Description
The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC310 series represents a significant upgrade for professional storage environments, delivering 6TB of capacity with a high-performance 7200 RPM spindle speed. Engineered for reliability, these 3.5-inch hard drives are available in both SATA 6Gb/s and SAS 12Gb/s interfaces to suit diverse server architectures. With a 256MB cache and a workload rating designed for 24/7 operation, the HC310 ensures consistent data throughput and long-term durability in high-vibration, multi-drive enclosures.
- Data center administrators requiring high-density storage with a 2-million-hour MTBF for server farms.
- Small to medium business owners looking for reliable drives to populate NAS or RAID arrays for local backups.
- Creative professionals and videographers who need stable, high-capacity archives for 4K and 8K raw footage.
- Surveillance system integrators seeking enterprise-grade endurance for continuous video recording cycles.
- IT specialists building high-availability clusters that utilize SAS multi-path I/O for redundant data paths.
- Model Numbers: HUS726T6TALE6L4 (SATA) / HUS726T6TAL5204 (SAS)
- Capacity: 6TB
- Form Factor: 3.5-inch
- Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
- Cache Size: 256MB
- Interface Options: SATA 6Gb/s or SAS 12Gb/s
- Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 2,000,000 hours
- Annualized Failure Rate (AFR): 0.44%
- Warranty: 5-Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty
Operating the Ultrastar DC HC310 reveals a level of mechanical precision not found in standard desktop drives. The 7200 RPM motor provides significantly lower access times and higher sustained transfer rates, which is critical for database applications and large file transfers. In multi-drive environments, the drive's advanced vibration protection technology maintains performance stability even when surrounding drives are active. The 256MB cache effectively manages data bursts, ensuring that the interface remains a conduit rather than a bottleneck during heavy read/write cycles.
Choosing between the SAS and SATA variants depends on your specific infrastructure needs. The SAS model is designed for mission-critical enterprise applications, supporting full-duplex data transmission where read and write operations occur simultaneously. SAS also offers dual-port connectivity for multi-path I/O, providing hardware-level redundancy that SATA cannot match. While SATA is limited to 1-meter cable lengths and half-duplex communication, it remains the cost-effective choice for general-purpose enterprise storage and high-capacity cold storage where the advanced SCSI command set of SAS is not required.
What is the main difference between the SAS and SATA versions of the HC310?
- The SAS version supports full-duplex communication and dual-porting for redundancy, while the SATA version is half-duplex and single-port, making SAS better for high-availability mission-critical tasks.
Can I use the WD Ultrastar DC HC310 in a home NAS system?
- Yes, the HC310 is compatible with most NAS enclosures that support 3.5-inch SATA drives, offering superior durability compared to standard consumer NAS drives.
What does the 2 million hour MTBF signify for this drive?
- It indicates a high level of reliability and a low annualized failure rate, meaning the drive is engineered to withstand the rigors of 24/7 operation in a professional data center environment.
Does this drive come with a warranty?
- Yes, Western Digital provides a 5-year limited warranty for the Ultrastar DC HC310, reflecting its positioning as a premium enterprise-grade component.
What are the cable length limitations for these interfaces?
- SATA interfaces support a maximum cable length of 1 meter, whereas SAS interfaces can support data cables up to 8 meters in length, allowing for more flexible rack configurations.
