Western Digital Black 4TB HDD Review Comment Thread

[SKYMTL]

In the never ending quest to cram the maximum amount of storage capacity into a single drive, Western Digital's new Black Edition 4TB stands as a unique device. While other 4TB drives are already available, this is the only one which successfully combines performance and capacity with a surprisingly "low" price of under $350.

Read more here: Western Digital Black 4TB Hard Drive Review

[YukonTrooper]

5 800GB platters? God damn. Western Digital says 5 platters increases longevity over 4 platters. Do they offer an explanation why? I always thought less platters = less moving parts = less problems. Are 1TB platters inherently less reliable than 800GB platters or something?

[SKYMTL]

I am not 100% sure but, here's my take: the spatial data compression necessary for 1TB platters should (in theory) increase error rates which in effect puts additional stress on other components as they try to compensate.

[pitz]

5 platters is nothing; Seagate shipped 3.5" drives with 11 or 12 platters in the mid 1990s, 7200rpm, without issue, within the 1 million hour MTBF envelope. Mechanical failure was very uncommon (electrical failure, however.......).

Not sure how well the $350 sticker price will go over, especially with similar 3Tb drives from competitors appearing at the ~$100-$140 mark. Its not like WD implies any sort of superior quality or anything like that these days.

[AkG]

True and if Hitachi's Helium tech takes off (fill the internals with Helium not air, so less resistance and thus closer stacked platters) we could see a return of at least 7 platter designs before the end of next year.
Personally, I think that their 1TB platters were just not ready for prime time. ie the ripple effects from the flooding are still being felt. When WD feels the tech is mature enough...they will introduce it. ;)

[Oversized Rooster]

It's a shame this review didn't include the Hitachi Deskstar 7K4000 4TB drive...