ALIENCULTIST.COM
HARDWARE ARCHIVES // HDD MODEL RECORD

[ IDENTIFIED HDD // MODEL-SPECIFIC RECORD ]

Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 ST373455LC

73.4 GB; 3.5-inch; Cheetah 15K.5 parallel SCSI. This exact SKU record distinguishes its connector suffix and generation; verify the label and firmware before installation or recovery.

Original local schematic for Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 ST373455LC; not a photograph or dimensional drawing
LOCAL MODEL-CODED ART // NOT TO SCALE OR A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPH

IDENTIFICATION: Preserve the full model and suffix from the nameplate. This is parallel SCSI, not SAS; matching drive generation, connector, signaling, SCSI ID and termination to the host bus is essential.

Recorded specifications

Exact model / SKUSeagate Cheetah 15K.5 ST373455LC
Formatted capacity73.4 GB (manufacturer decimal GB convention; firmware-visible capacity may vary by configuration)
Form factor3.5-inch enterprise HDD
SCSI generation / interfaceCheetah 15K.5 parallel SCSI; Ultra320 SCSI, LVD/SE bus support (backward operation depends on the entire bus)
Connector80-pin SCA-2 single-connector attachment (LC; LVD/SE-capable)
Spindle speed15,000 RPM
Cache16 MB multi-segmented cache
Logical sectors512 bytes per logical sector in the documented default format. Actual block count depends on exact firmware and any low-level reformatting; query SCSI READ CAPACITY rather than infer from nominal GB.
Termination / jumper compatibilityThis SCA model has no conventional user-facing 68-pin jumper block. Use an SCA-2 backplane that assigns a unique SCSI ID and provides correct bus termination; for bench use, a documented 80-to-68-pin interposer must supply ID and term-power configuration.
Age and reliability contextmid-2000s product generation. It was designed for enterprise duty, but any surviving unit is now aged; historical MTBF/AFR ratings are population statistics and cannot establish present condition.

Compatibility, reliability & preservation

  • Confirm that the host adapter supports parallel Ultra320 SCSI and the drive's LVD signaling; do not connect a parallel SCSI drive to a SAS-only or SATA-only port.
  • This SCA model has no conventional user-facing 68-pin jumper block. Use an SCA-2 backplane that assigns a unique SCSI ID and provides correct bus termination; for bench use, a documented 80-to-68-pin interposer must supply ID and term-power configuration.
  • For a multidrop bus, give every target a unique SCSI ID and place compatible termination only at the two physical ends. LVD buses can fall back to single-ended operation if mixed devices/cabling require it, reducing speed; follow the exact manual and controller limits.
  • Inspect the drive label, connector, jumper state, firmware, and any interposer before powering on. Do not hot-plug unless the backplane/controller design explicitly supports it.
  • Record serial/model/firmware and preserve the original jumpers, carrier, controller, cabling, and acquisition notes. Keep independent verified copies; age, prior workload, heat, vibration and storage conditions dominate an individual drive's remaining life.
  • If the device clicks, repeatedly spins up, disconnects, or returns read errors, stop unnecessary power cycles and writes. Prioritize a controlled read-only image or qualified recovery help; do not open the sealed assembly.

Sources & model documentation

  1. Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 SCSI Product Manual — manufacturer PDFSeagate Cheetah 15K.5 SCSI product manual; LW/LC model suffixes and SCA installation are covered in the family manual. The manual includes the specification table and bus configuration, installation, jumper and termination guidance.
  2. Cheetah 15K.5 SCSI manual copy / archiveIndependent manual-library or preservation copy for cross-reference; consult the Seagate-hosted manual as primary documentation.
  3. Model/family installation manual listingManual listing used to corroborate model-family coverage and installation diagrams; verify exact suffix before applying jumper settings.

Specifications above are scoped to the cited family manual; nominal family specifications do not guarantee the health or state of an individual used drive.