by 4 reviews.
Western Digital 8TB WD_Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD Review: A Gamer’s and Creator’s Dream?
When it comes to high-performance storage solutions, the Western Digital 8TB WD_Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD is a standout choice for gamers, system builders, and creative professionals. With its 7200 RPM spindle speed, 256 MB DRAM cache, and 8TB storage capacity, this hard drive promises to deliver speed, reliability, and ample space for your gaming libraries, media files, and creative projects. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the most praised aspects of the WD_Black HDD is its performance. Customers have noted a significant improvement in speed compared to older or lower-tier drives. One reviewer mentioned, “The moment I fired up my new build with this drive, the increase in speed was very noticeable and welcoming.” The 7200 RPM spindle speed and SATA 6 Gb/s interface ensure fast data transfer rates, making it ideal for gaming and heavy workloads.
However, some users pointed out that the drive can get loud during heavy read/write operations. One customer compared the noise to “old hard drives from the early 2000s.” While this might not be a dealbreaker for everyone, it’s something to consider if you’re building a silent PC.
Storage Capacity and Setup
The 8TB storage capacity is a major selling point, offering plenty of room for large game libraries, media files, and creative projects. However, a few customers were initially confused when the drive showed up as 1.3 TB or 1.4 TB upon initialization. As one reviewer explained, “It’s like that until you format it, only then does it show up as an 8TB drive on the PC.” This is a common issue with large-capacity drives, but a note from the manufacturer could save users from unnecessary frustration.
Durability and Reliability
Western Digital’s reputation for reliability shines through in customer reviews. Many users have praised the WD_Black series for its longevity. One customer shared, “I’ve had a lot of hard drives over the years, but the reliability in performance of Western Digital Black drives stands above the rest.” Another reviewer highlighted the drive’s 5-year warranty as a testament to its durability, stating, “When you get a Western Digital Black, you get a longer warranty and faster speeds.”
Some users even reported using older WD_Black drives for nearly a decade without issues. One reviewer mentioned, “My previous WD_Black drive failed honorably after 9.27 years of uptime in computers that were left running 24/7.” This level of reliability makes the WD_Black a solid investment for long-term use.
Heat and Noise Management
While the drive’s performance is impressive, some users noted that it can generate heat during heavy use. One reviewer advised, “As long as you have reasonable airflow and don’t pack the drives too close together, they’re not going to get too hot.” This makes proper case ventilation essential for maintaining optimal performance.
As mentioned earlier, the drive’s noise levels can be a drawback for some. However, most customers found the noise to be an acceptable trade-off for the drive’s speed and reliability. One user summed it up perfectly: “If you don’t mind a bit of noise, this thing will do everything you ask of it.”
Ease of Installation and Compatibility
The WD_Black HDD is compatible with both PC and Mac, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of users. Installation is straightforward, with many customers reporting no issues during setup. One reviewer shared their experience: “Installation was a matter of pulling the SATA Blu-ray burner out and moving the old drive to the slot the Blu-ray had been in.” The drive’s StableTrac technology and Dynamic Cache Technology also contribute to its ease of use, ensuring smooth performance even during intense workloads.
Value for Money
While the WD_Black HDD is more expensive than some competitors, customers agree that it’s worth the investment. One reviewer stated, “Yes, you can spend less money on a drive the same size, but sometimes you get what you pay for.” The combination of speed, reliability, and a 5-year warranty makes it a cost-effective choice for those who prioritize performance and longevity.
Conclusion: Is the WD_Black HDD Worth It?
The Western Digital 8TB WD_Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD is a powerhouse of speed, reliability, and storage capacity. Its 7200 RPM spindle speed, 256 MB DRAM cache, and 8TB storage space make it an excellent choice for gamers and creative professionals. While the drive can get loud and generate heat during heavy use, these drawbacks are outweighed by its impressive performance and durability.
Customer reviews consistently highlight the drive’s reliability, with many users reporting years of trouble-free operation. The 5-year warranty further adds to its appeal, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-performance storage solution.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a fast, reliable, and spacious hard drive for gaming or creative work, the WD_Black HDD is an excellent choice. Just be prepared for some noise and ensure proper ventilation in your system. For the price, it’s hard to beat the combination of performance, reliability, and storage capacity that this drive offers.
Specification Western Digital 8TB WD_Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD8002FZBX:
Comments from Amazon:
I have had this drive for a couple months now and honestly couldn't be more satisfied. I settled on this as a compromise since i was originally going to get a cheap SSD for a boot drive and a Seagate Barracuda 2TB for mass storage but decided that a WD Black 2TB would be a good blend between reliability, performance, storage, and overall cheaper rather than the SSD route. The moment i fired my new build up with this thing in it the increase in speed was very much noticeable and welcoming. If i was to complain about anything it would have to be how loud this thing gets in heavy read/write situations. This thing is very loud so if you are making a computer with silence as a priority then you should steer clear of this drive but if you don't mind a bit of noise this thing will do everything you ask of it and the noise i feel is a more than acceptable trade off for the performance and reliability you get with this HDD. Great for reliable mass storage and a fantastic boot drive for an HDD in this day and age. Definitely worth the money 10/10
Has worked well for over a year.
I've had a lot of hard drives over the years, but the reliability in performance of Western digital black drives stands above the rest. Yes you can spend less money on a drive the same size, but sometimes you get what you pay for. When you get a Western digital black you get a longer warranty and faster speeds. These drives are fast, quiet, and reliable. I bought this to replace a failed Western digital black 2 terabyte drive of the same model, that was part of a raid array. Mind you, when I say that that drive failed, it did so honorably after 9.27 years of uptime in computers that were left running 24/7. I still have three more identical drives that are the same age, and still working fine. That's well beyond the 5-year warranty. I say computers, with a plural, because when I upgraded to a new computer I continued to use my old, and still functioning WD black hard drives. So with any luck, this new drive will last as long as the old one did, or more. I don't have any heat issues with these, but then again I have a high air flow case, and the drives are installed with fans blowing over them. I did try it one point mounting several drives very close together and and enclosed space, and I did run into heat issues. As long as you have reasonable air flow and you don't pack them too close together, they're not going to get too hot. I know in this day and age still using hard drives is kind of antiquated, but depending on what you use them for and how you use them, they can still have some benefits. I use these in a raid configuration consisting of five identical drives that contain a raid 0 array and a raid 5 array. This way I have the benefit of speed over data protection for one volume, and the benefit of data protection over speed for the other.
It’s a great device, but the loud noise it makes when you’re using the hard drive is a bit distracting. It reminds me of the old hard drives from the early 2000s.
I needed a little more storage space for my gaming system and didn't want to reinstall the OS. I decided on this drive as I've had good luck with them in the pass. This time I selected the 2 TB Black drive mainly due to the 7200 rpm speed and it would go well to replace a 160 gig drive I had a few things on. (Turned out I had more on there than I thought.) Anyway, installation was a matter of pulling the SATA Blue Ray burner out and then moving the old drive to the slot the Blue Ray had been in, which I did after taking the system into my work table in the kitchen where I do all my in case work. I did the switch as the old drive had stuff on it I wanted moved to the new drive. Once I got the new drive installed, I laid the old drive on top of the new drive after placing some cardboard in between to make sure the old drive wouldn't contact the old one and possibly cause a short. I then plugged up everything (KB, mouse, monitor, etc..), and cranked up Windows to activate the new drive and format it. These two things went off without a hitch and after changing the drive letter on the old drive to F, as I had four drive on of the system, and changing the new drive's letter to E, as the old one had been, I proceeded to move all the folders one at a time from the old drive to the new drive. by using cut and paste. Since the old drive had a number of item that weren't installed but merely copied to the drive this went fairly speedily until I got to the Program Files (x86) folder which turned out to be 101 gigs in size. An hour later, I had it all moved without a single error being reported. After checking the new drive by running a few things from it and making sure that all had copied off OK, I formatted the old drive and powered down the system and removed it and reinstalled the Blue Ray burner again and cranked things up again. The system came up running without a problem and the new 2 TB drive is now running as drive E on a three HD with burner system. I moved the system back into the Computer Room and hooked it up and so far all's well. I have gotten good results with WD drives and if I have to replace a drive or upgrade one to a larger capacity I usual get WDs. An increase in storage space and well worth the price.
I've bought quite a few WD Black drives over the last several years & maybe I've been lucky, but they've all been genuine retail drives and had Warranties when I've check on WD's website. This 10TB drive is no exception, I checked WD's website as soon as it arrived and it shows a warranty until 9th Jan 2030. I have 6 of these of various sizes, between 4TB and 10TB and none of these have had any issues so far, they're mostly North of 30,000 hours now.
Note: 8TB HDD drives when you inltialize them show as a 1.3 TB or 1.4 TB its like that until you format it only then does is show up as a 8TB hdd on the PC. I don't normaly get drives this big. Manufacture should have a note in it about formatting in windows. It would save a lot on send backs on drives. Came on time, worked good, package was so-so. Seems Amazon's automatic bag sealer - it comes in will tear open very easy in shipment poor sealing needs some adjustments. Backup software worked great with this HDD, real fast.