Seagate BARRACUDA ST3500620SS - Manual (Page 13)

Barracuda ES.2 SAS Product Manual, Rev. E 9
3.5 Formatted capacities
Standard OEM models are formatted to 512 bytes per block. The block size is selectable at format time and
must be a multiple of 4 bytes. Users having the necessary equipment may modify the data block size before
issuing a format command and obtain different formatted capacities than those listed.
To provide a stable target capacity environment and at the same time provide users with flexibility if they
choose, Seagate recommends product planning in one of two modes:
1. Seagate designs specify capacity points at certain block sizes that Seagate guarantees current and future
products will meet. We recommend customers use this capacity in their project planning, as it ensures a
stable operating point with backward and forward compatibility from generation to generation. The current
guaranteed operating points for this product are:
Sector Size
ST31000640SS ST3750630SS ST3500620SS
Decimal Decimal Decimal
512 1,953,525,168 1,465,149,168 976,773,168
520 1,923,076,930 1,442,307,698 961,538,465
524 1,882,972,562 1,412,229,422 941,486,281
528 1,876,331,330 1,407,248,498 938,165,665
2. Seagate drives also may be used at the maximum available capacity at a given block size, but the excess
capacity above the guaranteed level will vary between other drive families and from generation to genera-
tion, depending on how each block size actually formats out for zone frequencies and splits over servo
bursts. This added capacity potential may range from 0.1 to 1.3 percent above the guaranteed capacities
listed above. Using the drives in this manner gives the absolute maximum capacity potential, but the user
must determine if the extra capacity potential is useful, or whether their assurance of backward and for-
ward compatibility takes precedence.
3.6 Programmable drive capacity
Using the Mode Select command, the drive can change its capacity to something less than maximum. See the
Mode Select (6) parameter list table in the SAS Interface Manual, part number 100293071. A value of zero in
the Number of Blocks field indicates that the drive will not change the capacity it is currently formatted to have.
A number other than zero and less than the maximum number of LBAs in the Number of Blocks field changes
the total drive capacity to the value in the Number of Blocks field. A value greater than the maximum number of
LBAs is rounded down to the maximum capacity.
3.7 Factory-installed options
You may order the following items which are incorporated at the manufacturing facility during production or
packaged before shipping. Some of the options available are (not an exhaustive list of possible options):
• Other capacities can be ordered depending on sparing scheme and sector size requested.
• Single-unit shipping pack. The drive is normally shipped in bulk packaging to provide maximum protection
against transit damage. Units shipped individually require additional protection as provided by the single unit
shipping pack. Users planning single unit distribution should specify this option.
• The Safety and Regulatory Agency Specifications, part number 75789512, is usually included with each
standard OEM drive shipped, but extra copies may be ordered.