by 18 reviews.
Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Reliable Workhorse with a Few Quirks
If you're in the market for a dependable internal hard drive that offers a balance of storage capacity, performance, and affordability, the Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive (WD40EZRZ) is a strong contender. Designed for everyday computing, this 3.5-inch HDD boasts a 4TB storage capacity, 5400 RPM speed, and 64MB cache, making it ideal for office tasks, media storage, and even light gaming. But is it worth your hard-earned money? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Performance and Reliability
Pros:
- Long-Term Durability
Many users have praised the drive’s reliability over extended periods. One reviewer mentioned owning multiple WD drives (red, green, and blue) for over 8 years without a single failure. Another user highlighted that this drive outperformed a budget Samsung HDD, which failed within 100 hours of use. - Quiet Operation
Despite some reports of noise (more on that later), most users found the drive to operate quietly, especially when compared to older models from the 90s. - Versatility
The WD Blue is versatile enough to handle a variety of tasks, from serving as a primary drive in a desktop PC to functioning as a media server for Plex. One user even used it in a NAS setup, where it performed admirably despite not being specifically designed for that purpose.
Cons:
- Noise and Vibration
Some users reported that the drive can be noisy, especially during multi-file transfers or when running resource-intensive tasks like gaming. The noise is described as similar to older hard drives, which might be a concern for those seeking a silent setup. - Heat Generation
A few users noted that the drive tends to get warm, particularly when used in poorly ventilated environments like a PS4 adapter. While it doesn’t overheat, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning to use it in a confined space.
2. Build Quality and Design
Pros:
- Solid Construction
The drive is well-built and feels sturdy, which is expected from a trusted brand like Western Digital. Users appreciated the NoTouch Ramp Load Technology, which protects the drive from damage during operation. - Energy Efficiency
The drive’s advanced power management features help reduce energy consumption, making it an eco-friendly choice for long-term use.
Cons:
- Rebranded Green Drive Controversy
Some users expressed disappointment upon discovering that the WD Blue is essentially a rebranded version of the older WD Green drives. While this doesn’t necessarily affect performance, it has left some customers feeling misled.
3. Usability and Compatibility
Pros:
- Easy Installation
Installing the WD Blue is straightforward, even for beginners. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t come with SATA cables or mounting hardware, so you’ll need to provide your own. - Free Cloning Software
The inclusion of Acronis True Image WD Edition is a nice bonus, allowing users to migrate data seamlessly without losing files. - Broad Compatibility
The drive has been tested for compatibility with hundreds of systems and platforms, ensuring it works well in a variety of setups.
Cons:
- Initial Setup Issues
One user reported a significant issue where the drive became unrecognizable after being used in a PS4 adapter. The problem was resolved by rebuilding the MBR using third-party software, but it’s a reminder that compatibility isn’t always guaranteed, especially in non-standard setups.
4. Value for Money
Pros:
- Affordable Storage
At around $99, the WD Blue offers excellent value for its 4TB capacity. It’s a cost-effective solution for those needing ample storage without breaking the bank. - Reliable Performance
Despite its quirks, the drive delivers consistent performance, making it a worthwhile investment for both casual users and tech enthusiasts.
Cons:
- Concerns About Longevity
While the drive has proven reliable for many, some users remain cautious about its long-term durability, especially given its rebranded origins and occasional noise issues.
Conclusion: Is the WD Blue Worth It?
The Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive (WD40EZRZ) is a solid choice for anyone in need of reliable, high-capacity storage. Its performance, durability, and energy efficiency make it a versatile option for a wide range of applications, from everyday computing to media storage and even light NAS use. However, it’s not without its flaws. The occasional noise, heat generation, and the controversy surrounding its rebranded origins may give some users pause.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable, dependable hard drive with ample storage, the WD Blue is a great pick. Just be mindful of its quirks and ensure proper ventilation to maximize its lifespan. For those seeking absolute silence or specialized performance (e.g., for gaming or heavy NAS use), you might want to explore other options. But for the average user, this drive delivers excellent value and reliability.
Specification Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD40EZRZ:
Comments from Amazon:
I have a veritable rainbow of WD drives (red, green, blue) between my PC, Drobo and newly built NAS and they are all real workhorses. I have yet to have any of them fail or misbehave even after 8 years. I know certain colors are best suited for certain applications, but I find the blue drives to be the best bang for the buck and most versatile. I bought this most recent 4TB blue to install in an old PC that I turned into a Plex media server/home made NAS. I've been wanting to have a dedicated media server for some time and finally had the chance to do it but needed more storage space. The PC I had has a 1TB hard drive that I wanted to remain dedicated to running software and store all of my movies, tv shows, documentaries, and kiddie crap (haha) on its own drive. I installed this the other day and loaded all my visual media on it (I keep pictures and music on yet another drive) and I still have room to spare. I immediately connected the new server to Plex through my Roku 4 and watched a movie (1080p) on the TV while streaming another to my phone and had no trouble whatsoever! I know a lot of the buffering problems stem from inadequate CPU and mine is good, but just in case you're wondering, these blue drives have no trouble streaming content from when you've got adequate transcoding power in your machine. A lot of people would tell you you need red drives but old blue does just fine in my experience and is so much cheaper! For those of you who are new to installing new hard drives, it's a piece of cake but just be aware that this drive does not come with any cables or mounting hardware, so you'll need to be sure you have your own SATA cable and an available power source cable as well as screws or whatever you need to mount it in your case. Also for the newbies, you can't just plug and use, you'll need to go in to your drive manager and name/format it before you can use it. This is also very very easy to do and only takes a few minutes and then you're ready to go! I don't use these WD drives to boot and run software anymore (it's all about SSD's for that now - buy one, it will change your life) but I use these drives to hold and back up all of my data for me and I love them! You really can't get more storage and a more reliable drive for a better price than this. And don't be freaked out because the picture shows the inside of the hard disk, this is a fully enclosed drive (see pics). Hope this helps! Happy computing! I did NOT receive this for free or at a discount.
I broke the SATA connector on the 2TB boot drive in a work computer I use at home. Rather than tape the cable in place I spent about $50 on a replacement drive that has no problems performing the same task with equivalent capacity to the one I broke. I had no problem restoring the linux boot by recovering from the drive I broke the connector on. This drive is 4 inches wide and the doesn't need a mounting tray to fit my workstation. I replaced, the drive I broke the connector on, so all is well. I don't use it for gaming so that vote is an assumption that top performance games would benefit from something at least faster and probably higher capacity. Not concerns for this linux boot disk. As usual for disks it's capacity is about 2 decimal power TB rather than 2 binary power TiB, so the binary power capacity is about 1.82 TiB. Same as the drive it replaced but kind of annoying in the present day, though that's not really much of a case. The drive is fine, cheap, decent capacity and a trusted brand for my use.
I’ve been using the Western Digital Blue Internal Hard Drives in my NAS for years now, and I have to say, it’s impressive how well it has held up despite not being specifically designed for that purpose. While it’s not the fastest drive on the market, it has survived and thrived under years of constant use. It’s been writing and reading non-stop, running 24/7, and somehow, it’s still going strong. The drive operates quietly, which is a big plus, and its durability is evident. If you're looking for a reliable HDD for long-term use, the WD Blue is a solid choice!
Si bien he tenido terribles experiencias con los DD de la marca Western Digital, en específico los DD Blue de 2TB nunca me han dado problemas. Tienen un rendimiento decente y el precio no es demasiado alto, perfectos para almacenar documentos y algunos juegos.
Produto está com um preço bem acessível e a qualidade é muito boa.
excelente producto acorde con lo ofrecido por el vendedor, ampliamente recomendado
EDIT: I was disappointed and quite frankly upset when I learned more about this drive after purchase. However, it performs pretty well and I can trust it now that I've owned it for a long time. No errors or problems for several years. It outperforms my budget Samsung HDD drive which had less than 100HRs before throwing errors. This WD has thousands of hours with no issues. That's impressive. To be honest I love the drive but I am still upset it is just a rebranded green drive...whatever Original: ITS A GREEN DRIVE NOT BLUE (okay the label is blue and it is as advertised but if you bought WD HDDs before you know what that means) History: WD made cheap and bad green 3.5" drives 5400RPM and in efforts to boost sales they got their label changed to blue and discontinued the use of green labels #marketting SOB's Well anyways, kinda expected that for $99 that I paid. This goes into the PS4 3.5" adapter so not a big deal if it fails. Before the facts, there is GOOD NEWS and it's listed at the bottom and the drive does work fine right now but 3 stars because I'm worried ok, it makes noises (probably normal noises), and it is really a cheap green drive so that worries me too. The current facts: It vibrates, it makes old and somewhat loud pc like noise (head movement) when playing games or when not playing games but transferring more than one file at same time. (downloading 2 or 3 games at once) If it is doing multi file transfer but one after another instead of all at once, then the head doesn't move much so no noise can be heard. The intensity of the noise is no louder than old drives of the 90s so I'm only half worried, as this may be the actual design of this drive. It gets warm almost too warm but not toasty. (granted it could use better ventilation and it is sitting in the adapter thing above a warm ps4) There was one BIG issue (which may have been the ps4 adapters fault) where I lost all data on the 3rd day. It would turn on and spin but ps4 could not recognize it or be able to initialize it (ps4s version of formatting) The fix was to use pc and 3rd party free-ware to rebuid the MBR. Guess something went wrong with ps4. Afterward once MBR was rebuilt it still only worked after I initialized (ps4s version of formatting) the whole drive and started resh again and that was a BIG improvement. 2 weeks and 1.3 TB later it is doing ok. I still don't know what went wrong that day THE GOOD NEWS ( best for last eh?) No surface errors found, tested this right out the package and after I had ps4 screw up the hdd MBR (assuming it was PS4 that did it, or the adapter) Guess i'll keep track of it and re-review if i can once it screws up again and I'll do SMART diagnostics to make sure the drive is not at fault