Product Overview
The Seagate ST18000NM003D is an 18TB enterprise hard drive from the Exos X20 family, designed for high-capacity storage in data centres, enterprise servers, and compatible storage systems. Its 3.5-inch form factor, SATA 6Gb/s interface, 7200RPM rotational speed, and 256MB cache make it suitable for demanding business storage environments.
Built with conventional magnetic recording (CMR) and a helium-sealed design, this drive provides high-density storage for enterprise data, large-scale storage pools, and bulk data repositories. The ST18000NM003D is the standard 512e SATA model and supports compatible systems that use Seagate FastFormat to configure the drive for a supported sector format.
Key Features
- 18TB storage capacity: Provides substantial space for business data, enterprise applications, and large storage repositories.
- SATA 6Gb/s interface: Connects to compatible SATA controllers, servers, and storage enclosures.
- 7200RPM rotational speed: Supports enterprise workloads requiring consistent access to stored data.
- 256MB cache: Helps manage data transfers during read and write operations.
- CMR recording technology: Uses conventional magnetic recording for enterprise storage workloads.
- Helium-sealed construction: Supports the internal design of this high-capacity drive.
- Enterprise reliability features: Includes PowerChoice power management, PowerBalance technology, SuperParity, and firmware verification features.
- Hot-plug support: Supports hot-plug operation in compatible systems designed for it.
Recommended Applications
- Enterprise servers and data centre infrastructure
- Compatible SATA storage arrays and disk enclosures
- Business data repositories and centralised storage
- Large-scale backup and archival systems
- Virtualised environments and enterprise storage pools
- High-capacity file and application storage
Performance and Recording Technology
The Exos X20 is designed for enterprise storage environments where capacity, continuous operation, and dependable data access are important. Its 7200RPM spindle speed, 256MB cache, and SATA interface support data-intensive storage workloads.
The drive uses CMR recording and has a nominal 512e sector format. Seagate FastFormat supports conversion to a compatible 4Kn format where required. Check the host controller and operating system requirements before changing sector formats, and back up important data before reconfiguration because the process can erase existing data.
Compatibility Information
The ST18000NM003D is a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive with a 6Gb/s interface. Before installation, verify that your server, storage enclosure, or computer supports 18TB drives and provides compatible SATA data and power connections. For RAID systems, confirm support with the controller manufacturer.
This is a SATA model, not a SAS model. The similar ST18000NM004D is the self-encrypting SATA variant, so check the complete part number when matching a replacement or specifying a security configuration.
Reliability and Enterprise Features
Seagate rates the Exos X20 family for a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 2.5 million hours and a workload rate of up to 550TB per year under the manufacturer's specified conditions. These are product-family reliability ratings, not a guarantee of an individual drive's lifespan or failure rate.
PowerChoice supports selectable idle power management, while PowerBalance is designed to balance power and performance. Actual operation depends on the host system, firmware, workload, cooling, and configuration.
DC Supplies Product Note
The Seagate ST18000NM003D is intended for buyers who need 18TB of enterprise storage through a standard SATA interface. Before ordering, confirm the full MPN, host-system capacity support, and required sector format. Do not substitute a SAS drive or a different security variant without checking compatibility requirements.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|
| Brand | Seagate |
| Part Number MPN | ST18000NM003D |
| Product Type | Internal enterprise hard disk drive |
| Product Family | Exos X20 |
| Storage Capacity | 18TB |
| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
| Rotational Speed | 7200RPM |
| Cache | 256MB |
| Recording Technology | Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) |
| Initial Sector Format | 512e |
| Supported Sector Formats | 512e and 4Kn through supported FastFormat configuration |
| Drive Construction | Helium-sealed |
| Maximum Sustained Transfer Rate | Approximately 270MB/s, depending on workload and measurement |
| Average Latency | 4.16ms |
| Interface Access Speeds | 6.0Gb/s and 3.0Gb/s |
| Interface Ports | Single SATA port |
| MTBF | 2.5 million hours |
| Annualized Failure Rate | Manufacturer-rated 0.35% |
| Nonrecoverable Read Errors | 1 sector per 1015 bits read, manufacturer-rated |
| Power Management | PowerChoice |
| Power/Performance Technology | PowerBalance |
| Hot-Plug Support | Supported in compatible systems |
| Operating Temperature | 5°C to 60°C, drive-reported temperature |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 26.1 × 101.85 × 147mm maximum |
| Weight | Approximately 670g maximum |
| Limited Warranty | 5 years, subject to manufacturer terms and eligibility |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the capacity of the Seagate ST18000NM003D?
This drive provides 18TB of nominal storage capacity for enterprise and high-capacity storage applications.
2. Is the ST18000NM003D a SATA or SAS drive?
It is a SATA 6Gb/s drive. It requires a compatible SATA host connection and is not a SAS model.
3. Is this model self-encrypting?
No. The ST18000NM003D is the standard 512e model. The ST18000NM004D is the corresponding self-encrypting SATA variant.
4. What recording technology does this drive use?
It uses conventional magnetic recording (CMR), a recording method designed for enterprise storage workloads.
5. Can I use this drive in a desktop computer?
Potentially, provided the computer supports 18TB SATA drives and has compatible data and power connections. Check operating system, firmware, and enclosure support before installation.
6. Does it support 4Kn sector formatting?
The drive family supports 512e and 4Kn formats through Seagate FastFormat. Check host compatibility first, and back up data because changing formats can erase existing contents.
