[ INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER HDD SKU ]
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS
500 GB consumer SATA magnetic hard drive. This record identifies the exact Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS model only; capacities, suffixes, firmware and revisions within a product family can differ.
IDENTIFICATION: Identify by full code ST3500418AS; its suffix distinguishes it from other 500 GB models. Read the full drive label and match the source-document revision before installation.
Model and capacity specifications
| Exact model / SKU | Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500 GB nominal decimal capacity; formatted user-addressable space is lower. |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch desktop HDD. Check bay height, mounting clearance and airflow. |
| Host interface | SATA 3 Gb/s SATA data and SATA power; this is not a SAS drive. SATA link generation negotiates with a supported host. |
| Rotational speed | 7,200 RPM |
| Cache | 16 MB DRAM |
| Sector format | 512-byte logical sectors; check the drive IDENTIFY data for actual physical-sector presentation. |
| Recording technology | PMR / CMR, conventional non-shingled recording. |
| Workload and reliability | Consumer desktop duty. The historical 7200.12 manual includes population-level reliability specifications; those statistics do not predict the state of a used unit and do not certify 24/7 or RAID use. |
| Host compatibility | Requires a SATA-capable motherboard/controller, SATA data connection, compatible SATA power, 3.5-inch mounting and an OS/controller stack that supports the complete capacity and sector format. For disks over 2 TB, use GPT and full-capacity-capable firmware/OS; booting from the device is a separate compatibility check. |
Host integration and preservation
Connector fit alone does not prove capacity or sector compatibility. Confirm the actual model, firmware, sector presentation and link negotiation in the target host before partitioning. A USB bridge may translate or hide device details.
- Record model and firmware, host controller, OS, sector sizes and SMART diagnostics before service.
- If the disk contains needed data or reports read errors, avoid writes, formatting, repeated power cycling and stress tests; preserve a verified image or consult a qualified recovery specialist.
- SMART and vendor self-tests are diagnostic evidence, not a guarantee. Keep independent verified backups and never rely on one aging HDD as the sole copy.
- SMR devices can differ in sustained-write and rebuild behavior; select workload-sensitive use only after checking exact model documentation.
Manufacturer specifications and sources
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 Serial ATA Product Manual, Rev. HOfficial manufacturer manual for model-family capacity, mechanics, sector and operating specifications.
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 Serial ATA Product Manual, Rev. BEarlier official manufacturer specification revision for this legacy desktop HDD family.
Use the manufacturer documents to validate the full SKU and revision. Recheck physical sector reporting and SMART data on the actual device before deployment.