[ INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT // HARD DISK DRIVES ]
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723030ALA640
Deskstar 7K3000 3 TB desktop drive, a rotating-platter magnetic storage device. This record describes the complete catalog identity shown above; related models, suffixes, capacities, firmware, and revisions can have different specifications.
IDENTIFICATION: Match the entire model and suffix printed on the drive label. These are mechanical hard drives (HDDs), not solid-state drives; the record does not imply the health or condition of a particular used unit.
Part specifications
| Catalog subcategory | SATA desktop drives |
|---|---|
| Catalog identity | Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723030ALA640 |
| Product family | Deskstar 7K3000 3 TB desktop drive |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch desktop; standard desktop bay and mounting clearance still must be checked against the enclosure. |
| Interface | SATA 6 Gb/s (SATA III). SATA generations negotiate a supported common link rate; this is not a SAS drive. |
| Capacity / speed / cache | 3 TB; 7200 RPM; 64 MB cache. Nominal marketed capacity uses decimal units; the operating system reports formatted capacity differently. |
| Sector / recording details | Advanced Format 512e; use GPT and a compatible host to address the full 3 TB capacity. Recording method, logical sector size, and firmware revision should be checked against the cited model documentation and the actual device. |
| Compatibility | Use a SATA data connection and suitable drive power. Confirm that the motherboard/controller, BIOS/UEFI, operating system, enclosure, and partitioning scheme support this model and capacity. Do not connect directly to a SAS-only cable/backplane assumption without checking host support. |
Compatibility and deployment
This is a 3.5-inch SATA magnetic drive. Check physical bay fit, SATA data cabling, and the correct SATA power connector; a SATA port or cable does not establish that the drive is healthy. For capacities above 2 TB, use a GPT-partitioned disk and an operating system/controller stack that supports the full address range. Installations that must boot from the drive additionally depend on firmware and operating-system boot-mode support.
For a preserved system, record the host chipset, controller mode, OS version, logical/physical sector sizes, and the drive firmware revision. A bridge enclosure can hide or translate device details and may not expose every capacity, sector, or diagnostic feature.
Handling, service & preservation
- Keep the label, full model, serial number, firmware, SMART report, and acquisition/test dates together in the collection record.
- Use SMART and vendor self-tests as diagnostic evidence, not a guarantee of future operation. If read errors, abnormal sounds, or repeated spin-up occur, stop unnecessary retries and preserve a verified copy.
- Do not open an HDD outside a qualified clean environment. Dust, impact, vibration, and uncontrolled power cycling can worsen mechanical damage.
- For long-term storage, maintain independent verified copies, record checksums and read errors, and periodically check stored media.
Model-specific sources
- HGST/Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 Product Data Sheet (manufacturer archive)Manufacturer data sheet identifies the 7K3000 family and its 3 TB SATA model.
- SATA-IO official interface organizationInterface reference for SATA connectivity; GPT/OS and firmware support are separately required to use capacity above the MBR limit.
- SATA-IO official interface organizationInterface reference for the SATA host/device ecosystem; it does not replace model-specific drive specifications.
Specifications are transcribed for the exact model where the cited manufacturer documentation provides them. Check the original document revision and the drive's reported identity before compatibility or preservation work.