List of Western Digital model number codes

From Computing Classics Wiki

This is a list of the trailing letter codes in Western Digital main model number codes (for exampe, the "EZRZ" in WD30EZRZ), and their meanings. Models prior to 2005 only have the third and fourth letters (for example, the "JS" in WD2500JS), but otherwise follow the same format.[1]

First letter: Capacity and form factor

The first letter defines the unit of measurement for the capacity preceding it, as well as the form factor.

Code Unit Form factor
A GB 3.5"
B GB 2.5" 9.5 mm
C TB 2.5" 12.5 mm (VelociRaptor only)
D TB 2.5" 12.5 mm (VelociRaptor with IcePak only)
E TB 3.5"
F TB 3.5" (Nearline/Red Pro/Black)
G GB 2.5" 12.5 mm (VelociRaptor with backplane-incompatible IcePak only)
H GB 2.5" 12.5 mm (VelociRaptor with IcePak only)
J TB 2.5" 9.5 mm
K GB (prior to 2015)
TB (since 2015)
2.5" 12.5 mm (prior to 2015)
3.5" (Nearline/Red Pro/Black, >= 10 TB, since 2015)
L GB 2.5" 7 mm
M GB 2.5" 5 mm
N TB 2.5" 15 mm
P TB 3.5" (Purple)
S TB 2.5" 7 mm
T TB 2.5" 12.5 mm
X TB 2.5" 9.5 mm (not used)

Second letter: Business unit

The second letter denotes the business unit of Western Digital that the drive is designed for. It also indicates whether the drive supports Advanced Format.

Code Business unit Advanced Format?
A Desktop PC (Caviar/Blue/Green/Black) No
B Nearline (Re/Se) No
D Raptor (prior to 2008) No (prior to 2008)
Self-encrypting drive (since 2008) Yes (since 2008)
E Mobile PC (Scorpio/Blue/Green/Black) No
F NAS (Red) Yes
J Mobile PC (Scorpio Black) with free-fall sensor No
Surveillance (Purple), China only Yes
G Mobile surveillance (Purple) Unknown
H VelociRaptor Yes
K Xe No
H VelociRaptor No
M Western Digital Internal Use Yes
P Mobile PC (Blue/Green/Black) Yes
R Nearline (Re/Se/Gold) Yes
U Video/Surveillance (AV/Purple) Yes
V Video (AV) No
Y Nearline (<= 4 platters only) Either
Z Desktop PC (Caviar/Blue/Green/Black) Yes

Third letter: Spindle speed and cache

The third letter indicates how fast a drive spins, as well as how much cache it has.

Code Speed (RPM) Cache (MB) Notes
A 5,400 2 Prior to 2017.
256 Since 2017.
B 7,200 2 Prior to 2017.
256 Since 2017.
C 5,400 16
D 5,400 32
E 7,200 64 Only used on 3.5" models <= 2 TB.
F 10,000 16 Prior to 2018.
5,400 512 Since 2018. Most models with this letter under-reported their RPM.
G 10,000 8 Prior to 2018.
7,200 512 Since 2018.
H 10,000 8 Prior to 2018.
J 7,200 8
K 7,200 16
L 7,200 32
P 5,400 EM
R 5,400 64 Purple drives always report this letter, regardless of their actual spindle speed/cache. Instead, the last digit of the capacity carries revision information.
S 7,200 64 Used on 3.5" drives > 2 TB, or 2.5" drives.
T 10,000 EM
V 5,400 8
W 7,200 128
Y 7,200 EM
Z 5,400 128

Fourth letter: Interface

The fourth letter defines the interface the drive uses.

Code Standard Version/Speed (MB/s)
A PATA UDMA 66
B PATA UDMA 100
C PATA (ZIF) UDMA 100?
D SATA SATA-I/150
E PATA UDMA 133
F SAS 3/300
G SAS 6/600
K SATA (SFF-8784) SATA-III/600
M USB-C USB 3.0/625
S SATA SATA-II/300 (Desktop)
SATA-I/150 (Mobile)
T SATA SATA-II/300
V USB B USB 2.0/-
W USB micro-B USB 3.0/625
X SATA SATA-III/600
Z SATA SATA-III/600

See also

References

  1. Western Digital. "Model Numbers - WD Internal Drives". Retrieved 14 September 2021.
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