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WD Purple 2TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive Review: A Reliable Workhorse for Security Systems
The WD Purple 2TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive (WD20PURX) is a purpose-built storage solution designed for 24/7 surveillance systems. Whether you're securing your home, office, or small business, this drive promises reliability, performance, and seamless integration with high-definition cameras. With features like AllFrame Technology, support for up to 32 HD cameras, and a SATA 6 Gb/s interface, it’s no wonder this drive has become a favorite among security enthusiasts.
But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros: Performance That Exceeds Expectations
1. Exceptional Performance for Surveillance Needs
One of the standout features of the WD Purple 2TB is its performance. Customers have praised its ability to handle high-definition video streams without breaking a sweat. One reviewer compared it to other mechanical drives, including older Western Digital models and even an SSD, and found that the WD Purple outperformed them all in sequential and random writes.
For example:
- Sequential Read/Write
187.01 MB/s read, 184.54 MB/s write - Random Read/Write
60.89 MB/s read, 109.23 MB/s write
These numbers are impressive for a 5400 RPM drive, especially when compared to older 7200 RPM models. The drive’s AllFrame Technology ensures reduced frame loss, making it ideal for continuous recording environments.
2. Quiet and Cool Operation
Noise and heat are common concerns with hard drives, but the WD Purple 2TB excels in both areas. Users report that the drive operates quietly, with its activity barely audible over the hum of a CPU fan. Additionally, it stays cool even during extended use, with temperatures rarely exceeding 30°C (86°F) during heavy transfers.
3. Durability and Longevity
This drive is built to last. One customer shared that their WD Purple 2TB has been running 24/7 for over 8 years, supporting up to 6 HD cameras without a single issue. With 69,000+ hours of operation, it’s a testament to the drive’s reliability. Even after such extensive use, the S.M.A.R.T. status remained at 100%, with no bad sectors or signs of wear.
Cons: A Few Drawbacks to Consider
1. Price vs. Capacity
While the WD Purple 2TB delivers excellent performance, some users feel that its price is a bit steep compared to other drives with higher capacities. For instance, a 5400 RPM Western Digital Green drive with twice the capacity is available for a similar price. However, the trade-off is performance—the WD Purple significantly outperforms the Green drives in both sequential and random read/write speeds.
2. Not Ideal for General PC Use
This drive is optimized for surveillance systems, and its performance shines in that context. However, it may not be the best choice for general PC use. One reviewer noted that while it works well in a DVR or NVR setup, it’s not optimized for desktop applications. If you’re looking for a drive for everyday computing, you might want to explore other options.
3. Limited Capacity for Modern Needs
With the increasing demand for higher storage capacities, the 2TB model might feel limiting for some users. While it’s sufficient for smaller setups (e.g., 3-4 cameras), those with more extensive systems may need to consider larger capacities or multiple drives.
Real-World Performance: Customer Experiences
Seamless Integration with NVR Systems
Many users have successfully integrated the WD Purple 2TB into their NVR systems. One customer running an Hikvision NVR with three 2-megapixel cameras reported flawless 24/7 recording. The drive handled simultaneous read/write operations without any hiccups, ensuring smooth playback and reliable performance.
Long-Term Reliability
The drive’s durability is a recurring theme in customer reviews. One user shared that their WD Purple 2TB has been in service for over a year and a half, supporting three cameras (1080p, 960p, and 480p) with no issues. Even after 15,375 hours of operation, the drive’s health remained at 100%.
Improved Playback and Recording
Another user noted that upgrading to the WD Purple 2TB improved their analog DVR system’s performance. The drive’s optimized spin-up time and continuous operation capabilities resulted in smoother recording and playback, even during motion detection events.
Final Verdict: Is the WD Purple 2TB Worth It?
The WD Purple 2TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive is a reliable, high-performing storage solution tailored for surveillance systems. Its AllFrame Technology, quiet operation, and long-term durability make it an excellent choice for home and small business security setups.
However, its higher price point and limited capacity may deter some users, especially those with more extensive storage needs. Additionally, while it excels in surveillance environments, it’s not the best option for general PC use.
Who Should Buy It?
- Homeowners or small business owners looking for a reliable surveillance drive.
- Users with 3-4 HD cameras who need consistent performance and durability.
- Those who prioritize long-term reliability over raw capacity.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Users needing higher storage capacities (e.g., 4TB or more).
- Those seeking a general-purpose hard drive for everyday computing.
In conclusion, the WD Purple 2TB is a solid investment for anyone building or upgrading a surveillance system. Its performance, durability, and seamless integration make it a standout choice in its category.
Specification WD Purple 2TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD20PURX [Old Version]:
Comments from Amazon:
This drive has been in service for over a year and a half with 3 cameras feeding to it 24/7. One 1080p, one 960p and one 480p camera all 25-30fps. The drive has performed beautifully and is very steady in write performance and temperature (used in a Mac Pro). Loading video, specially while recordings are going, may take a little longer depending on drive activity and file size. For a 5GB 1 hour clip I'm waiting maybe 5 seconds for the file to open and another 5 for playback to be smooth. Slower than you'd see on a traditional drive, keeping in mind this is a 5400rpm drive, but still well worth it. With my configuration it holds a little over two weeks of recordings for all cameras. The drive currently has 15,375 hours on it and the S.M.A.R.T. status and overall drive health is 100%. Not a single bad sector or any signs of wear. I'll replace this down the road only because I'll need a bigger one and even then this will sit in a RAID until it fails. =================== Update, April 2023. The drive just started failing after 8 years of pretty much 24/7 use (69K+ hours on it), supporting 6 HD cameras for the last 5 years. For $70 this was the best money I have ever spent on a hard drive. Ordering a 4TB newer model now, I hope it serves me equally well. These 2TB (WD20PURX), while now an older model, I highly recommend.
So far this has been a great hard drive. I purchased to use in my security camera NVR. Arrived packaged sufficiently. Like others I was comparing this relatively new model to the tried and true WD Red. I almost went with the red simply because it had better specs for amount of data being read and written to the drive annually, is that meaningful or not, I don't think so. Honestly though, I really think the two drives are nearly, if not, identical. Sure WD markets this as a surveillance drive (with AllFrame) but I see this as nothing more than marketing fluff and a way for WD to market to another group of users and get more shelf space for their drives. Data is data and nothing more than 0's and 1's, the hard drive couldn't care less if it's video or docs as long as it can handle enough throughput for your application. Besides that rant, I'm very happy with this drive and have almost always had great experiences with WD drives, I can't say the same for Seagate. BTW, I am running this in an Hikvision OEM's NVR and currently it's only supporting 3 - 2 Megapixel cams (approximately 1080p). The drive is recording nearly 24x7 and I have no problems with simulataneous read/writes. This drive's a winner.
As a drive for a simple analog DVR, the 2TB model might have been a little mismatched. With 4 cameras, @ 1000TVL, it uses maybe half of that at most, on a month with lots of motion detection. The surveillance aspect of it helps those events run smoother too (compared to a regular desktop HDD). We plan to load a NAS with these next, to mirror the footage remotely. Right now, this device is in that analog DVR system, and it watches our company doors 24/7. Have not had a problem with it yet. Very nice drive - and the recording seemed to improve along with playback after installing this version. This is probably due to the spin up time, and that these drives are made to keep spinning at a low rate so that the device does not need to stop, the start up, then stop, and repeat over and over with recording. They are not optimized for PC, and I would not suggest one FOR a PC unless its a REALLY amazing price, and you are limited on options. Their benefits show during CCTV usage - like it says.... surveillance drives.
Product sold as explained. In new and working conditions. It was delivered as promised. Thank you !!!
Produto de qualidade!
منتج ممتاز وسعره مناسب
Pros: Performance. This is the best-performing mechanical drive I have ever tested. I have four other mechanical HDDs dating back to 2005, including three other Western Digital drives, and this is the best performer across the board. It even beats my old SSD in terms of sequential writes and random writes (likely due to the on-demand nature of TRIM in the SSD): Western Digital WD1003FZEX: 1000 GB, 7200 RPM, this review 187.01 MB/s sequential read 184.54 MB/s sequential write 60.89 MB/s random read 109.23 MB/s random write Seagate ST3000DM001: 3000 GB, 7200 RPM, purchased 2012 181.42 MB/s sequential read 178.97 MB/s sequential write 50.22 MB/s random read 90.35 MB/s random write Western Digital WD20EARS: 2000 GB, 5400 RPM, purchased 2011 112.32 MB/s sequential read 107.88 MB/s sequential write 31.34 MB/s random read 56.34 MB/s random write Western Digital WD3200AAKS: 320 GB, 7200 RPM, purchased 2007 76.86 MB/s sequential read 75.57 MB/s sequential write 33.68 MB/s random read 43.90 MB/s random write Western Digital WD2500KS: 250 GB, 7200 RPM, purchased 2005 63.55 MB/s sequential read 62.52 MB/s sequential write 31.32 MB/s random read 38.16 MB/s random write Intel SSDSA2M080G2GC: 80 GB, purchased 2009 253.07 MB/s sequential read 81.98 MB/s sequential write 196.70 MB/s random read 39.61 MB/s random write Noise. This drive is very quiet. I don’t have any empirical data for noise, but the hard drive activity never became audible above the hum of the CPU fan in my desktop. Heat. This drive is very cool for such a high-performing 7200 RPM drive. Even after a 100 GB transfer that took around 20 minutes, reported temperatures never exceeded 30°C (86°F). Weight. Not that it matters much with internal drives, but this is a very light drive compared to my other 3.5 inch HDDs. The area below the platters on the bottom of the drive is recessed about 3/16 of an inch further than other drives, I assume because it uses one fewer platter. As a result, it feels much lighter. Cons: Price. A 5400 RPM Western Digital Green drive with twice the capacity is available for about the same amount of money. However, using the less-expensive green drives would incur a notable performance decrease. In my testing above, this drive had 66% better transfer rates than a 2-year-old 2TB WD Green for sequential reads and writes and 93% better transfer rates for random reads and writes. So for enterprise tasks, one could argue that the performance of this drive merits the increased cost. For most consumer uses, the 5400 RPM Western Digital Green drives are a better value because they offer at least double the capacity for the same price. The performance loss is not significant considering that they outperform 7200 RPM drives from just a few years earlier. However, for technical or enterprise purposes, the additional throughput can be a real benefit. As someone with I/O-intensive workloads (geographic information systems), this drive offers adequate capacity with exceptional performance. All performance tests were conducted using CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64 with each drive loaded into the same SATA hot swap bay. Testing was conducted in Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with a socket LGA1156 Intel Lynnfield 860 CPU at 2.8 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and the Intel P55 3 GB/s SATA controller on the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P motherboard.