Drive comparison
ST6000DM001 vs ST6000DM003
Seagate Desktop HDD 6TB and Seagate BarraCuda 6TB, compared using published manufacturer specifications.
Seagate
Desktop HDD 6TB
ST6000DM001
SATA 6 Gb/s · 3.5-inch
$244.00
Amazon US · New listing ↗ASIN B013JPKYQC · as of Sep 12, 2026 11:46 UTC
Full specifications & all listings →
Seagate
BarraCuda 6TB
ST6000DM003
SATA 6 Gb/s · 3.5-inch
$249.00
Amazon US · New listing ↗ASIN B075WX2TKM · as of Sep 12, 2026 11:46 UTC
Full specifications & all listings →As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Match the selected variant, condition and seller terms before ordering.
What differs between these models?
- Cache (MB): ST6000DM001 lists 128; ST6000DM003 lists 256.
- Load/unload cycles: ST6000DM001 lists 300000; ST6000DM003 lists 600000.
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
| Specification | ST6000DM001 | ST6000DM003 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Seagate | Seagate |
| Product family | Desktop HDD | BarraCuda |
| Model number | ST6000DM001 | ST6000DM003 |
| Capacity (TB) | 6 | 6 |
| Interface | SATA 6 Gb/s | SATA 6 Gb/s |
| Cache (MB) | 128 | 256 |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch | 3.5-inch |
| Load/unload cycles | 300000 | 600000 |
| Average idle power (W) | 7.2 | Not recorded |
| Power-on hours per year | 2400 | 2400 |
| Workload rating (TB/year) | 55 | 55 |
| Average operating power (W) | 9 | Not recorded |
| Manufacturer limited warranty | 2 years (eligible new drives) | 2 years (eligible new drives) |
| Sustained transfer (up to MB/s) | 220 | Not recorded |
| Recording | Not recorded | SMR |
Compatibility and buying checks
- One or both drives use SMR recording. Check sustained-write and array requirements before choosing one for a NAS or a write-heavy workload.
- Compare new and renewed offers separately. The manufacturer specification does not guarantee the warranty or return policy of a marketplace seller.
Manufacturer sources
ST6000DM001
Seagate Desktop HDD manufacturer specifications ↗ · pages 2
Reviewed 2026-09-07. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.
ST6000DM003
Seagate BarraCuda manufacturer specifications ↗ · pages 3
Reviewed 2026-09-07. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.