Technical Snapshot

The WD Gold 16TB SATA is an enterprise-class 3.5" hard disk drive designed for demanding server and data center workloads. Spinning at 7,200 RPM with a 512 MB cache buffer, it delivers sustained transfer rates up to 262 MB/s over a SATA 6Gb/s interface. The drive is rated for 550 TB/year workload with a 2,500,000 hours MTBF, backed by WD's enterprise reliability engineering. With 16TB of raw storage capacity, it is suited for file servers, RAID arrays, backup infrastructure, and high-capacity storage deployments. Part of the WD Gold product line.

Use Case
Enterprise file servers, RAID arrays, data center storage
Compatibility
Standard 3.5" drive bay, SATA 6Gb/s interface
Category
Enterprise Hard Disk Drive — WD Gold
WD GOLD Image not available
WD HDD
WD Gold

Gold 16TB SATA

SATA 6Gb/s · 3.5" · 7,200 RPM · 512 MB · 16TB

Total raw storage capacity of the drive.
Capacity 16TB
Rotational speed of the disk platters. Higher RPM provides faster sequential and random I/O performance.
RPM 7,200
On-drive DRAM buffer for caching frequently accessed data and optimizing read/write operations.
Cache 512 MB
Annual workload rating. Enterprise drives support sustained 24/7 heavy use in server and NAS environments.
Workload 550 TB/year
MPNWD161KRYZ
EAN718037872957
CategoryHard Disk Drives
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Drive Specifications

Form Factor3.5"
InterfaceSATA 6Gb/s
RPM7,200 RPM
Cache512 MB
Sustained Transfer Rate262 MB/s
Workload Rating550 TB/year
MTBF2,500,000 hours
Power (Idle)5.7W
Power (Operating)8.8W

Full Specifications

Data sourced from WD product specifications
Drive
SeriesGold
Capacity16TB
Form Factor3.5"
InterfaceSATA 6Gb/s
RPM7,200 RPM
Cache512 MB
Performance
Sustained Transfer Rate262 MB/s
Workload Rating550 TB/year
Reliability
MTBF2,500,000 hours
Power (Idle)5.7W
Power (Operating)8.8W
Product
BrandWD
SegmentEnterprise
MPNWD161KRYZ
EAN718037872957
Physical
Package Dimensions50.8 x 30.48 x 19.05 cm

Support & Downloads

WD Gold 16TB SATA Firmware UpdateLatest firmware · Check WD support
WD Support →
WD Gold 16TB SATA DatasheetPDF · Technical specifications
WD Support →
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gold 16TB SATA compatible with my NAS?

Yes, the WD Gold 16TB SATA uses a standard SATA 6Gb/s interface and 3.5" form factor, compatible with any NAS that accepts 3.5" SATA drives. It is widely supported by Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, and Unraid systems. The 550 TB/year workload rating makes it suitable for always-on NAS environments.

Can I use the Gold 16TB SATA in a RAID array?

Yes. The WD Gold 16TB SATA is designed for RAID deployments. Its 550 TB/year workload rating and 2,500,000 hours MTBF ensure reliability in RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, and ZFS configurations. Enterprise and NAS drives include error recovery features (TLER/ERC) for RAID controller compatibility.

What does the 550 TB/year workload rating mean?

The workload rating indicates the maximum annual data transfer the drive supports while maintaining stated reliability. 550 TB/year means the drive supports approximately 1.5 TB of data transfer per day, suitable for busy file servers and multi-user environments.

How fast is the Gold 16TB SATA?

The WD Gold 16TB SATA spins at 7,200 RPM with a 512 MB cache buffer, delivering sustained transfer rates up to 262 MB/s. This is optimal for sequential workloads like large file transfers and backup operations.

How much power does the Gold 16TB SATA consume?

The WD Gold 16TB SATA draws 8.8W under operating load and 5.7W at idle. For multi-drive configurations, factor these values into your power budget — a 12-drive array would consume approximately 106W under load.

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