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Question

Hard Drive Replacement Compatibility Question

Sep 21, 2013 10:27AM PDT

I have a failing 3 3/4 year old 3.5" SATA 3 750 GB hard drive with a 32 MB buffer. This OEM Seagate barracuda model is discontinued. It's really hard to find a replacement at the price point I like. However, I have found a few SATA 6 internal hard drives. Will a "SATA 6" be compatible in a unit that was running an "SATA 3"? Note: The unit was a standard issue Dell XPS 8000 workstation. Thanks in advance.

W!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
So far, yes.
Sep 21, 2013 1:34PM PDT

But my opinion is if the maker and seller won't talk to you then shop elsewhere.
Bob

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Regarding hard drive replacement
Sep 21, 2013 2:58PM PDT

Hello, Mr. Proffitt. Long time no talk to. I don't trust Dell. They want to sell me a compatible replacement part for 20 -30% over over HDs I'm seeing. The actual manufacturer of the OEM drive, Seagate, doesn't make a 3 gb SATA drive anymore (all the internet searches keep turning up that this "apples for apples" drive is discontinued.).

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The reason they don't is simple.
Sep 22, 2013 12:52AM PDT

It's backwards compatible and even if everyone answers this I encounter folk that will not accept the answer.

For those I have had good luck with suggesting they have a shop install it.
Bob

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Answer
3 or 6 (sataII or sata III) really doesn't matter,
Sep 21, 2013 3:22PM PDT