Western Digital Corporation is a well-known hard drive brand. The company offers reliable hard drives to customers. They have introduced a colour-coded system to simplify the selection of their products. They provide different series of hard disks. Among them, the blue and black series is the most popular. So if you are planning to buy a hard drive from WD, don't get confused about which one to choose. We have compiled a guide on WD blue vs blue to help you out. So that you can make an informed decision. Keep on reading!!!!
Part 1: What Is WD Blue?
WD Blue is a line of internal and external hard drives produced by Western Digital (WD). It is a series of HDD and SDD drives. WD Blue drives are designed for everyday computing tasks. It uses a 1 TB platter to achieve very high RPMs. The cache memory of 64 MB with RPM 7200 offers a decent performance. However, the hard drive is not suitable for performing attentive applications.
Advance
- Budget-friendly
- Capable of reaching high RPMs
- Low noise despite high RPM
- 5-year limited warranty on SSD
Disadvance
- Capacity limitations for high-end applications
- HDD only covered by a 2-year warranty
Part 2: What Is WD Black?
Consider WD black series HDDs if you need high-performance storage. It is suitable for gaming, graphics works, etc. The high speeds and large cache make it ideal for demanding desktop applications. Besides, the WD enhance the overall PC performance. It ensures top-quality speed and responsiveness with customizable high-performance modes such as "Gaming Mode.".
Advance
- Ensure high performance.
- Special mode option to boost productivity.
- Long-lasting.
- Both SSD and HDD configurations are available.
- 5 years limited warranty
Disadvance
- Significantly noisy HDD.
- Higher cost
- HDD is only covered by a 2-year warranty.
Part 3: WD Blue vs Black: Comprehensive Comparison in 2024
Here's a comparison table for Western Digital Blue vs Black HDDs and SSDs at one glance:
| Feature | WD Blue HDD | WD Black HDD | WD Blue SSD | WD Black SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPM | Up to 7200 | 7200 | ||
| Capacity | Up to 1TB | Up to 4TB | Up to 1TB | Up to 2TB |
| Performance | Normal | High | ||
| Interface | SATA III, PATA 100MB/s | SATA III | SATA | PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3 |
| Size | 3.5 inch | 3.5 inch | 2.5”, M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Cache Memory | Up to 64MB | 64MB | ||
| Noise | Low Noise | Noisy | ||
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 5-year limited | 3-year | 5-year |
| Seq. Read Speed | 545MB/s | 3400MB/s | ||
| Seq. Write Speed | 525MB/s | 2900MB/s | ||
| Random Read | 100K IOPS | 550K IOPS |
Comparison by Features
- Form factor:
Normally a desktop usually requires a 3.5’’ HDD while laptops have a 2.5’’ HDD. Both WD blue and black series come within form factors 2.5’’ and 3.5’’. - Formatted capacity:
Now this section of WD black vs blue, let’s talk about formatted capacity. An HDD or SSD's formatted capacity refers to its space when it is completely empty . WD Blue HDDs offer formatted capacities up to 1TB.WD Black HDDs offer larger formatted capacities, extending up to 4TB, ideal for users with extensive storage needs - Interface:
The interface determines how the hard drive connects to your computer or other devices. WD Blue HDDs support SATA III and PATA 100MB/s interfaces. WD Black HDDs are equipped with SATA III interfaces. - Spindle Speed (RPM):
Spindle speed, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), indicates how fast the hard drive's platters spin. Which one wins from WD blue vs WD black? The WD Blue series offers an RPM of 7200 only for PC models. All laptop WD Blue HDDs have an RPM of 5400. WD Black HDD, however, comes with 7200RPM only. -
Cache:
The cache is a small amount of high-speed memory located on the hard drive. It stores frequently accessed data for quicker access, improving overall performance.Both WD blue and black series offer up to 256MB cache memory. WD Blue provides up to 128MB cache on laptop HDDs, more than WD Black. WD Blue models start with 8MB cache, while WD Black models start with 32MB.
- Use (suitable for home/work/gaming):
Use or suitability refers to the intended purpose or application of the hard drive. WD Blue HDDs are suitable for general home and work use, providing reliable storage for everyday tasks. WD black is suitable for running heavy applications. - WD black vs blue hdd:Price
WD Blue is budget-friendly. The price starts at $36.99. But the WD black is a little higher in price. Price starts at $51.99.
Part 4: How to Migrate Your OS and Files to WD Black or WD Blue?
It's wise to clone your hard drive before changing it, otherwise, you won't be able to get all your current data back. In that case, you can use Passfab4EasyPartition to migrate your OS and files to WD black or WD blue. PassFab 4EasyPartition is an easy-to-use software to clone your data to another disk. Whether you buy WD black or blue you shouldn’t miss to utilize the tool.
How to use PassFab 4EasyPartition to clone a disk
Before using PassFab 4EasyPartition you need to about few things:
PassFab 4EasyPartition
- When cloning a disk or partition to another, all data on the target disk/partition will be lost.
- It's essential to back up any important data on the target disk beforehand to prevent accidental data loss.
- Alternatively, you can use an empty target disk to avoid overwriting any existing data.
- During the cloning process, it's advisable to avoid executing any additional operations on your computer.
- Performing other tasks simultaneously may slow down the cloning process or cause disruptions.
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Now, let's proceed with the steps to clone a disk using PassFab 4EasyPartition:
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Clone Disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
First download and install PassFab 4EasyPartition. Launch the software and navigate to the "Clone Disk" feature to initiate the cloning process.Google Play*An OTG cable is required
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Select Target Disk
Now, choose the target disk that you want to clone to. Ensure that you have selected the correct destination disk.
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Confirmation Prompt
Upon selecting the target disk, a confirmation prompt may appear. Click "Sure" to proceed to the next step.
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Preview and Start Cloning： In the preview interface, carefully review the information of the source disk and target disk. Once verified, click "Start" to begin the disk cloning operation.
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Wait for Completion
The disk cloning operation will now be in progress. Be patient and allow the software to complete the process. The duration of the cloning process may vary depending on the size of the disks involved. Once the cloning is successful, a completion prompt will appear. Now, click "Reload" and then "Finish" to complete the process.
Final Words
We hope this comparison guide of WD blue vs black has given you a complete understanding of which one is right for you. You can compare the features to determine the best one for you. But before changing your existing HDD don’t forget to utilize PassFab 4EasyPartition to clone your existing HDD, to avoid losing any data.
*An OTG cable is required