Synology HAT3310-16T 16TB NAS Hard Drive: specs and what they mean

The Synology HAT3310-16T is a 16TB internal hard drive from Synology's Plus series, designed for use in Synology network-attached storage (NAS) systems. It is a part rather than a stand-alone product: it goes inside a DiskStation or similar enclosure, where it can run around the clock. This page explains its specs and what to confirm before choosing it.

What a NAS-grade drive is

A NAS sits on your network and stores files, backups and media for several people or devices, usually staying powered on all day. NAS-class drives are generally built for that pattern: continuous operation, several drives packed close together, and many simultaneous requests. Synology says the Plus series is designed to meet the reliability, durability and performance demands of its storage systems for 24/7 operation, and that strict verification supports stable performance in high-availability, multi-user environments.

Capacity and speed

The key figures from the listing are:

• Capacity: 16TB, in the 3.5-inch form factor.
• Interface: SATA.
• Rotational speed: 7,200 rpm.
• Cache: 512MB.
• Maximum transfer rate: 281MB/s.
• Sector size: 512e.

Higher rotational speed generally gives faster access to data than 5,400 rpm drives, though it can mean a little more noise and heat. The 281MB/s figure is a maximum sequential rate. Everyday file sharing is normally limited by network speed, such as a Gigabit Ethernet connection, long before the drive's top rate. The 512e sector size means the drive presents 512-byte sectors to the system while using larger physical sectors internally, which most modern systems handle.

Reliability figures

Synology rates the drive at an MTTF of 1.2 million hours and a workload of 180TB per year. MTTF is a statistical estimate across many drives, not a promise of how long one drive will last. The workload figure is the amount of data the manufacturer expects to be read and written each year, and a home or small-office NAS typically stays well within it. Synology also describes over 300,000 hours of compatibility and stress testing. A multi-drive setup with redundancy and separate backups is still the standard approach to protecting data.

Firmware updates through DSM

Synology says firmware updates for Plus series drives can be applied directly from DiskStation Manager (DSM), and that DSM notifies users when an update is available. For a drive inside a NAS, that is more convenient than removing it.

Size and warranty

It measures about 6.0 x 5.0 x 2.0 inches (15 x 12.7 x 5 cm) and weighs about 1.6 lb (0.73 kg). The listing mentions a three-year warranty. Check the terms for your region, since the listing describes this as a domestic authorized dealer product.

Who it suits

It suits owners of Synology NAS systems who want to add or replace a drive for backups, photo and video libraries, or shared files at home or in a small office.

What to check before you buy

• Compatibility: confirm the model appears as supported for your Synology NAS in Synology's compatibility list.
• Bay type: it is a 3.5-inch SATA drive, so check your enclosure takes that size.
• Matching drives: mixing capacities in one array can limit the usable space, depending on the RAID setup.
• Backups: a NAS is not a backup by itself, so plan a second copy.
• Noise and heat: 7,200 rpm drives can be audible, so consider where the NAS sits.
• Warranty terms: confirm how the warranty applies where you live.

The short version

• 16TB, 3.5-inch SATA hard drive at 7,200 rpm with a 512MB cache.
• Up to 281MB/s transfer rate, 512e sectors.
• Rated at 1.2 million hours MTTF and 180TB per year workload by Synology.
• Built for Synology NAS systems, with firmware updates through DSM.

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