silent WD Red models (mostly about above 6 TB)

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nitelife
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:47 am

silent WD Red models (mostly about above 6 TB)

Post by nitelife » Wed Jul 05, 2023 11:55 pm

Seems like there's quite a bit of random thread bits on these drives about their noise levels. Unless there's already one main list thread, I would like to start one to gather here as solid information as possible about Red models, mostly larger than 6 TB, that truly are as silent as these drives can be at their best.

I currently have this Red setup in my system:
_02: WD141KFGX-68FH9N0 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 14,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 7200RPM)
_03: WD100EFAX-68LHPN0 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 10,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 7200RPM)
_04: WD100EFAX-68LHPN0 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 10,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 7200RPM)
_05: WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)
_06: WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)
_07: WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)
_08: WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)
_09: WD60EFAX-68JH4N1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)
_10: WD60EFAX-68JH4N1 (Western Digital Red NAS HDD 6,0TB SATA3 6,0Gb 5400RPM)

All but the 6 TB drives are mostly disconnected, as they make the overall system noise considerably louder. Otherwise my system could be said to be practically silent by most people, even almost up close. The difference is that big. I also have experience about one 8 TB Red model, which I sold over getting the latest 14 TB drive, as they were as noisy like the other Red drives over 6 TB I've had experience with.

So, to recollect, here's the general noisy models list I have had first hand experience with:
WD80EFAX-68KNBN0 (*had a pair of these in the past)
WD100EFAX-68LHPN0
WD141KFGX-68FH9N0

And here's the list of truly silent (practically inaudible) models, I've had first hand experience with:
WD30EFRX-68AX9N0 (*had one in the past)
WD30EFRX-68EUZN0 (*had a pair these in the past)
WD60EFRX-68L0BN1
WD60EFAX-68JH4N1

From what I've gathered, the reason for the models here found noisier is that they really aren't 5400 RPM, but 7200 RPM (or "7200 RPM performance class"), which WD has corrected in their spec sheets afterwards (SMART information still reports the original claim). From what I've read here and there, there are some potentially quiet models above 6 TB worth investigating. I would love to hear about these and others, in case you have solid information on, to update this topic:

WD80EFZZ - potentially a true 5400 RPM drive?
WD80EFAX-68LHPN0 - potentially a true 5400 RPM drive?
WD120EFBX - also potentially silent?

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