The Best Western Digital Hard Drive For Storage In 2024

Harlan Ellison By, Harlan Ellison
Updated
Best Western Digital Hard Drive For Storage
Best Western Digital Hard Drive For Storage

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB Internal Hard Drive

It offers superior WD quality and reliability, and comes with free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software. With massive capacities up to 6 TB available, it’s the perfect storage solution for all your computing needs. Read Review

2. Runner Up: Western Digital WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN 4TB Desktop External Hard Drive

With up to 22TB of capacity and also features software for device management and backup with password protection, 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps. It is also USB 2.0 compatible and is built with WD reliability, so you know you can trust it to keep your data safe. Read Review

3. Best Capacity: Western Digital WD8001FZBX 8TB Internal Hard Drive

It provides desktop performance with up to 10TB* of storage capacity and features Western Digital’s StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology for increased reliability and optimized performance. With this drive, you can store your most important data and drive your system’s performance to the max. Read Review

4. Best Smart: Western Digital WD40PURZ 4TB Internal Hard Drive

It has advanced AllFrame technology that provides superior performance, allowing it to support up to 64 HD cameras. Plus, it is engineered to be compatible with a wide range of applications. Read Review

5. Best Performance: Western Digital WD4003FFBX 4TB Internal Hard Drive

This hard drive is built for heavy workloads with its 300TB/yr workload rate, and features enhanced reliability with 3D Active Balance Plus technology, and error recovery controls with NASware 3.0 technology. Read Review

Western Digital has been a leading brand in storage solutions for years. They have a wide range of hard drives ideal for storing digital files, photos, videos, and other bulky files. If you’re looking for the best western digital hard drive for storage, keep reading this article. We have reviewed the best WD HDD and found the top picks. WD is one of the most reputable brands for hard disk drives (HDDs).

They have several models designed to meet different needs from different kinds of users across different age groups and computer budgets. Many WD hard drives are compatible with Windows PCs out-of-the-box, making them easy to use immediately. The same cannot be said about other brands’ products which may pose compatibility issues when installing them on your PC.

Before making our recommendations, our specialists spend substantial time researching and analyzing customer feedback. Then we found the best western digital hard drive for storage is Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB Internal Hard Drive. It has a compact design to easily carry and has innovative technology to meet all your needs. It is the most excellent choice for its high quality. If you're looking for another one, consider Western Digital WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN 4TB Desktop External Hard Drive.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB Internal Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.8
Western Digital

WD quality and reliability

Reliable everyday computing

Free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software

Massive capacities up to 6 TB available

Massive capacity, up to 18TB capacity (1 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)

256-bit AES hardware encryption

SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible

Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)

TOP Choice #3 Western Digital WD8001FZBX 8TB Internal Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.4
WD_BLACK

Western Digital’s StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology increase reliability and optimize performance

Designed for gamers, system builders, and creative professionals.

An industry-leading 5-year limited warranty** | ** See official Western Digital website for warranty details.

Performance storage available in up to 10TB* capacities | * As used for storage capacity, 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.

Desktop performance gaming hard drive

AllFrame technology for better performance

Engineered for compatibility

3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

Designed to support up to 64 HD cameras

Built for 24/7 surveillance

5 Western Digital WD4003FFBX 4TB Internal Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.0
Western Digital

Available in capacities ranging from 2 to 22TB(1) with support for NAS systems with up to 24 bays | (1) 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.

5-year limited warranty(3) | (3) See official Western Digital website for regional specific warranty details.

Extended drive testing to ensure each drive is tested for extended reliable operation

Supports up to 300TB/yr workload rate(2) | (2) Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. Workload Rate is annualized (TB transferred ✕ (8760 / recorded power-on hours)). Workload Rate will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.

Enhanced reliability with 3D Active Balance Plus technology and error recovery controls with NASware 3.0 technology

Designed to handle workloads up to 550TB2 per year | 2Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. Workload Rate is annualized (TB transferred X (8760 / recorded power-on hours)). Workload Rate will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.

Vibration protection technology for improved performance

HelioSeal technology delivers high capacities with a low power draw (12TB and above)

Energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) and triple-stage actuator (TSA) (in 16TB capacities and above)

Available in 1TB to 20TB capacities. | 1As used for storage capacity, 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.

7 Western Digital 500GB Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.6
Western Digital

Works with any PS3/PS4 Model

Capacity: 500GB

Not Necessarily Same Model as Pictured

8 Western Digital WD60EFAX 6TB Internal Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.5
Western Digital

Supports up to 180 TB/yr Workload Rate* | * Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. Workload Rate is annualized (TB transferred ✕ (8760 / recorded power-on hours))

NAS systems with daily workloads associated with personal and home office environments and idle time available to perform necessary background operations

5400RPM performance class

Available in capacities ranging from 2-6TB with support for up to 8 bays

3-year limited warranty

NASware firmware for compatibility

9 Western Digital WD1003FBYX-01Y7B1 1TB Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.4
Western Digital

See full specs below in description

10 Western Digital WD5000LUCT Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.3
Western Digital

Fast and Efficient - With 5400 RPM spin speed and 12 ms access time and up to 3 Gb/s SATA interface speed

Ideal For Portable digital devices of all kinds, including PS3 & PS4 Gaming Console, notebook computers, external storage, and digital media players

1 Year Warranty from Reseller

500GB, 5400RPM 16MB Cache, 2.5inch Laptop Hard Drive

Big capacity for portable computing! Laptop & Notebook

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best western digital hard drive for storage?

Looking for the best western digital hard drive for storage requires consideration of many criteria. Product learning varies in type, feature, and customer ranking. Overall, it comes with several difficulties in buying. So, we are available to support you occasionally.

It is beneficial for you to have a closer look at the things below to evaluate and then choose which one is suitable:

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

FAQs

What is the maximum storage capacity of a Western Digital hard drive?

Western Digital hard drives are available in a variety of storage capacities, ranging from 1TB up to 16TB. The exact capacity you need will depend on the type of data you are storing, and the amount of storage you require.

What is the best way to back up my data stored on a Western Digital hard drive?

The best way to backup your data is to create multiple backups. This way, if one backup fails, you will have other backups to rely on. For Western Digital hard drives, you should use a combination of local backups and cloud backups. Local backups can be made to an external hard drive, while cloud backups can be made to a service such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

How do I install a Western Digital hard drive?

Installing a Western Digital hard drive is a relatively straightforward process. First, you will need to physically install the drive into your computer. After that, you will need to configure your computers BIOS to recognize the drive and then format the drive for use. For detailed instructions on how to install a Western Digital hard drive, consult the user manual that came with your drive.

How long will a Western Digital hard drive last?

Western Digital hard drives are designed to provide reliable storage and data protection for many years. The exact lifespan of your hard drive will depend on the usage and environment in which it is used. Generally, a Western Digital hard drive can last up to 5 years with proper care and maintenance.


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About Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison is a writer and audio equipment enthusiast. He's particularly interested in home theater HiFi audio, and he has been the editor of The Audio Insights since its inception. Harlan is known for his sharp wit and scathing critiques, but he also has a great love of music and audio gear. When he's not writing or editing, Harlan can be found listening to music or watching movies with his wife.