WD Red for Desktop PC?

[sussah]

I know the Reds are built for NAS application but... I've read that they are pretty reliable, cool and quiet.

So I was wondering if they would work well in just a desktop setup used for a secondary storage drive.

Thanks 😎

 

[sussah]

Or i think I might just go with the WD RE4 1TB

 

[scbjmshpv]

no need, for storage i say go with green drive unless you are planning on putting them in raid in later days. than go for red. for storage RE4 is just too much.

 

[Zap]

It kinds of depends on your storage needs (how many terabytes) and the spot pricing on these HDDs. For instance when SPCR reviewed these drives, the 3TB version was only $10 more than the 3TB Green, making them a no-brainer choice over the Green. However, since then the price has gone up significantly, so the decision is now more difficult. If the price gap closes again, then back to being a no-brainer choice for the Red. SPCR also stated that the 1TB version was not that great a value for the capacity and performance, based on spot pricing at that time.

 

[sussah]

It kinds of depends on your storage needs (how many terabytes) and the spot pricing on these HDDs. For instance when SPCR reviewed these drives, the 3TB version was only $10 more than the 3TB Green, making them a no-brainer choice over the Green. However, since then the price has gone up significantly, so the decision is now more difficult. If the price gap closes again, then back to being a no-brainer choice for the Red. SPCR also stated that the 1TB version was not that great a value for the capacity and performance, based on spot pricing at that time.

I bought a Red for $99 and a RE4 for $89. Both are 1TB. I'm using them for desktop and read that RE4 has TLER which is not good for standalone usage. And the Red is made for NAS.

Both are on their way, not sure if I should keep one over the other, or RMA both and just get a WD Black. I was aiming for quiet and cool and sometimes hear Blacks are loud.

I'm just so confused.

 

[Zap]

If you want quiet and cool, then keep the Red. Any 7200RPM drive can be warmer than 5400RPM drives, and WD Blacks are notorious for being loud - even to the point of being louder than VelociRaptors.

The Red drives also have TLER, but supposedly you can run a utility to disable that.

 

[thelastjuju]

Only the latest revision of WD Blacks seem to be loud.. the 1002FAEX's that is.

Actually one of the reasons I got a used 1001FALS (the older revision) off ebay.. they are dead silent in comparison.

 

[sussah]

thanks for the suggestions i appreciate it. I actually went with the newer blue drive the WD10EZEX


so i will be returning both the Red and the RE4 drive :sneaky:

 

[thelastjuju]

You do realize that drive only comes with a 2-year warranty as opposed to the 5-year warranty with the Blacks and RE4's though, right?

For $20 more, I think the extra 3 years of warranty is well worth it.

 

[nervx]

Is tler and head parking the only software differences between a red and green drive? Basically I wouldn't mind buying a red drive for the supposed improved build quality and altering the settings so it acts similar to a green without head parking.

 

[sussah]

You do realize that drive only comes with a 2-year warranty as opposed to the 5-year warranty with the Blacks and RE4's though, right?

For $20 more, I think the extra 3 years of warranty is well worth it.

yes but i dont like the idea of having to run a utility to stop the TLER on the RE4 and i dont have a NAS device for the RED.

I will be receiving 3 drives tomorrow and not sure which one I should keep and which 2 to return out of these

WD10EZEX
or
WD1003FBYX
or
WD10EFRX


I have a SSD for my OS and Applications but this drive is just for storage, so music,movies,pictures,documents mostly