by 65 reviews.
Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 SATA HDD Review: A High-Capacity Storage Solution with a Few Quirks
The Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 SATA HDD is a renewed enterprise-grade hard drive that offers an impressive combination of high capacity, speed, and reliability. Designed for demanding workloads, this 3.5-inch internal hard drive is perfect for users who need ample storage for large files, backups, and data-intensive applications. With features like a 7200 RPM speed, 512MB cache, and a 550TB/year workload rating, it’s a powerhouse for both personal and professional use.
However, as with any product, there are pros and cons to consider. Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: A Detailed Breakdown
Performance and Speed
The Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 delivers excellent performance, thanks to its 7200 RPM speed and 512MB cache. Customers have praised its fast data access and transfer rates, making it ideal for high-performance computing. One reviewer noted, "It’s quiet and fast, passed all drive tests with no errors."
However, some users mentioned that the drive is slightly louder than standard consumer drives. While this might be a minor inconvenience, it’s a reasonable trade-off for the lowered cost and higher speed.
Capacity and Value
With a massive 14TB capacity, this hard drive is a great value for users who need a lot of storage. One customer shared, "14TB seems to be a sweet spot for cost per TB right now."
That said, it’s important to note that the actual usable space is less than advertised. A reviewer pointed out, "My 14TB drive had just 12.7TB of total space. That’s 90.71%." This discrepancy is common in the storage industry, but it’s something to keep in mind when planning your storage needs.
Power Delivery and Compatibility
One of the most discussed aspects of this drive is its power delivery and compatibility. The drive features a Power Disable (PWDIS) pin, which can cause issues with certain equipment. A reviewer explained, "The hard drive you think is dead is perfectly fine; however, it will not run on some equipment due to a conflict caused by the PWDIS pin."
Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Covering the PWDIS pin with non-conductive tape (like Kapton tape) or using a MOLEX to SATA connector can resolve the issue. However, this requirement isn’t clearly communicated in the product description, which has frustrated some buyers.
Durability and Build Quality
The Ultrastar DC HC530 is designed for heavy-duty use, with a 2.5M-hour MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and a 550TB/year workload rating. Customers have found it to be reliable and durable, even in demanding environments.
However, some users noted that the housing construction feels less robust compared to other drives. One reviewer mentioned, "The housing construction is unimpressive, but that’s not a big deal." Despite this, the drive’s performance and reliability more than make up for its build quality.
Heat and Noise Levels
The drive generates minimal heat, even under heavy use. A reviewer shared, "After writing 1TB of data, the surface temperature was only 35.2°C (95.3°F)." This makes it suitable for environments where heat management is a concern.
As for noise, while it’s slightly louder than consumer-grade drives, it’s not excessively noisy. Most users find the noise level acceptable, especially given the drive’s performance and cost.
Final Verdict
The Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 SATA HDD is a high-capacity, high-performance storage solution that offers excellent value for its price. Its 7200 RPM speed, 512MB cache, and enterprise-grade durability make it a great choice for both personal and professional use.
However, the PWDIS pin issue is a significant drawback, especially since it’s not clearly communicated in the product description. While the fix is simple, it’s an inconvenience that could catch buyers off guard. Additionally, the slightly lower usable capacity and louder operation might be minor concerns for some users.
Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable, high-capacity hard drive and don’t mind a bit of tinkering to get it working, the Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 is a solid choice. Just be prepared to address the power delivery issue if it arises.
Specification Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar DC HC530 SATA HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 512MB Cache, 3.5" - WUH721414ALE604 (Renewed):
Comments from Amazon:
Uses slightly less power than many 14TB drives, has a bit of an issue with power delivery (get a MOLEX to SATA connector to side step this), but the price is great for the speed, 512mb cache, etc.
Good trade off -- a lightly used enterprise drive to use for consumer purposes. No problems so far. I've bough seven of this model from different vendors and all seem like good value. 14 TB seems to be a sweet spot at the mining for cost per TB. A little louder than a standard consumer drive, but that's a reasonable for the lowered cost and slightly higher speed.
Ordered 2 of the drives, left them unopened for 4 months before I was ready to use them. Turns out they won't power up at all. Not installed, not on my external dock or any other format. The drives won't power up at all. Attempted to communicate with the seller, no support options available. Would NOT recommend buying these drives.
Wow! It stores files so well!
Working fine so far. I did have to remove pin 3, the 3.3volt disable pin, for it to be recognized. This pin is used to enforce enterprise drive use only and not home SATA use. Quiet and fast, passed drive tests, no errors.
I am going to try to keep this as simple as possible. The hard drive you think is dead is perfectly fine; however, it will not run on some equipment, especially older equipment, due to a conflict caused by the PWDIS pin (the third pin on the SATA power connection). The PWDIS (power disable) pin on this drive will detect electrical current from some equipment that the drive will interpret as a signal to automatically power down. There is nothing wrong with the drive. It is behaving as designed. The connection to incompatible equipment is the issue. Fortunately, there is an easy solution. Prevent the PWDIS pin from connecting to your equipment and the drive will work. Covering the PWDIS pin with a tiny strip (1.5mm wide) of masking tape will work as a temporary solution. Kapton tape (which is non-conductive, thin, and heat-resistant) is an even better option. Nail polish might also work. There are many other methods, but all you have to do is physically prevent the connection to the PWDIS pin and everything will be fine. It’s really that simple. As for the hard drive itself, the housing construction is unimpressive compared to other drives, but that is not a big deal. The drive is not excessively loud and has minimal vibrations. It does not generate much heat. After a TB of data writing, I recorded the surface temperature of the housing as only 35.2 C (95.3 F). This was sitting in the open air with no fan. I have written a total of 5TB to the drive so far without any errors. As an added note, my 14TB drive had just 12.7TB of total space. That’s 90.71%. It is irritating how the memory storage industry calculates drive sizes. Just know your drives will probably always have less capacity than advertised. The drive is a fine drive, but I am giving it a weak rating because the PWDIS pin issue has not been properly revealed to the buyers. Almost no one buys a hard drive expecting to physically modify it before it will work. This information should be presented clearly in the item description. My drive did arrive with an adapter and a flyer with some general information about the power disable feature, but that adapter was not going to work with my particular application, and it may not work for yours. If you had to read this review to figure out why your drive is not working, that shows the supplier is not adequately describing the product being offered.
Love the fact that hard drives of this size are available at a reduced price. Though renewed, I have had no issues with this drive and others. Also, purchasing from Amazon, knowing your return policy, gives me confidence that I am protected.