HP C7975A LTO-5 Ultrium Tape Cartridge 1.5TB/3TB

Name: HP C7975A LTO-5 Ultrium Tape Cartridge 1.5TB/3TB
Brand: HP
SKU: HPC7975A

HP LTO-5 Ultrium tape cartridge with 1.5TB native capacity and AES-256 encryption for secure long-term data storage.

$26.98*

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The HP C7975A LTO-5 Ultrium Data Cartridge is a high-capacity tape storage medium designed for enterprise backup, archival, and disaster recovery workflows. With a native capacity of 1.5TB that extends to 3TB with hardware compression, it offers one of the lowest cost-per-gigabyte ratios available in data storage. The cartridge supports native AES-256 bit key encryption, allowing organizations to protect sensitive data at the hardware level without relying on third-party encryption software — a critical feature for meeting regulatory compliance requirements in industries like healthcare, finance, and government.

Built for longevity and reliability, the C7975A incorporates active internal head cleaning that helps maintain consistent read/write performance over the life of the cartridge, along with self-diagnostic capabilities that monitor media integrity and flag potential issues proactively. The LTO-5 format is designed for dependable record retention measured in decades, making it well-suited for long-term archival where data must remain accessible and intact for years or even decades. Each cartridge is sold individually and is compatible with any LTO-5 tape drive, with read compatibility extending to LTO-6 and LTO-7 generation drives.

Key Features

Sold as 1 EA.

High capacity; low cost per GB.

Native AES-256 bit key encryption.

Active internal head cleaning; self-diagnostic capacities.

Dependable record retention.

Specifications

Brand

Model

C7975A

Format

LTO-5 Ultrium

Native Capacity

1.5 TB

Compressed Capacity

3 TB

Encryption

Native AES-256 bit

Head Cleaning

Active Internal

Diagnostics

Self-Diagnostic Capabilities

Unit of Sale

1 cartridge (sold individually)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

1.5TB native capacity (3TB compressed) provides substantial storage on a single cartridge at a low cost per gigabyte
Native AES-256 bit encryption protects sensitive data without requiring separate encryption software
Built-in self-diagnostic capabilities and internal head cleaning help maintain reliable performance over time
LTO-5 format offers long archival life rated for decades of dependable record retention
Compatible with LTO-6 and LTO-7 drives for read access, extending the cartridge's useful lifespan

👎 Cons

Requires an LTO-5 compatible tape drive to use, which is a significant upfront hardware investment
Sequential access only — retrieving specific files is much slower than random-access storage like hard drives or SSDs
Not backward-compatible with LTO-4 or older drives for read or write operations
Compressed capacity of 3TB depends on data type — already-compressed files like video or images see little to no compression benefit

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the storage capacity of this LTO-5 cartridge?

The HP C7975A offers 1.5TB of native storage capacity, which increases to 3TB when using hardware compression (assuming a typical 2:1 compression ratio, which varies depending on data type).

Does this tape cartridge encrypt data automatically?

The cartridge supports native AES-256 bit encryption, but encryption must be enabled and managed through your LTO-5 compatible tape drive or backup software — the cartridge itself stores encrypted data when the drive writes it in encrypted mode.

Is this cartridge compatible with older LTO drives?

LTO-5 cartridges can be read by LTO-6 and LTO-7 drives (read-only) and are fully read/write compatible with LTO-5 drives. They are not compatible with LTO-4 or older drives.

How long can data be reliably stored on this tape?

HP LTO-5 Ultrium cartridges are designed for long-term archival storage with a rated media durability of up to 30 years under recommended storage conditions.

Does the cartridge require any maintenance?

The cartridge features active internal head cleaning and self-diagnostic capabilities, which help maintain read/write performance and alert you to potential media issues before data loss occurs.