by 2 reviews.
Western Digital 500GB WD Blue Mobile Hard Drive HDD Review: A Reliable Storage Solution
The Western Digital 500GB WD Blue Mobile Hard Drive HDD (WD5000LPCX) is a versatile and dependable storage solution designed for everyday computing needs. With a 5400 RPM speed, SATA 6 Gb/s interface, and 16 MB cache, this 2.5-inch internal hard drive is perfect for laptops, desktops, and even gaming consoles. Whether you're upgrading your system or replacing a failing drive, the WD Blue 500GB HDD promises reliability, quiet operation, and energy efficiency.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Reliability and Performance
One of the standout features of the WD Blue 500GB HDD is its reliability. Many customers have praised its consistent performance, even under heavy use. For instance, a user who replaced their TiVo Bolt's failing drive with this model reported that it worked seamlessly after a minor adjustment to their router setup. Another customer mentioned using the drive for frequent file creation and merging, noting that it has remained solid and dependable over three months of heavy use.
However, some users have pointed out that the 5400 RPM speed can feel slower compared to higher RPM drives or SSDs. While this isn’t a dealbreaker for everyday tasks, it might not be ideal for users who need faster data access for gaming or intensive applications.
Ease of Installation and Compatibility
The WD Blue 500GB HDD is widely appreciated for its ease of installation. A first-time reviewer shared their experience replacing their PS3 hard drive, describing the process as surprisingly simple and hassle-free. Another user highlighted how straightforward it was to install the drive in their laptop, even without prior technical expertise.
That said, a few customers noted that the drive doesn’t come with instructions, which might be a minor inconvenience for beginners. Additionally, one user mentioned that the drive required formatting before use, which could be a slight hurdle for those unfamiliar with the process.
Noise and Energy Efficiency
One of the most praised aspects of this hard drive is its quiet operation. Customers have consistently mentioned that the drive is nearly silent, even during heavy use. This makes it an excellent choice for users who value a noise-free computing environment.
The drive’s energy-efficient design also received positive feedback. Its advanced power management features help minimize power consumption, making it a great option for laptops and portable setups.
Durability and Longevity
Western Digital is known for producing durable hard drives, and the WD Blue 500GB HDD is no exception. Many users have shared long-term experiences with WD drives, expressing confidence in their reliability. One customer mentioned using WD drives in multiple devices over the years without any issues, while another highlighted the drive’s solid performance after months of frequent use.
However, it’s worth noting that mechanical hard drives, including this one, are inherently more prone to failure compared to SSDs. While the WD Blue 500GB HDD has a strong track record, users should still back up their data regularly to avoid potential data loss.
Final Verdict: Is the WD Blue 500GB HDD Worth It?
The Western Digital 500GB WD Blue Mobile Hard Drive HDD is a reliable, quiet, and energy-efficient storage solution that delivers consistent performance for everyday computing needs. Its ease of installation and compatibility with various devices make it a versatile choice for both beginners and experienced users.
While the 5400 RPM speed may feel slow for some, it’s a trade-off for the drive’s durability and quiet operation. Additionally, the lack of instructions and the need for formatting might be minor inconveniences for some users.
Overall, if you’re looking for a dependable hard drive for general use, the WD Blue 500GB HDD is an excellent choice. Its proven reliability, quiet performance, and energy efficiency make it a standout option in its price range.
Rating: 4.5/5
Specification Western Digital 500GB WD Blue Mobile Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 16 MB Cache, 2.5" - WD5000LPCX:
Comments from Amazon:
Every couple of years I replace the disk drive in my Inspiron 1525 just to avoid a disk crash. Each upgrade provides more space: 320GB, 500GB and now 750GB. Along the way, I added a Ubuntu partition of only 60GB. Ubuntu has turned out to be a very good alternative to the Mac OS X and especially the Windows 8 disaster. When I chose this disk, I went for the size so that I could expand my Ubuntu file system. My bias for the laptop disks is the slower 5400 RPM which seems to be more reliable. I would have liked a little more disk cache, but I haven't noticed any performance difference with the smaller 8MB cache. I do not like the SSDs because they become sluggish after a number of writes and Windows, when I use it, is always swapping memory in and out for some unknown reason. That's not good for an SSD. Since I am going with Ubuntu, I backed up my old 500GB disk using PartedMagic onto a large 3.5" drive. After installing the WD drive, I restored the exact same 500GB image. My plan had been to create a new 250GB partition for large files. This didn't work out since I had reached the maximum number of partitions (six or seven) that could be supported. It works great as-is and some day, I'll work on accessing the additional space by expanding the existing partitions or deleting one of the useless partitions that Dell has (ie the backup "D" partition and the embedded XP "media button" partition). Maybe when I do the next disk upgrade! I put the drive to heavy use, creating many small files and then combining them into large files. The drive is not loud, but can be heard if my laptop is on my lap. The noise is nothing compared to the CPU fan when it comes on which is probably due to it being full of dust after all the years of use. The highest importance is the reliability. I do not want to waste days to recover from a failure. Also, I do not want to back up constantly like my Mac's do. I do not use cloud storage - which would be very reliable - because the only files I would put on there I do not trust to be on the Internet. Since Snowden revealed the existence of back doors, one can be sure that criminals are using them. That being said, after three months of frequent use, this drive has been solid. I will update this review if a failure occurs in the two year period (and downgrade the five star rating if that were to happen).
I've had lots of experience with WD drives, all of them good. Bought this as a replacement for my Mom's laptop. Computer repair shop quoted her at least $20 more than what I paid, and that was just for the hard drive, extra for labor. Told her to forget the repair shop, ordered this one and installed and set it up with no problems. I've had poor experience with Seagate hard drives and when my Mom's laptop failed and we determined that it was due to a failing hard drive I bet her that it was a Seagate hard drive; it was. She had only had the laptop about 5 years. As a side note, I also used a WD hard drive when I repaired her desktop computer over 5 years ago. I have several WD drives of my own (netbook, 2 laptops, 2 desktops, and several externals both 3.5 and 2.5) and have been more than satisfied with the products and the company.
This is my first review and I'm so absolutely thrilled with this hard drive. For years (literally), I had put off replacing my full to capacity PS3 hard drive because I thought it would be a huge hassle. Because it had been so long since I had actually played the system I opted to replace the hard drive without backing it up. I figured I'll just have fun replaying all my old games and the only data I had on the system was saved game data and Playstation Plus titles. Anyway, I prepped by installing the PS3 firmware on a USB drive which was only 190MB before attempting to replace it and then tried to get pumped up to actually replace the hard drive. It turns out I was worried for nothing and it's only 5 little Phillips head screws. All this time I had been procrastinating and putting this off and it turned out to be the easiest thing ever. The PS3 turned on, formatted itself and amazingly recovered all the system files. I didn't even need the jump drive and I was automatically logged back in to my user profile and my Playstation Plus account. I'm so mad I made such a big deal out of it and it was really quick and simple. Anyway, when I went to system information, I had 620/698GB free. A week later I have about 500GB free after downloading a lot of my Playstation Plus titles. One thing I have noticed is the drive is slower than I expected but I really can't attribute that to the drive itself because I am using Wi-Fi and it probably should be hardwired to download such large files. Also, I've always had problems with my modem and router. But I plan to switch to DSL internet soon and update the review when I have a different ISP to determine if it's just the internet connection. Overall I am really happy with the ease of installation. I must admit I was a little nervous when I received it because the drive was in a plain box in a static-free sleeve with no instructions or packaging but it really couldn't have been more simple. Anyway, gotta go, GREATNESS AWAITS!!!
Originally purchased for my laptop, but I now use it as a secondary hard disk for my desktop. Works well on desktop too !
O produto chegou bem protegido e lacrado. Efetuei a instalação no meu PC e o produto está funcionando adequadamente.
Arrived as expected on time, easy to install but not quite plug in and play, you have to delete it first before can install does not come with instructions ,
I have a TiVo Bolt (2017), it has run perfectly for 4+ years, until the dreaded four lights started flashing. Finally, after trying a few other drives, the Western Digital 500GB(WD5000LPCX), did work, which is the one that was in my Bolt initially (did not upgrade). It took just a couple of minutes for the setup menu to show (did not with the others). Went through all the steps but, the very last one where it verifies, said it could not, and to call TiVo service, which I did. Turns out, when you're Wi-Fi connected by ethernet (my choice), they recommend using any of the ports on your router, except port #1. After that, it worked fine. I used port #2. I found videos to help me replace the drive. After swapping out the drive, I connected the power, HDMI to TV, the Ethernet to my router, and my digital antenna. If I can do this ...you can! It has been a few weeks and so far, so good.