WD Black 10TB 3.5-inch Performance Hard Drive: specs and who it suits

The WD Black 10TB (model WD101FZBX) is a 3.5-inch internal hard drive for desktop computers. Western Digital positions the WD_BLACK line as performance storage for gamers, system builders and creative professionals who need a lot of room. Here is what its key specifications mean.

What 7200 RPM and 256 MB of cache do

The platters spin at 7200 RPM, which is faster than the 5400 RPM common in many capacity-focused drives. Faster rotation generally means that the read head reaches data sooner and transfers are quicker. The drive also has a 256 MB cache, a pool of fast memory that holds recently used or incoming data. Western Digital says its drives offer up to 256 MB of DRAM cache on higher-capacity models. It also lists StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology, which it says increase reliability and optimise performance.

SATA 6 Gb/s

The drive connects over SATA 6 Gb/s, the standard internal interface on most desktop motherboards, and it works with the SATA cable and power connector already in a typical PC. Hard drives are limited by their mechanics far more than by the interface, so the interface isn't the bottleneck here.

Hard drive and SSD together

Western Digital suggests using a WD_BLACK drive alongside an SSD. In this dual-drive arrangement the operating system and favourite programs live on the SSD for quick starts, while the hard drive holds large files such as game libraries, video footage, photo archives and backups. A 10TB drive can hold a lot of this material at once. Western Digital notes that 1TB is one trillion bytes, so a computer will report slightly less usable space.

Size and noise

The drive measures about 1.0 x 4.0 x 5.8 inches (2.5 x 10 x 15 cm) and weighs about 1.7 lb (0.77 kg). It is a standard 3.5-inch size, so it needs a 3.5-inch bay in the case. Spinning drives at 7200 RPM typically make audible seek sounds and some vibration, which may be noticeable in a quiet room or a case without sound insulation.

Warranty

Western Digital lists a five-year limited warranty and refers buyers to its website for the details.

Who it suits

It suits desktop owners who want a large amount of storage for media, project files or games and who accept that a hard drive is slower than a solid state drive in general. It is a poor fit for laptops, which cannot take a 3.5-inch drive.

What to check before you buy

• Bay: confirm that the case has a free 3.5-inch bay and the right mounting screws.
• Connections: you will need a spare SATA data port and a SATA power connector.
• Noise and heat: consider airflow and sound in your case.
• Backups: one drive is not a backup; keep a second copy of anything important.
• Usage: choose carefully if the drive will run constantly, such as in a network storage box, and check Western Digital's guidance for that use.
• Warranty: read the current terms on the manufacturer's site.

The short version

• A 10TB, 3.5-inch internal hard drive from Western Digital, model WD101FZBX.
• 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s and a 256 MB cache.
• Uses StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology, according to Western Digital.
• Works well with an SSD that holds the operating system.
• Five-year limited warranty.

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