by 56 reviews.
Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Reliable Storage Solution
When it comes to upgrading your desktop PC's storage, the Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD is a solid choice. Designed for everyday computing, this 3.5-inch internal hard drive offers a balance of performance, reliability, and affordability. With a 5400 RPM speed, 256 MB cache, and SATA 6 Gb/s interface, it’s perfect for office tasks, web applications, and general storage needs. But how does it hold up in real-world use? Let’s dive into the details.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance
The WD Blue 4TB HDD delivers consistent performance for everyday tasks. Many users have praised its 7200 RPM speed (in the 1TB model) and 64 MB cache for providing smooth and responsive operation. One reviewer noted that the drive handles office applications and web browsing effortlessly, with no noticeable lag. Another user mentioned that even when running demanding software like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, the drive performed admirably, with only a slight increase in loading times compared to an SSD.
However, some users pointed out that the 5400 RPM speed of the 4TB model might feel slower for more intensive tasks like gaming or video editing. While it’s not designed for high-performance workloads, it excels in its intended use case: reliable, everyday storage.
Durability
Durability is a standout feature of the WD Blue series. The No Touch Ramp Load Technology ensures that the drive’s recording head and media are protected during transport, reducing wear and tear. One user shared that they’ve relocated their PC multiple times without any issues, thanks to this feature. Another reviewer mentioned that their WD Blue drives have consistently operated years beyond their warranty period, a testament to their longevity.
That said, some users expressed concerns about the 2-year limited warranty, especially when compared to WD’s Black series, which offers a longer warranty. While the Blue series is built for reliability, the shorter warranty might be a drawback for those seeking extra peace of mind.
Compatibility
The WD Blue 4TB HDD is highly compatible with a wide range of systems and platforms. Users have reported seamless integration with Windows 10, Linux, and even older operating systems like Windows XP (with proper partitioning tools). One reviewer highlighted the ease of installation, noting that the drive was up and running within minutes, even for someone with limited technical expertise.
However, users of older operating systems should be aware of the 4KB sector alignment issue. If you’re using Windows XP or an unpatched version of Windows Vista/7, you’ll need to use third-party partitioning tools like GParted to ensure optimal performance. While this is a minor hassle, it’s a necessary step to avoid reduced performance.
Energy Efficiency
The WD Blue 4TB HDD is designed with advanced power management features, making it an energy-efficient choice for desktop PCs. Users have appreciated the drive’s low power consumption, which helps reduce electricity costs over time. One reviewer noted that the drive’s energy efficiency was a key factor in their decision to purchase it.
Value for Money
For many users, the WD Blue 4TB HDD offers excellent value for money. Its affordable price point and reliable performance make it a popular choice for those looking to upgrade their storage without breaking the bank. One user described it as a “great bargain” for everyday computing needs, while another praised its consistent writing speed and stability for data storage.
However, some users expressed disappointment that the Blue series isn’t available in larger capacities beyond 4TB. If you need more storage, you’ll have to consider WD’s other product lines, such as the Red or Black series, which come at a higher cost.
Noise and Heat
The WD Blue 4TB HDD is known for being quiet and cool, thanks to its single-platter design (in the 1TB model). Users have reported minimal noise during operation, making it a good choice for those who value a quiet computing environment. One reviewer mentioned that they couldn’t hear the drive spinning in their case, even during heavy use.
That said, the 5400 RPM speed of the 4TB model might generate slightly more heat compared to faster drives. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re building a compact or poorly ventilated system.
Conclusion: Is the WD Blue 4TB HDD Worth It?
The Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD is a reliable and affordable storage solution for everyday computing. Its 5400 RPM speed, 256 MB cache, and No Touch Ramp Load Technology make it a dependable choice for office tasks, web browsing, and general storage needs. While it may not be the fastest drive on the market, it excels in its intended use case, offering a balance of performance, durability, and energy efficiency.
Strengths:
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- Durable design with No Touch Ramp Load Technology
- Energy-efficient and quiet operation
- Excellent value for money
Weaknesses:
- Slower 5400 RPM speed for intensive tasks
- Limited 2-year warranty
- Requires third-party partitioning tools for older operating systems
Final Verdict:
If you’re looking for a dependable and affordable internal hard drive for your desktop PC, the WD Blue 4TB HDD is an excellent choice. While it may not be the best option for high-performance workloads, it delivers consistent and reliable performance for everyday use. Whether you’re upgrading your primary storage or expanding your desktop’s capacity, this drive offers a great balance of features and value.
Specification Western Digital 4TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD40EZAX:
Comments from Amazon:
After upgrading my desktop PC with the Western Digital 1TB WD Blue internal hard drive, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in both performance and reliability. Installation was straightforward, and the drive was up and running within minutes, which is a big plus for someone who isn’t very tech-savvy. Performance: The 7200 RPM speed and the 64 MB cache make this hard drive quite responsive. I primarily use my PC for office applications and browsing the web, and I must say, the drive handles these tasks effortlessly without any lag. Durability: The no-touch ramp load technology that Western Digital boasts about really seems to make a difference. I’ve had to relocate my PC a couple of times since the installation, and it's comforting to know that the drive is designed to withstand such moves without risking damage to the drive’s recording head or media. Compatibility: I was initially concerned about compatibility issues, but the hard drive worked seamlessly with my Windows 10 system. It’s reassuring to know that this drive has been tested across a multitude of systems and platforms. Energy Efficiency: Another feature that stands out is the advanced power management. It's good to see that my PC isn’t using excessive power, which should help with electricity costs in the long run. Conclusion: If you're looking for a reliable hard drive that offers good performance and energy efficiency, the Western Digital 1TB WD Blue is an excellent choice. It’s suited for anyone who needs a dependable storage solution without the complications of a difficult setup or compatibility issues. Highly recommended!
I got incredible value on this 8GB CMR drive. All my drives are now WD for the last 10+ years, well over a dozen drives mostly in the blue range (3,4,and 6GB) and they have served me very well - operating years beyond warranty. I hope to get many years of reliable service out of this 8GB drive as well. This package is a barebones drive, 4 screws. Don't forget to visit the website to download the application software that comes with your purchase.
I use this as par of my personal NAT storage. This disk presents a consistent writing speed. For the data storage, you need it to be stable and reliable. This disk does the job. Now I used half of the volume and have no issue.
Ótimo produto e qualidade. Chegou super rápido. Recomendo.
Prefeito
I have SSDs and wanted to change one of my internal 1 TB SSD to 2 TB, then I saw this 2 TD HDD from WD for way less than an equivalent size SSD. So I bought it, you cannot hear it spinning in your case, it does its thing and I hardly noticed any speed difference when writing files to it, versus doing the same on an SSD. I used Macrium Reflect to Clone my old 1 TB to this WD 2 TB (Macrium adjusts for the bigger drive) I put it in my case and I didn't notice a bit of difference. Yes I know, it is a Hard Drive, but it works for me and I haven't notice ANY difference. I have Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 running on this new hard drive and it still is giving me 75 frames per second on higher settings - which is the same as my SSD was giving me. The game loading may be 10 seconds longer - no big deal to the majority of users.
I gave this drive to someone as a gift, and they've been using it for backups for 10 months without issue. My review is based on another unit of this drive which I bought for myself some months later. I've been using it as my primary desktop OS/programs drive since 5/29/2014, so it's about 5 months now. There have been no problems thus far. It's really quite a bargain for desktop use if 1TB is all you need. The actual capacity of this drive is 931.5GB. That's an old marketing trick which can be blamed for the pointless redefinition of all our real, long established data measurements with those silly "i" characters. I won't dwell on it any further, but 931GB is the true capacity when measured in base 2, as all data is correctly measured. This 1TB Blue drive uses a single 1TB platter spinning at 7200rpm. There are 2 heads (each side is 500GB). A single platter design is usually better for reliability than having multiple smaller platters, because there are fewer points of failure, the assembly is lighter, the motor doesn't have to work as hard, and less heat is generated. Single platter drives will also tend to be quieter, but due to my configuration I can't judge the noise level. There has been much discussion and testing among users in online forums, including WD's forum, which repeatedly show that the 1TB Blue and 1TB Black perform the same. It appears the only benefit of the 1TB Black is a longer warranty. Some Blacks are faster than this drive, but the 1TB model is not. Compared to a Green, the Blue is faster owing to it's faster rotation speed. The Green drives also have an "intellipark" feature which causes them to keep parking the heads after a few seconds of inactivity. This can cause laggy response and extra wear. I dislike that design - I believe power management functions should be left under the control of the operating system, which can account for user preferences and what is happening in the rest of the system. Hardcoding this behavior into the drive is ridiculous, in my opinion. The Blue behaves the way I prefer - it does not use "intellipark", it stays ready to roll until directed otherwise through power management commands from the OS. I wish they were making the Blue series in larger sizes - it seems this 1TB is the end of the line. I don't care for the Greens and the Blacks are more expensive. Partition/Sector Alignment -------------------------------- Please be aware that like most modern drives, this drive uses 4KB sectors (also known as "advanced format"). If you are using Windows 2003, Windows XP or older, as I am, don't let Windows handle the partitioning of this drive. This is even an issue on unpatched versions of Vista and Windows 7. These older versions of Windows will believe that the physical sectors are 512 bytes, when in reality they are 4KB. As a result, the partition(s) will not be aligned with the physical sectors. It will still work, but performance will be reduced. Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP and older do not have any update to fix this, but it's not a problem as long as you do the partitioning with a suitable 3rd party utility. I think Western Digital offers a tool for this, but I've never tried it. Once the partitions are set, it's fine to let Windows format them. For my Windows XP install, I used a recent version of GParted to partition the drive. GParted can be downloaded and burned to a bootable CD, or installed to a USB flash drive. Just use the option to align your partition(s) on 1MB boundaries. This is the easy way to ensure they are aligned correctly for the best performance. Then boot your WinXP install disc and let it format the partition that you already created. It sounds harder than it is, it's a minor hassle but it's simple. If you ever change the partitions, once again use GParted or a similar utility that handles alignment for modern hard disks. Don't use the built-in XP partitioning. But again, once the partitions are created, it's fine to let Windows format them. The built-in partitioning is fixed in Windows 8. According to Microsoft, it is fixed in Windows 7 after installing Service Pack 1 - you would need to have that service pack before partitioning the drive, not after. Again according to Microsoft, it is also fixed in Windows Vista *after* installing update MS KB 2553708 - I assume this is automatically installed for people who use automatic updates, but I don't know that for a fact. This won't do you any good if you're doing a fresh install and your install disc predates the required update. The partition alignment detail I've described above is an issue you will encounter with any recent hard drive, it's not unique to this model. If you ignore it, performance will be affected but it will still work. You may see Seagate drives implying that they are immune from this, but in reality, they are not. All modern "advanced format" drives, of any brand, will perform better if sectors are properly aligned. But it's not a big deal - just use a modern partitioning utility and then you're set. ---------------------- I just tested this drive using "Roadkil's Disk Speed" on Windows XP 32-bit. I'll cut out all the variables and just give the linear transfer results with large block sizes. My drive has a few partitions and there are lots of files on it, so this might affect results. First partition (first 20GB): 170-178MB/sec linear read 3rd partition (physical location range is from 28-628GB): 153-177MB/sec linear read Last 300GB is unpartitioned so I can't test that range. I don't think the random access test is useful, because my partitioning greatly influences the result. There's a test mode for the whole physical disk, but it's results are too inconsistent. This drive is a great bargain if you just need a simple, inexpensive, well performing 7200rpm hard disk. I was tempted to try a Seagate SSHD, but I couldn't justify the cost compared to this. If I was shopping today, I'd look carefully at the HGST and Toshiba offerings as well, but from the WD side this is my pick for a general purpose 1TB desktop drive. Update: It is now 11/2015. This drive is in my desktop PC, used daily, and still works fine. Some months ago I ran a benchmark on this drive using the linux utility "gnome-disks". The random access performance measured out to a 15.7ms average. This is mediocre, but expected from a quiet drive. Screenshot is attached. It also shows the transfer rate across the disk (read test only, I didn't test writes).