by 2 reviews.
Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS SSD Review: A Reliable Upgrade for NAS Systems
If you're looking to upgrade your NAS system with a drive that combines speed, reliability, and endurance, the Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS 3D NAND Internal SSD might just be the perfect fit. Designed specifically for NAS environments, this SSD promises to enhance your system's performance while ensuring durability for 24/7 operation. With a SATA III 6 Gb/s interface and up to 560 MB/s read speeds, it’s built to handle demanding workloads, from multi-user setups to high-resolution video editing.
In this review, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of this SSD based on real customer experiences, helping you decide if it’s the right choice for your needs.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the WD Red SA500 SSD is its performance. Customers have reported significant improvements in read/write speeds, especially when compared to traditional HDDs. One user mentioned that replacing their old HDDs with these SSDs resulted in a noticeable performance boost, particularly for their Plex server, which now streams movies seamlessly. Another reviewer highlighted the instant access to files, making their NAS system feel faster and more responsive.
However, some users noted that while the speeds are impressive, they aren’t groundbreaking compared to newer NVMe drives. If you’re looking for the absolute fastest speeds available, you might want to explore NVMe options. But for NAS systems, the WD Red SA500 strikes a great balance between speed and reliability.
Ease of Installation
Customers consistently praised the ease of installation of this SSD. One reviewer shared that after shutting down their NAS, they simply popped the new WD Red SA500 into place, and the NAS took care of the rest, automatically formatting the drive and making it ready for use within hours. Another user mentioned that the 2.5-inch/7mm form factor made it easy to integrate into their existing setup, whether in a NAS or a desktop.
For those upgrading from older HDDs, the transition to this SSD was described as smooth and hassle-free. Even users with limited technical expertise found the installation process straightforward.
Durability and Reliability
The WD Red SA500 is designed for 24/7 operation, and customers have confirmed its durability in real-world use. One reviewer shared their experience with a previous WD Blue SSD that failed after six months, but after switching to the WD Red, they’ve had zero issues for over two years. Another user, who has been using WD drives since 1994, expressed confidence in the brand’s reliability, stating that the Red line is built for long-term performance.
That said, a few users mentioned that the price of the WD Red SA500 has increased significantly over the past six months, making it less accessible for some. While the drive’s durability justifies the cost for many, budget-conscious buyers might find it a bit steep.
Noise and Heat Management
One of the most appreciated benefits of switching to the WD Red SA500 is the reduction in noise. A customer who replaced their old HDDs with these SSDs reported that their NAS went from being disturbingly noisy to virtually silent. This makes it an excellent choice for home offices or environments where noise levels matter.
Additionally, the SSD’s efficient heat management ensures that it runs cool even under heavy workloads, further enhancing its reliability.
Compatibility and Versatility
The WD Red SA500 is compatible with a wide range of devices, including desktops and NAS systems. One user shared their experience of using the SSD in multiple setups—first in a gaming laptop, then in another laptop, and finally in a 27-inch Retina 4K Apple Mac. They praised its versatility and ability to perform consistently across different platforms.
However, some users noted that the 1TB version has become harder to find in recent months, which could be a drawback for those specifically looking for this capacity.
Conclusion: Is the WD Red SA500 Worth It?
The Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS SSD is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their NAS system or desktop with a reliable, high-performance drive. Its superior endurance, ease of installation, and noise reduction make it a standout option for both home and business users. While it may not offer the absolute fastest speeds compared to NVMe drives, it delivers excellent performance for NAS environments.
Pros:
- Excellent read/write speeds for NAS systems.
- Easy to install and integrate into existing setups.
- Durable and reliable for 24/7 operation.
- Reduces noise and heat in NAS systems.
- Wide compatibility with desktops and NAS devices.
Cons:
- Price has increased significantly in recent months.
- 1TB version can be difficult to find.
- Speeds, while good, are not groundbreaking compared to NVMe drives.
If you’re looking for a dependable SSD that can handle heavy workloads and deliver consistent performance over time, the WD Red SA500 is a worthy investment. However, if budget is a concern or you need the absolute fastest speeds, you might want to explore other options.
Final Verdict: The Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS SSD is a reliable, high-performance drive that excels in NAS environments. While it comes with a higher price tag, its durability, ease of use, and noise reduction make it a top choice for those seeking a long-term storage solution.
Specification Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS 3D NAND Internal SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS100T1R0A, Solid State Hard Drive:
Comments from Amazon:
I bought two 4TB SSD WD NAS rated drives for my Synology dual drive NAS. The NAS automatically formatted the drives, and they were usable within a few hours. My NAS went from being disturbingly noisy to very quiet instantly and now I don't even know it there on my desk next to me. It now holds the 1000s of photos that I digitized and all my eDocs and other digital information (ex., digital recordings, videos, movies, eBooks, etc.) that I accumulated, but still need. Everything is available instantly from anywhere, securely. It also allows me to selectively share items on my NAS with family and friends.
Easy to install,plenty of space,faster than a sata disc drive..Good price for what it is used for
I decided to switch my old HDD to a more compact SSD (Western Digital Blue) about two years ago. The transition went smoothly but the drive ended up crashing after about 6 month with no way to recover any data. Luckily I maintain full backups. Western Digital honored their replacement warranty and ended up sending me a Red SSD to replace the blue. The Red has been running perfectly ever since. I ended up upgrading several other PCs to Red with no issues so far whereas other Blue have giving me multiple read/write issues and finally crashing. I typically buy the 1TB Red version, but I'm annoyed to find them more difficult to find over the past 6 months and the price almost doubling.
I replaced my regular hdd's in my NAS with 4 of these 4tb drives. Performance boost was great. Read/write speeds are great and really improved my Plex server movie streaming capabilities. I will be buying more of these.
29 May 2023: A review for two purchased: Western Digital 1TB WD Red SA500 NAS 3D NAND Internal SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm. I've had them a couple of months. No problems. Got them to replace two Samsung 870EVO's that died in a little less than 2 years. Samsung has some real problems and it took over 3 months to get replacements under warranty from Samsung. Right after they failed, I switched to these Western Digital's because I have used WD drives since 1994 and in my little life in my little home WD drives have been stellar performers. I have to say that all my past experience with WD has been with spinning platters. I hope these solid state drives are also reliable. Breakneck speeds don't impress me much. I just love good performance for a long, long time. So...the "RED" line from WD is supposed to be exactly that--constant running over the long haul in devices. Yep. I hope that is true. WD, do it to me again. I need you.
PRICING NOTE: I purchased mine for well under $100 on amazon warehouse and to me, that was about the MAX you should ever pay for a 1tb SSD at the time and I streamline this as true for NVME drives that have now replaced SSD 2.5". Look for the specs of a drive and max speeds that are consistent, before parting with money and of course, research lifespan on average because this is the most important part of your computer - if this fails, you lose all your work.... if the rest of the machine fails, not a problem, you can put this drive in an external box and link it to another computer to rescue your work and lifetime documents and photos and videos etc. within minutes. as far as 2.5" SSD GO ... Western Digital RED and "Crucial MX SERIES" are by far the best, followed by the SANDISK RANGE. For anyone upgrading a really old computer and does not need super duper speed, teamgroup and Silicon power make SOLID drives that seem to work forever. I have hundreds of customers and people I have helped and several years have passed with the above brands and ZERO feedback of failures. I had this originally in a gaming laptop for video work for about 4 months, then I put it in another laptop for a few months whilst I was deciding whether to keep the 2nd laptop... for the last 4 months or so, it has been in my 27" retina 4k Apple Mac late 2015 computer (with an additional 3.5" to 2.5" standard PC bracket cradle) and I set this SSD up in to 2 partitions, so I just power on the mac and hold the ALT key on my keyboard (left of space) and then I get an option to boot the WINDOWS 10 partition or the MAC OS partition - instead of using Macs "bootcamp" I find my way of setting things up a lot FASTER in daily operations and part of that speed is this excellent old Western Digital RED 2.5" SSD.
The existing SSD cache drive in my NAS was at its end of life, also a WD Red. I just popped this one in after shutting the NAS down. The NAS took care of everything else.