Western Digital Blue (3.5"): Difference between revisions

From Computing Classics Wiki
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
m Text replacement - "Marvel " to "Marvell "
→Current products: Add Carmel 2D models
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
|caption2 =
|caption2 =
|manufacturer = [[Western Digital]]
|manufacturer = [[Western Digital]]
|purpose = desktop
|form_factor = 3.5"
|form_factor = 3.5"
|z-height = 26.1 mm
|z-height = 26.1
|speed = 7,200 (true Blue)<br>5,400 (Green rebrands)<br> 5,700 (Rembrndt family Green rebrands)
|speed = 7,200 (true Blue)<br>5,400 (Green rebrands){{efn|5,700 for Rembrndt models, 5,640 RPM for Avalon C5 models.}}
|af = 512e
|af = 512e
|released = 2015 (Green rebrands)<br>2018 (SMR)
|released = 2015 (Green rebrands)<br>2018 (SMR)
Line 13: Line 14:
|predecessor = [[Western Digital Caviar SE|Caviar SE]]<br>[[Western Digital Green|Green]]
|predecessor = [[Western Digital Caviar SE|Caviar SE]]<br>[[Western Digital Green|Green]]
}}
}}
 
'''Western Digital Blue''', also formerly known as '''Western Digital Caviar Blue''', is a hard drive family created by [[Western Digital]]. It was the first drive family to use WD's colour branding scheme, one which would continue to be used to the present day. Historically home to 7,200 RPM drives for low-cost PCs, it was expanded in 2015 to include high capacity 5,400 RPM class drives as well.
'''Western Digital Blue Desktop''', also formerly known as '''Western Digital Caviar Blue''', is a hard drive family created by [[Western Digital]]. It was the first drive family to use WD's colour branding scheme, one which would continue to be used to the present day.


==History==
==History==
The WD Blue Desktop family were initially released as WD Caviar Blue, which included most members of this family's predecessor, [[Western Digital Caviar SE|the Caviar SE]]. Initially playing host to most of Western Digital's most premium drives, as Caviar SE had, it was eventually relegated to single platter low-cost system integrator drives by 2012.
The WD Blue Desktop family were initially released as WD Caviar Blue, which included most members of this family's predecessor, [[Western Digital Caviar SE|the Caviar SE]]. Initially playing host to most of Western Digital's most premium drives, as Caviar SE had, it was eventually relegated to single platter low-cost system integrator drives by 2012. Initially, this family inherited the Caviar name from its predecessors, to distinguish it from [[Western Digital Scorpio Blue]] for 2.5" drives, but this was eventually simplified to just Blue by 2013.


In 2015, all [[Western Digital Green|Green]] drives were transferred to this family, following negative reception due to that family's [[Western Digital Green head parking issues|head parking issues and negative controversy]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://techreport.com/news/29251/western-digital-paints-its-green-hard-drives-blue-in-rebranding|title = Western Digital paints its Green hard drives Blue in rebranding|last1 = Johnson|first1 = Renee|publisher = The Tech Report}}</ref> As part of the transition, they received new labels and identifier codes, but remained in whatever Marvell family they were before.
In 2015, all [[Western Digital Green|Green]] drives were transferred to this family, following negative reception due to that family's [[Western Digital Green head parking issues|head parking issues and negative controversy]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://techreport.com/news/29251/western-digital-paints-its-green-hard-drives-blue-in-rebranding|title = Western Digital paints its Green hard drives Blue in rebranding|last1 = Johnson|first1 = Renee|publisher = The Tech Report}}</ref> As part of the transition, they received new labels and identifier codes, but remained in whatever Marvell family they were before.
In 2025, new 10 and 12 TB models were added. The 12 TB model positions Blue as the largest air-filled PC hard drive family, succeeding [[Toshiba X300]].


==Current products==
==Current products==
===7,200 RPM 1 TB/platter===
{| class="wikitable sortable" summary="List of 3.5" Western Digital Blue Desktop models currently in production."
*[[WDC WD5000AZLX-xxK4KAx]]/[[WDC WD5000AZLX-xxCL5Ax]]/[[WDC WD5000AZLX-xxK2TAx]]/[[WDC WD5000AZLX-xxJKKAx]]
|-
*[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxRKKAx]]/[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxZF5Ax]]/[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxBN5Ax]]/[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxKUWAx]]/[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxMFCAx]]/[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxWN4Ax]]
! Model || Capacity (TB) || Spindle speed (RPM) || Cache (MiB) || SMR? || Family || Year released
 
|-
===5,400 RPM 1 TB/platter CMR===
|[[WDC WD5000AZLX-xxK2TAx]]
*[[WDC WD5000AZRZ-xxHTKBx]]
|0.5
*[[WDC WD10EZRZ-xxHTKBx]]/[[WDC WD10EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|7,200
*[[WDC WD20EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|32
*[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|No
 
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell TresXLB2|TresXLB2]]
===5,700 RPM 1.2 TB/platter CMR===
|2018?
*[[WDC WD60EZRZ-xxRWYBx]]/[[WDC WD60EZRZ-xxGZ5Bx]]
|-
 
|[[WDC WD5000AZRZ-xxHTKBx]]
===5,400 RPM 1.33 TB/platter CMR===
|0.5
*[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxGXCBx]]
|5,400
*[[WDC WD40EZRZ-xxGXCBx]]
|64
 
|No
===5,400 RPM 2 TB/platter SMR===
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell TrailXLB|TrailXLB]]
*[[WDC WD20EFAX-xxGGJBx]]
|2015
*[[WDC WD40EFAX-xxZGHBx]]/[[WDC WD40EFAX-xxSF3Bx]]
|-
*[[WDC WD60EFAX-xxZGHBx]]/[[WDC WD60EFAX-xxSF3Bx]]
|[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxWN4Ax]]
|1
|7,200
|64
|No
|TresXLB2
|2018?
|-
|[[WDC WD10EZEX-xxBBHAx]]
|1
|7,200
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell TresUL|TresUL]]
|2021
|-
|[[WDC WD10EARZ-xxC5XBx]]
|2
|5,400
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Carmel RP2L|Carmel RP2L]]
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD20EZAZ-xxL9GBx]]
|2
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Carmel R|Carmel R]]
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD20EZBX-xxAYRAx]]
|2
|7,200
|256
|Yes
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Carmel R7|Carmel R7]]
|2021
|-
|[[WDC WD20EARZ-xxC5XBx]]
|2
|5,400
|64
|No
|Carmel RP2L
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZAX-xxC8UBx]]
|3
|5,400
|256
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Venice RP2LP|Venice RP2LP]]
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZZX-xxCPBBx]]
|3
|5,400
|128
|No
|[[Western Digital Carmel 2D|Carmel 2D]]
|2025
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZAX-xxC8UBx]]
|4
|5,400
|256
|No
|Venice RP2LP
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZZX-xxCPBBx]]
|4
|5,400
|256
|No
|[[Western Digital Carmel 2D|Carmel 2D]]
|2025
|-
|[[WDC WD60EZAX-xxC8VBx]]
|6
|5,400
|256
|No
|Venice RP2LP
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD80EAZZ-xxBKLBx]]
|8
|5,640
|128
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Avalon C5|Avalon C5]]
|2021
|-
|[[WDC WD80EAAZ-xxBXBBx]]
|8
|5,640
|256
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Avalon RP|Avalon RP]]
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD120EAGZ-xxCRJBx]]
|12
|7,200
|512
|No
|[[HGST Vela-X1]]
|2025
|}


==Historic models==
==Former models==
===7,200 RPM 1 TB/platter===
{| class="wikitable sortable" summary="List of 3.5" Western Digital Blue Desktop models currently in production."
*[[WDC WD10EZLX-xxK4KAx]]
|-
*[[WDC WD20EZLX-xxEYGAx]]
! Model || Capacity || Density || Spindle speed (RPM) || Cache (MiB) || SMR? || Family || Year released || Year discontinued
|-
|[[WDC WD3200AAKS-xxL9Ax]]
|320 GB
|320 GB
|7,200
|16
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Pinclite|Pinclite]]
|2009
|2011
|-
|[[WDC WD5000AAKX-xxU6AAx]]
|500 GB
|500 GB
|7,200
|16
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Tahoe XL|Tahoe XL]]
|2012?
|2016
|-
|[[WDC WD10EZLX-xxK4KAx]]
|1 TB
|1 TB
|7,200
|32
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Tressels|Tressels]]
|2011
|2012
|-
|[[APPLE HDD WD10EZES-40UFAA0]]
|1 TB
|1 TB
|7,200
|64
|No
|Tressels
|2012
|2014
|-
|[[WDC WD10EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|1 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Diablo3s|Diablo3s]]
|2015
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD10EZRZ-xxHTKBx]]
|1 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|TrailXLB
|2015
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD20EZEX-xxEYGAx]]
|2 TB
|1 TB
|7,200
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Rainier|Rainier]]
|2016
|2016
|-
|[[WDC WD20EZAZ-xxGGJBx]]
|2 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Carmel|Carmel]]
|2019
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD20EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|2 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|Diablo3s
|2015
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
|3 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Giant|Giant]]
|2015
|2017
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZAZ-xxZGHBx]]
|3 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Venice|Venice]]
|2019
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZAZ-xxSF3Bx]]
|3 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Venice R|Venice R]]
|2020
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxZ5HBx]]
|3 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|Diablo3s
|2015
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxGXCBx]]
|3 TB
|1.33 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Apollo|Apollo]]
|2017
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
|4 TB
|1 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|Giant
|2015
|2017
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZAZ-xxZGHBx]]
|4 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|Venice
|2019
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZAZ-xxSF3Bx]]
|4 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|Venice R
|2020
|2023
|-
|[[WDC WD40EZRZ-xxGXCBx]]
|4 TB
|1.33 TB
|5,400
|64
|No
|Apollo
|2017
|2022
|-
|[[WDC WD50EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
|5 TB
|1.2 TB
|5,700
|64
|No
|[[:Category:Western Digital Marvell Rembrndt|Rembrndt]]
|2015
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD60EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
|6 TB
|1.2 TB
|5,700
|64
|No
|Rembrndt
|2015
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD60EZAZ-xxZGHBx]]
|6 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|Venice
|2019
|2020
|-
|[[WDC WD60EZAZ-xxSF3Bx]]
|6 TB
|2 TB
|5,400
|256
|Yes
|Venice R
|2020
|2023
|}


===5,400/5,700 RPM 1 TB/platter CMR===
==Gallery==
*[[WDC WD30EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
<gallery>
*[[WDC WD40EZRZ-xxWN9Bx]]
WDC WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 top-down view.jpg|Top lid of a WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 drive.
WDC WD10EZEX-60M2NA0 top-down view.jpg|Top lid of a WD10EZEX-60M2NA0 drive.
WDC WD80EAZZ-00BKLB0 top-down view.jpg|Top lid of a WD80EAZZ-00BKLB0 drive.
</gallery>


===5,700 RPM 1.2 TB/platter CMR===
==Notes==
*[[WDC WD50EZRZ-xxRWYBx]]/[[WDC WD50EZRZ-xxGZ5Bx]]
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Western Digital Blue Desktop family}}
[[Category:Western Digital Blue]]
[[Category:Western Digital Blue]]
[[Category:Western Digital hard drive families]]
[[Category:Western Digital hard drive families]]

Latest revision as of 09:50, 25 December 2025

Western Digital Blue, also formerly known as Western Digital Caviar Blue, is a hard drive family created by Western Digital. It was the first drive family to use WD's colour branding scheme, one which would continue to be used to the present day. Historically home to 7,200 RPM drives for low-cost PCs, it was expanded in 2015 to include high capacity 5,400 RPM class drives as well.

History[edit | edit source]

The WD Blue Desktop family were initially released as WD Caviar Blue, which included most members of this family's predecessor, the Caviar SE. Initially playing host to most of Western Digital's most premium drives, as Caviar SE had, it was eventually relegated to single platter low-cost system integrator drives by 2012. Initially, this family inherited the Caviar name from its predecessors, to distinguish it from Western Digital Scorpio Blue for 2.5" drives, but this was eventually simplified to just Blue by 2013.

In 2015, all Green drives were transferred to this family, following negative reception due to that family's head parking issues and negative controversy.[1] As part of the transition, they received new labels and identifier codes, but remained in whatever Marvell family they were before.

In 2025, new 10 and 12 TB models were added. The 12 TB model positions Blue as the largest air-filled PC hard drive family, succeeding Toshiba X300.

Current products[edit | edit source]

Model Capacity (TB) Spindle speed (RPM) Cache (MiB) SMR? Family Year released
WDC WD5000AZLX-xxK2TAx 0.5 7,200 32 No TresXLB2 2018?
WDC WD5000AZRZ-xxHTKBx 0.5 5,400 64 No TrailXLB 2015
WDC WD10EZEX-xxWN4Ax 1 7,200 64 No TresXLB2 2018?
WDC WD10EZEX-xxBBHAx 1 7,200 64 No TresUL 2021
WDC WD10EARZ-xxC5XBx 2 5,400 64 No Carmel RP2L 2023
WDC WD20EZAZ-xxL9GBx 2 5,400 256 Yes Carmel R 2020
WDC WD20EZBX-xxAYRAx 2 7,200 256 Yes Carmel R7 2021
WDC WD20EARZ-xxC5XBx 2 5,400 64 No Carmel RP2L 2023
WDC WD30EZAX-xxC8UBx 3 5,400 256 No Venice RP2LP 2022
WDC WD30EZZX-xxCPBBx 3 5,400 128 No Carmel 2D 2025
WDC WD40EZAX-xxC8UBx 4 5,400 256 No Venice RP2LP 2022
WDC WD40EZZX-xxCPBBx 4 5,400 256 No Carmel 2D 2025
WDC WD60EZAX-xxC8VBx 6 5,400 256 No Venice RP2LP 2022
WDC WD80EAZZ-xxBKLBx 8 5,640 128 No Avalon C5 2021
WDC WD80EAAZ-xxBXBBx 8 5,640 256 No Avalon RP 2023
WDC WD120EAGZ-xxCRJBx 12 7,200 512 No HGST Vela-X1 2025

Former models[edit | edit source]

Model Capacity Density Spindle speed (RPM) Cache (MiB) SMR? Family Year released Year discontinued
WDC WD3200AAKS-xxL9Ax 320 GB 320 GB 7,200 16 No Pinclite 2009 2011
WDC WD5000AAKX-xxU6AAx 500 GB 500 GB 7,200 16 No Tahoe XL 2012? 2016
WDC WD10EZLX-xxK4KAx 1 TB 1 TB 7,200 32 No Tressels 2011 2012
APPLE HDD WD10EZES-40UFAA0 1 TB 1 TB 7,200 64 No Tressels 2012 2014
WDC WD10EZRZ-xxZ5HBx 1 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No Diablo3s 2015 2022
WDC WD10EZRZ-xxHTKBx 1 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No TrailXLB 2015 2023
WDC WD20EZEX-xxEYGAx 2 TB 1 TB 7,200 64 No Rainier 2016 2016
WDC WD20EZAZ-xxGGJBx 2 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Carmel 2019 2020
WDC WD20EZRZ-xxZ5HBx 2 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No Diablo3s 2015 2022
WDC WD30EZRZ-xxWN9Bx 3 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No Giant 2015 2017
WDC WD30EZAZ-xxZGHBx 3 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice 2019 2020
WDC WD30EZAZ-xxSF3Bx 3 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice R 2020 2023
WDC WD30EZRZ-xxZ5HBx 3 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No Diablo3s 2015 2022
WDC WD30EZRZ-xxGXCBx 3 TB 1.33 TB 5,400 64 No Apollo 2017 2022
WDC WD40EZRZ-xxWN9Bx 4 TB 1 TB 5,400 64 No Giant 2015 2017
WDC WD40EZAZ-xxZGHBx 4 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice 2019 2020
WDC WD40EZAZ-xxSF3Bx 4 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice R 2020 2023
WDC WD40EZRZ-xxGXCBx 4 TB 1.33 TB 5,400 64 No Apollo 2017 2022
WDC WD50EZRZ-xxWN9Bx 5 TB 1.2 TB 5,700 64 No Rembrndt 2015 2020
WDC WD60EZRZ-xxWN9Bx 6 TB 1.2 TB 5,700 64 No Rembrndt 2015 2020
WDC WD60EZAZ-xxZGHBx 6 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice 2019 2020
WDC WD60EZAZ-xxSF3Bx 6 TB 2 TB 5,400 256 Yes Venice R 2020 2023

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Top lid of a WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 drive.
    Top lid of a WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 drive.
  • Top lid of a WD10EZEX-60M2NA0 drive.
    Top lid of a WD10EZEX-60M2NA0 drive.
  • Top lid of a WD80EAZZ-00BKLB0 drive.
    Top lid of a WD80EAZZ-00BKLB0 drive.

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 5,700 for Rembrndt models, 5,640 RPM for Avalon C5 models.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Johnson, Renee. "Western Digital paints its Green hard drives Blue in rebranding". The Tech Report.
Retrieved from "http://ccw.freosanstudios.com/w/index.php?title=Western_Digital_Blue_(3.5%22)&oldid=4270"
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.
More information