WD Ultrastar DC HC580 24TB 3.5-inch SATA Hard Drive: specs and fit

The WD Ultrastar DC HC580 is a 24TB internal hard disk drive in the 3.5-inch format. The model is WUH722424ALE6L4, and the part number is 0F62796. Ultrastar is Western Digital's data centre line, so this drive is aimed at servers, storage arrays and large NAS systems rather than ordinary desktop use.

What the listing tells us

The listing for this drive is short. It gives the capacity, the form factor, the interface, the spin speed and the cache size, and little else. The facts below are what it states:

• Capacity: 24 TB
• Form factor: 3.5 inches (8.9 cm), internal
• Interface: SATA 6Gb/s
• Speed: 7200 rpm
• Buffer: 512 MB

Anything beyond that, such as the recording technology, endurance figure or power draw, should be checked in Western Digital's datasheet for the exact part number.

What 24TB gets you

A single 24TB drive can hold a huge amount: a very large photo or video archive, years of surveillance footage, or backups of many computers. Capacity per drive matters in a NAS or server because each bay holds more data, which reduces the number of drives, bays and cables you need for a given total.

A drive this large also takes a long time to fill, to back up and to rebuild if a RAID array replaces a failed disk. Plan the redundancy and backups to match. A RAID array protects against a drive failing, but it is not a backup.

SATA 6Gb/s and 7200 rpm

SATA 6Gb/s is the interface used by most consumer and many enterprise drives, so the HC580 connects to ordinary SATA ports on motherboards, host bus adapters and NAS backplanes. A 7200 rpm spin speed is typical for performance-oriented hard drives. In general, it gives quicker access than the 5400 rpm class, though it often means more noise and heat as well.

Hard disks cannot match SSD speeds. Sequential transfers on large drives are fast for a hard disk, but random access is much slower than on flash storage.

The 512 MB buffer

The buffer, or cache, is a block of fast memory on the drive that smooths data transfer between the drive and the computer. A larger buffer typically helps when handling bursts of reads and writes. It does not change the drive's capacity.

Size and installation

The listed dimensions are about 5.8 x 4.0 x 1.0 inches, and the weight is around 1.5 lb, which is standard for a 3.5-inch drive. It needs a 3.5-inch bay or a mounting bracket, a SATA data cable and a SATA power connector. Some data centre drives are designed for rack servers with good airflow, so make sure the enclosure can cool a drive this size.

Who it suits

It suits people building large storage systems: servers, big NAS units, media archives and backup targets. It is likely more than a typical home computer needs. Compatibility details, such as warranty terms and supported environments, should be taken from Western Digital's own documents, because the listing does not describe them.

What to check before you buy

• Bay and connector: confirm a 3.5-inch bay with SATA power and data connections.
• Host support: older controllers and some NAS units limit the maximum drive size, so check the maker's support list.
• Cooling and noise: a 7200 rpm drive generates heat and audible noise, so check airflow.
• Redundancy: plan RAID levels and a separate backup.
• Rebuild time: very large drives take a long time to rebuild.
• Datasheet: get the full specifications and warranty from the manufacturer.

The short version

• 24TB internal 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s hard drive from Western Digital's Ultrastar line.
• Spins at 7200 rpm with a 512 MB buffer.
• Meant for servers, arrays and large NAS systems.
• Check controller support, cooling and backup plans before installing.

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