Interface: ST16000VN001 lists SATA 6 Gb/s; WD161KFGX lists SATA 6Gb/s.
Cache (MB): ST16000VN001 lists 256; WD161KFGX lists 512.
Workload rating (TB/year): ST16000VN001 lists 180; WD161KFGX lists 550.
Manufacturer limited warranty: ST16000VN001 lists 3 years (eligible new drives); WD161KFGX lists 5 years (eligible new drives).

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 ST16000VN001 and WD161KFGX
Specification	ST16000VN001	WD161KFGX
Manufacturer	Seagate	Western Digital
Product family	IronWolf	WD Red Pro
Model number	ST16000VN001	WD161KFGX
Capacity (TB)	16	16
RPM	7200	7200
NAS bays	Up to 8	Not recorded
Interface	SATA 6 Gb/s	SATA 6Gb/s
Recording	CMR	CMR
Cache (MB)	256	512
Form factor	3.5-inch	3.5-inch
Workload rating (TB/year)	180	550
Manufacturer limited warranty	3 years (eligible new drives)	5 years (eligible new drives)
Physical sector size (bytes)	Not recorded	4096
Sustained transfer (up to MB/s)	Not recorded	259

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.