Interface: ST16000NM003G lists SATA 6 Gb/s; WD161KFGX lists SATA 6Gb/s.
Cache (MB): ST16000NM003G lists 256; WD161KFGX lists 512.
Sustained transfer (up to MB/s): ST16000NM003G lists 249; WD161KFGX lists 259.

A larger cache, higher RPM or higher advertised sequential speed alone does not establish which drive is better for your workload.

Specifications side by side

Show differences only

Manufacturer specifications for ST16000NM003G and WD161KFGX
Specification	ST16000NM003G	WD161KFGX
Manufacturer	Seagate	Western Digital
Product family	Exos X16	WD Red Pro
Model number	ST16000NM003G	WD161KFGX
Capacity (TB)	16	16
RPM	7200	7200
Interface	SATA 6 Gb/s	SATA 6Gb/s
Cache (MB)	256	512
Form factor	3.5-inch	3.5-inch
Average idle power (W)	5	Not recorded
Power-on hours per year	8760	Not recorded
Manufacturer limited warranty	5 years (eligible new drives)	5 years (eligible new drives)
Sustained transfer (up to MB/s)	249	259
Recording	Not recorded	CMR
Workload rating (TB/year)	Not recorded	550
Physical sector size (bytes)	Not recorded	4096

Compatibility and buying checks

Compare new and renewed offers separately. The manufacturer specification does not guarantee the warranty or return policy of a marketplace seller.

Reviewed 2026-09-07. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.

Reviewed 2026-08-21. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.