WD Western Digital Ultrastar series current status

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WD Western Digital Ultrastar series current status

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Here you can see current status of Western Digital Ultrastar series (formerly HGST) , follow my research (May 6th 2020) from official sources - WD product list, WD website, Synology compatibility list.

This is official Western Digital Ultrastar SATA product sheet (all series in two pages).
But you will get just unclear picture about technologies used in these WD product line which could affect or make an impact to NAS operation, in case of such usage.
There is just one information which makes the limitation of usage in NAS environment: Ultrastar hard drives are designed with a workload rating up to 550TB per year.
If you haven't read my blog yet, it's time.

then you need find more from other WD sources as Western Digital official site for HDD Products. Here you can discover basic split of the Ultrastar line into:
- Low capacity (entry level) - ULTRASTAR DC HA200 series
- Medium Capacity - ULTRASTAR DC HC300 series
- High Capacity for Massive Data and Lower TCO - ULTRASTAR DC HC500 series
- Highest Capacity. Sequential Write Workloads - ULTRASTAR DC HC600 SMR series

step by step into each Ultrastar series level (SATA only):

1. ULTRASTAR DC HA200 series
current models:
- HC210 with 1TB capacity (HUS722T1TALA604) known also as Ultrastar 7K2
- HC210 with 2TB capacity (HUS722T2TALA604) known also as Ultrastar 7K2
Designed to handle workloads up to 550TB per year
Note: Tech. spec is similar (or same) to previous known WD RE series (WD1004FBYZ/WD2004FBYZ) or WD Gold EX1000M, mainly:
- 1TB/platter per TB of total capacity
- same 512byte sectors
- same 7200rpm
- same data buffer 128MB
- same seek time 7.7/read and 8.3/write average
- same average latency 4.2ms (nominal)
- same sustained speed 184MB/s
- same chassis used from 2007 by WD
seems to be clear CMR HDD


2. ULTRASTAR DC HC300 series
current models:
- HC310 with 4TB capacity - 3x 1.33TB/platters ... diff. platters than others in this line
- HC310 with 6TB capacity - 4x 1.5 or 1.67TB/platters
- HC320 with 8TB capacity - 5x 1.5 or 1.67TB/platters
- HC330 with 10TB capacity - 6x 1.5 or 1.67TB/platters
Designed to handle workloads up to 550TB per year
Tech. spec:
- data buffer 256MB
- average latency 4.2ms (nominal)
- seek time n/a
Not 100% sure about the CMR


3. ULTRASTAR DC HC500 series (previously known as Ultrastar He10)
current models:
- HC510 with 8TB capacity - Note: previously Ultrastar He10 contains 6-7 platters ... about min. 1.3TB/platter
- HC510 with 10TB capacity - Note: previously Ultrastar He10 contains 7 platters ... about min. 1.4TB/platter
- HC520 with 12TB capacity
- HC530 with 14TB capacity
Designed to handle workloads up to 550TB per year
Tech. spec:
- Helium filled
- data buffer 256MB for HC510 and 512MB for HC520/530
- average latency 4.16ms (nominal) for all models
- seek time 8/read and 8.6/write average
clearly defined CMR by WD in the product sheet

3. ULTRASTAR DC HC600 SMR series (previously known as Ultrastar He10)
current models with Host managed SMR technology (HMSMR):
- HC620 with 14TB capacity
- HC620 with 15TB capacity
Designed to handle workloads up to 550TB per year
Tech. spec:
- data buffer 256MB for HC510 and 512MB for HC520/530
- average latency 4.16ms (nominal) for all models
- seek time n/a
clearly defined SMR (HMSMR) by WD in the product sheet

Results:
There is clear identification of CMR and SMR technology in these HDDs (except HC300 series)
Follow Synology HDD compatibility list, there is known support for Ultrastar DC HCxxx series:
- DC HC310/320/330
- DC HC510/520/530
You can't find DC HC210 series, because Synology doesn't have updated this list. They have in this list Ultrastar 7K2, what is correct, but some update it needs.
Till this time we don't have official Synology statement regarding the HMSMR support in Syno NASes. Then I see it as risk, when you would like to purchase such disk.

I will edit this thread with additional Tech spec.
Cheers.
 
I do not have any of the Ultrastar drives (I'm on Deskstars due to cost) , but if I understand correctly WD did the smart thing and did not mess with this former HGST product line after acquiring them in 2018. These are solid Enterprise drives with a 5 year warranty and very stable. very pricey mind you, but stable....
 

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