WD Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB 7.2K RPM HDD SATA-6GBPS 256MB 512E SE Enterprise Buffer 0B36404

Product Overview

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB enterprise hard drive, with part number 0B36404, is designed to meet the rigorous demands of data centers and enterprise environments. This drive belongs to the Ultrastar product line and the DC HC320 series, providing reliable and high-capacity storage solutions.

Brand and Series

• Brand: Western Digital
• Series: Ultrastar DC HC320
• Part Number: 0B36404

Applications & Environments

• Ideal for distributed file systems, such as Apache Hadoop, supporting large-scale data analytics.
• Suitable for Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems.
• Compatible with RAID arrays for enhanced data protection and performance.

Key Features

Storage Specifications

• Capacity: 8TB
• Enclosure Type: Internal
• Maximum Area Density: 834 Gb/sq. inch
• Interface: SATA 6Gbps
• Drive Size: 3.5 inches
• MTBF: 2 million hours

Drive Performance

Transfer Rates and Speed

• Interface Transfer Rate: 600 Mbps
• Sustained Transfer Rate: Up to 255 Mbps
• Seek Time (Read, Typical): 8.0 ms
• Seek Time (Write, Typical): 8.6 ms
• Average Latency: 4.16 ms
• Buffer Size: 256 MB
• Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM

Physical Specifications

Dimensions and Weight

• Z-height: 26.1 mm
• Dimensions (W x D): 101.6 x 147 mm

Rpm: 7200

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD is a high-capacity hard drive designed for enterprise-level storage applications. One of its standout features is its rotational speed, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). The Ultrastar DC HC320 operates at a speed of 7200 RPM, which offers several benefits and advantages for users.

Improved Performance

The 7200 RPM speed of the Ultrastar DC HC320 ensures faster data access and retrieval. With higher RPM, the hard drive's platters spin faster, reducing the latency between accessing different parts of the disk. This results in improved read and write speeds, allowing for quicker file transfers and data processing.

Whether you are running resource-intensive applications, performing data analysis, or handling large databases, the 7200 RPM speed of the Ultrastar DC HC320 ensures smooth and efficient performance.

Enhanced Workload Handling

Enterprise environments often deal with heavy workloads and demanding applications that require fast and reliable storage solutions. The 7200 RPM speed of the Ultrastar DC HC320 enables it to handle these workloads effectively.

By spinning at a higher speed, the hard drive can handle concurrent read and write operations more efficiently. This is particularly important in scenarios where multiple users are accessing and modifying data simultaneously or when running virtual machines or hosting databases that require constant read/write operations.

Reduced Data Transfer Time

The 7200 RPM speed of the Ultrastar DC HC320 allows for faster data transfer rates. Whether you are copying large files, backing up data, or streaming multimedia content, the higher rotational speed ensures quicker transfer times.

In enterprise settings where time is of the essence, the reduced data transfer time provided by the 7200 RPM speed can significantly improve productivity and operational efficiency.

Compatibility and Flexibility

The 7200 RPM speed is a widely supported standard in the industry, making the Ultrastar DC HC320 compatible with a variety of systems and applications. It is suitable for use in servers, storage arrays, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, and other enterprise-grade systems.

Additionally, if you need to upgrade or expand your storage infrastructure in the future, the 7200 RPM speed ensures compatibility with other devices and allows for seamless integration into existing setups.

Interface: SATA-6GBPS

The interface of a hard drive determines how it connects and communicates with other devices. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD utilizes a SATA-6GBPS interface, which offers several benefits and advantages for users in enterprise environments.

High-Speed Data Transfer

The SATA-6GBPS interface provides a high-speed data transfer rate of up to 6 gigabits per second (Gbps). This allows for efficient and rapid data transfer between the hard drive and other components of the system, such as the motherboard or RAID controller.

With faster data transfer rates, you can experience improved overall system performance, reduced waiting times, and quicker access to stored data. This is particularly important in enterprise environments where time-sensitive operations are common.

Compatibility and Ease of Use

The SATA-6GBPS interface is a widely adopted standard in the industry, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices and systems. The Ultrastar DC HC320 can seamlessly connect to various servers, workstations, and storage arrays that support SATA interfaces.

Furthermore, the SATA interface is known for its plug-and-play functionality, allowing for easy installation and setup. This makes it convenient for IT professionals to integrate the Ultrastar DC HC320 into existing systems or build new ones without complications.

Scalability and Future-Proofing

The SATA-6GBPS interface provides scalability and future-proofing capabilities. It offers enough bandwidth to accommodate higher-capacity hard drives and faster data transfer technologies that may emerge in the future.

By choosing a hard drive with a SATA-6GBPS interface like the Ultrastar DC HC320, you can be confident that your storage infrastructure can support future upgrades and advancements without requiring significant changes or replacements.

Cache: 256MB

The cache is a small section of high-speed memory located on the hard drive itself. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD features a generous 256MB cache size, which contributes to improved performance and user experience in enterprise environments.

Faster Data Access

The 256MB cache size allows the Ultrastar DC HC320 to store frequently accessed data closer to the read/write heads, reducing the time it takes to retrieve information. By keeping frequently accessed data readily available in the cache, the hard drive can deliver faster access times and improved overall performance.

In scenarios where multiple users are accessing the same files or when handling applications that rely heavily on cached data, such as databases or virtual machines, the larger cache size becomes particularly beneficial.

Enhanced Sequential and Random Read Performance

A larger cache size positively impacts both sequential and random read performance. Sequential read operations involve reading consecutive blocks of data, while random read operations involve accessing data from various locations on the hard drive.

With a larger cache, the Ultrastar DC HC320 can store more sequential and random data, reducing the need to retrieve information from the disk platters. This results in improved read performance for both sequential and random operations, enabling faster data retrieval and better overall system responsiveness.

Improved Write Performance

The cache also plays a crucial role in writing performance. When writing data to the hard drive, the Ultrastar DC HC320 can temporarily store the incoming data in the cache before writing it to the disk platters.

By utilizing a larger cache, the hard drive can efficiently handle bursts of incoming data, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted write operations. This is particularly important in enterprise environments where continuous data streams or high-volume write operations are common.

Sector Size: 512E

The sector size refers to the smallest addressable unit on a hard drive. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD features a sector size of 512E (512 Emulation), which offers several benefits and advantages for users in enterprise settings.

Compatibility with Legacy Systems

The 512E sector size is designed to be compatible with legacy systems that are not optimized for larger sector sizes. This allows the Ultrastar DC HC320 to work seamlessly with older hardware, operating systems, and applications that may not support advanced sector sizes.

If you are upgrading an existing storage infrastructure or integrating the Ultrastar DC HC320 into older systems, the 512E sector size ensures compatibility and prevents any potential compatibility issues that might arise with larger sector sizes.

Efficient Storage Utilization

The 512E sector size strikes a balance between compatibility and efficient storage utilization. While larger sector sizes like 4K (4096 bytes) offer advantages in terms of increased capacity and reduced overhead, they may not be fully supported by all systems and applications.

With the 512E sector size, the Ultrastar DC HC320 can maximize storage capacity while maintaining compatibility with a wide range of systems and software. This ensures efficient storage utilization without sacrificing compatibility or performance.

Seamless Transition to Advanced Sector Sizes

Although the 512E sector size is compatible with legacy systems, it also allows for a seamless transition to advanced sector sizes in the future. As technology progresses, larger sector sizes may become more prevalent and offer greater advantages.

By using a hard drive with the 512E sector size, such as the Ultrastar DC HC320, you can easily migrate to advanced sector sizes when your infrastructure and applications are ready for it. This future-proofs your storage solution and ensures that you can take advantage of the latest technologies without requiring significant changes or replacements.

Usage: Enterprise

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD is specifically designed for enterprise usage, making it an ideal choice for demanding storage environments. The enterprise designation signifies that the hard drive meets the rigorous requirements of business-critical applications and offers several benefits for enterprise users.

Reliability and Durability

Enterprise hard drives like the Ultrastar DC HC320 are built to withstand heavy workloads and operate reliably in demanding environments. They undergo stringent testing and quality control processes to ensure maximum reliability and durability.

With an enterprise-grade hard drive, you can trust that your data will be securely stored without experiencing premature failures or unexpected errors. This is essential for businesses that rely on consistent access to their data for operations, analytics, customer service, and other critical functions.

24/7 Operation

Enterprise environments often require continuous availability and operation. The Ultrastar DC HC320 is designed to handle 24/7 usage, making it suitable for applications that require round-the-clock access to data.

Whether you need to support mission-critical systems, run database servers, or provide uninterrupted access to cloud-based services, the enterprise-grade Ultrastar DC HC320 ensures reliable performance and data availability at all times.

Data Security and Protection

Data security and protection are paramount in enterprise settings. The Ultrastar DC HC320 comes equipped with various features and technologies to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of stored data.

These features may include error correction codes (ECC) to detect and correct data errors, advanced power loss protection mechanisms to safeguard against data loss during power outages, and self-encrypting drive (SED) options for enhanced data security and compliance with industry standards.

Buffer: SE

The buffer, also known as the buffer cache or disk cache, is a small amount of high-speed memory located on the hard drive itself. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD features a buffer with the SE (Standard Error Correction) designation, which offers several benefits and advantages for users in enterprise environments.

Error Detection and Correction

The SE buffer design of the Ultrastar DC HC320 includes error detection and correction capabilities. Error correction codes (ECC) are used to identify and correct errors that may occur during data transfer or storage.

By having an SE buffer, the hard drive can detect and correct errors in real time, ensuring data integrity and preventing potential data loss or corruption. This is especially crucial in enterprise settings where data accuracy is essential for critical operations and compliance with industry regulations.

Improved Data Reliability

The SE buffer enhances data reliability by providing an additional layer of protection against errors and potential data loss. By detecting and correcting errors as they occur, the buffer helps maintain the integrity and accuracy of stored data.

In enterprise environments where data is constantly accessed, modified, and transferred, the improved data reliability provided by the SE buffer ensures that important information remains intact and accessible when needed.

Enhanced Performance

The SE buffer can also contribute to improved overall performance. By detecting and correcting errors within the buffer itself, the hard drive can reduce the need for re-reading or re-writing data due to errors.

This results in faster read and write operations, reduced latency, and improved system responsiveness. In enterprise environments where time-sensitive operations are common, the enhanced performance provided by the SE buffer can significantly improve productivity and efficiency.

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC320 8TB HDD offers a range of impressive features that make it an excellent choice for enterprise storage needs. From its 7200 RPM speed to its SATA-6GBPS interface, 256MB cache, 512E sector size, enterprise usage designation, and SE buffer, this hard drive delivers reliable performance, compatibility, speed, and data protection for demanding business environments.