Seagate ST320LT012 320GB Laptop Thin Hard Drive

Name: Seagate ST320LT012 320GB Laptop Thin Hard Drive
Brand: Seagate
SKU: ST320LT012

Overview

The Seagate ST320LT012 Laptop Thin hard drive is designed for notebooks and ultrabooks where space is at a premium. With its 7mm z-height, it fits into slim chassis that cannot accommodate the standard 9.5mm drives, making it a practical upgrade or replacement option for thin-and-light laptops. The drive offers 320GB of storage capacity, a 5400RPM spindle speed, and a 16MB cache buffer, delivering steady performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media playback.

The SATA 3Gb/s interface ensures broad compatibility with a wide range of laptops, while Seagate's Smart Align technology handles Advanced Format 4K sector alignment transparently — no additional utilities or manual partition alignment steps are needed. This makes installation straightforward for users upgrading or replacing a failed drive. While the 5400RPM speed and modest capacity place this drive squarely in the basic storage tier, it remains a solid choice for users who need a reliable, slim mechanical drive at an affordable price point.

Key Features

Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT012 320 GB 2.5 Internal Hard Drive SATA - 5400 rpm - 16 MB Buffer - 1 Pack (ST320LT012)

Seagate ST320LT012

Specifications

Brand

Seagate

Model

ST320LT012

Series

Momentus Thin 5400.9

Capacity

320 GB

Form Factor

2.5-Inch

Z-Height

7mm

Spindle Speed

5400 RPM

Interface

SATA 3Gb/s

Cache

16 MB

Technology

Smart Align (Advanced Format 4K)

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Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

7mm slim profile fits ultrabooks and thin laptops where standard drives won't
16MB cache buffer helps smooth out read and write performance
Smart Align technology eliminates manual configuration for 4K sector alignment
Low power consumption typical of 5400RPM drives extends laptop battery life

👎 Cons

5400RPM spin speed is noticeably slower than 7200RPM drives for sequential transfers
320GB capacity is limited compared to modern storage needs
SATA 3Gb/s interface caps maximum throughput below what SATA III drives can achieve
Mechanical drive is significantly slower and more fragile than solid-state alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the z-height of the Seagate ST320LT012, and why does it matter?

The drive has a 7mm z-height, making it compatible with ultrabooks and thin laptops that cannot accommodate standard 9.5mm drives.

What interface does this drive use?

It uses a SATA 3Gb/s (SATA II) interface, which is compatible with both SATA II and SATA III laptop connectors.

What is Seagate Smart Align technology?

Smart Align is Seagate's technology that automatically handles the transition to Advanced Format 4K sectors without requiring additional software or manual configuration.

Is this drive suitable for use as a primary boot drive?

Yes, it can serve as a primary boot drive, though its 5400RPM speed means boot and application load times will be slower compared to 7200RPM or SSD alternatives.