WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM Enterprise Nearline HDD
Brand: Western Digital | Category: Enterprise HDDs
SKU: WUH721816ALE6L4 | Part #: WUH721816ALE6L4 | MPN: WUH721816ALE6L4
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About the WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM Enterprise Nearline HDD
The WD Ultrastar DC HC550 delivers 16 TB of raw capacity at 7200 RPM, positioning this drive in the high-capacity nearline storage tier for data centers requiring balanced performance and density. Built on Western Digital's ninth-generation HelioSeal® helium platform, the DC HC550 combines enterprise-grade reliability with sustained data throughput up to 255 MB/s, making it suitable for large-scale RAID arrays, archival systems, and mixed workload environments where availability and sequential performance matter equally.
Storage architects and IT procurement teams will appreciate the DC HC550's specification sheet: a 2,500,000-hour MTBF, 550 TB/year rated workload, and non-recoverable read error rate of just 1 per 10^15 bits read underscore Western Digital's commitment to predictable uptime in demanding deployments. The 512 MB cache buffer, paired with the SATA 6Gb/s interface, ensures efficient queue management in multi-drive subsystems. Thermal efficiency is equally noteworthy—active read/write power consumption sits at 6.4 W, while idle consumption drops to 4.2 W, reducing operational costs in high-volume deployments. The 3.5-inch form factor (147 mm × 101.6 mm × 26.1 mm) preserves compatibility with standard rack-mount enclosures. Part number WUH721816ALE6L4 identifies this SKU precisely for procurement and RMA processes. Whether supporting virtualization, backup infrastructure, or content repositories, the DC HC550 delivers the capacity, speed, and reliability expected from Western Digital's enterprise portfolio. Contact Omnixon Global to request a quotation for your nearline storage requirements.
Key Specifications
- Manufacturer: Western Digital
- Model: WD Ultrastar DC HC550
- Part Number: WUH721816ALE6L4
- Raw Capacity: 16 TB
- Interface: SATA 6Gb/s
- Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
- Sustained Transfer Rate: Up to 255 MB/s
- Cache Buffer: 512 MB
- MTBF: 2,500,000 hours
- Rated Workload: 550 TB/year
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Category | Enterprise HDDs |
| SKU | WUH721816ALE6L4 |
| Part Number | WUH721816ALE6L4 |
| Condition | New |
| Model Family | DC HC550 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | WUH721816ALE6L4 |
| Raw Capacity | 16 TB |
| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
| Rotational Speed | 7200 RPM |
| Cache Buffer | 512 MB |
| Sustained Transfer Rate | Up to 255 MB/s |
| Number of Platters | 9 |
| Number of Heads | 18 |
| Sealed Helium Platform | HelioSeal® (9th generation) |
| Rated Workload | 550 TB/year |
| MTBF | 2,500,000 hours |
| Non-recoverable Read Errors | 1 per 10^15 bits read |
| Power Consumption (Active, Read/Write) | 6.4 W |
| Power Consumption (Idle) | 4.2 W |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 60°C |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 147 mm × 101.6 mm × 26.1 mm |
| Weight | 650 g (approximate) |
| Sector Size | 512e (4Kn optional via separate SKU) |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions about WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM Enterprise Nearline HDD
What workloads is the WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 3.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM Enterprise Nearline HDD designed for?
Enterprise mixed-use and ri workloads — including transactional databases, AI inference data, virtualisation, hyperconverged storage, and analytics. Endurance is rated for sustained 24/7 operation, not consumer-style burst use.
Will this SSD work in my Dell / HPE / Lenovo server?
Most enterprise SSDs ship in vendor-branded variants tied to a server QVL. Share your server model and we will quote the correctly-branded SKU (Dell-genuine, HPE-genuine, Lenovo-genuine) so support and firmware update tooling work without complaints.
Do you provide support support locally?
Yes. All units are sourced through distribution, so support registers cleanly with the manufacturer (Samsung / Kioxia / Solidigm / Micron / WD / Seagate) and DOA replacement is handled through our Dubai operations within 5 business days for UAE/GCC.
How do I get a quote for a bulk order?
Use the RFQ form on this page with your quantity and destination. For larger and project-scale orders we engage the vendor directly to prepare a tailored quote, and our pre-sales team follows up with a vendor-confirmed quote.