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WD Black 500GB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD5003AZEX
- Desktop performance hard drive.
- Designed for creative professionals, gamers and system builders.
- Performance storage available in up to 6TB capacities.
- WD's StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology increase reliability and optimize performance.
- 2X DRAM cache up to 128MB (6TB only) for faster read operations.
- Industry-leading 5-year limited warranty.
WD Black Performance Desktop Hard Drive
The WD Black drive is designed to enhance your PC experience across heavier computing tasks whether you are a digital artist, video editor, photographer, or gamer. Featuring 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gbps host interface and high-speed cache, the WD Black is born for performance, empowering you to spend more time experiencing the things you love most.
For Loading Games or Large Files
The WD Black drive features a dual-core processor that offers twice the processing capability as a standard single-core processor to maximize drive performance.
Increased DRAM cache
The WD Black drive delivers high-speed transfer speeds and read rates of your files with impressive cache sizes of up to 256MB of DRAM on our high capacity models. WD's Dynamic Cache Technology improves caching algorithms in real time to allocate and optimize cache between reads and writes. This movement of cache for read data helps to reduce congestion and increase overall performance.
Increased Reliability
The WD Black drive is equipped with StableTrac Technology (2TB and larger models) by securing the motor shaft inside to increase reliability and help reduce impact due to system-induced vibrations from other components. By stabilizing the platters inside, the WD Black drive results in more accurate tracking in a particular sector during read and write operations, optimizing performance and reliability.
Warranty & Returns
Warranty, Returns, And Additional Information
Warranty
- Limited Warranty period (parts): 5 years
- Limited Warranty period (labor): 5 years
- Read full details
Return Policies
- Return for refund until: January 31, 2021
- Return for replacement until: January 31, 2021
- This item is covered by Newegg.com's Extended Holiday Return Policy
Manufacturer Contact Info
- Manufacturer Product Page
- Manufacturer Website
- Support Phone: 1-800-275-4932
- Support Website
- View other products from Western Digital
Pros: Uses 1 TB platters Has a 5 year warranty Very quiet, never made a sound while in use. The only time I ever heard it was when it went into its standby phase and I could hear it spin down as it was shutting off. (Older model was WAY louder, heard it constantly) I tested the previous model of this drive being the WD1003FAEX from 2010 vs. this drive the WD1003FZEX from 2013. Crystal Disk Mark (FZEX) – New WD Drive • Sequential: Read = 198.2 MB/s, Write = 181.6 MB/s • 512k: Read = 85.77 MB/s, Write = 178.2 MB/s • 4k: Read = 1.186 MB/s, Write = 2.517 MB/s • 4k QD32: Read = 3.383 MB/s, Write = 2.553 MB/s Crystal Disk Mark (FAEX) – Old WD Drive • Sequential: Read = 161.1 MB/s, Write = 108.2 MB/s • 512k: Read = 70.22 MB/s, Write = 117.5 MB/s • 4k: Read = 0.770 MB/s, Write = 1.664 MB/s • 4k QD32: Read = 1.793 MB/s, Write = 1.596 MB/s HD Tune (FZEX) – New WD Drive • Minimum: 93.6 MB/s • Maximum: 199.5 MB/s • Average: 154.0 MB/s • Access Time: 16.1 ms • Burst Rate: 338.7 MB/s HD Tune (FAEX) – Old WD Drive • Minimum: 36.3 MB/s • Maximum: 142.3 MB/s • Average: 108.5.0 MB/s • Access Time: 12.1 ms • Burst Rate: 195.0 MB/s Power Consumption (FZEX) – New WD Drive • Idle Drive Off - 0.75 Watts • Idle Drive On – 5.15 Watts • Load Read – 6.75 Watts • Load Write – 7.15 Watts Power Consumption (FAEX) – Old WD Drive • Idle Drive Off - 0.85 Watts • Idle Drive On – 7.55 Watts • Load Read – 8.85 Watts • Load Write – 9.95 Watts Temperatures • (FZEX) – New WD Drive: 75.2 °F • (FAEX) – Old WD Drive: 78.8 °F I also tested the new drive on a SATA II connection and as I figured the results were within a margin of error as some values were higher and some were lower than when on the SATA III connection. So if you don’t have a SATA III capable motherboard, don’t worry about it.
Cons: The only con that I can think of is very minor but while sitting on a motherboard box, the vibration produced by the hard drive was more than I expected and was more than the previous model also tested on the same box. Granted it was not secured into a case like it should but the Vibration Control Technology featured in this family of drives probably would have reduced that as it is only present in the 2 TB and up drives, so my drive being the 1 TB variant, it doesn’t have it. Again not really a con as it wasn’t really that bad just more than the old model.
Overall Review: Overall I am very impressed with Western Digital’s new and improved drives. By switching to 1 TB platters, the performance has greatly increased and their power consumption reduced over their multi platter predecessor. Specifically looking at power consumption this actually used less power than an old 5900 RPM 750 GB WD green drive from 2009 that I have while of course obliterating it in the performance sector. The drive ran very cool as it only has one platter inside and was in a case with fans blowing cool air directly on it. In the end this is no SSD in terms of speed but for file storage look no further. Not related to the drive but Newegg’s new hard drive packaging is fantastic as the drive is held together so tightly I could barely get it out of the box. *All tests were conducted three times to ensure accuracy and repeatability of results.