Table of Contents
Additional for our PCs is necessary for everyone, but definitely more for gamers. The sheer size of games has increased massively due to high definition and enhanced features. Without more , there is a chance you can’t back up your games or worse, your PC becomes slow, ruining your gaming experience. So to fix that we will compare the Seagate Firecuda vs WD Black internal hard drives.
We will compare all of their specifics and decide which one is the better . While they come in a range of capacities (the up to 2GB and the WD Black up to 6GB), we are going to look at the 2TB hard drives.
Foundational Hard Drive Videos
A great place to start is by viewing these videos that will lay the groundwork to help you choose the right hard drive.
The videos are:
- WD Black Hard Drives – Product Overview
- Right Drive, Right Job
- Seagate Drives Explained
Right Drive, Right Job – video notes:
3 Different Hard Drive Types:
- Standard
- Tuned (for specific applications)
- Enterprise
Standard drives are reliable
(But no doubt they need to be used in their expected environments with the expected workloads.)
- 8 hours a day
- 5 days week
- 55 TB per year
Tuned Drives
- 24 hours a day
- 7 days week
- 180 TB per year
Enterprise Drives
- 24 hours a day
- 7 days week
- 550 TB per year
Hard drive reliability will increase as the correct hard drive type is used in the right workload environment.
We will now discuss how these hard drives are similar.
Seagate Firecuda vs WD Black – Similarities
Quick Glance
Interface
The third generation SATA 6.0Gb/s is the interface for the Seagate Firecuda and the WD Black. This enables some of the fastest read and writes speeds today (550MB/s and 520MB/s respectively). You will only be able to enjoy these speeds if you are using a SATA 6.0Gb/s port. The cables are not included.
Warranty
Both the Seagate Firecuda and the WD Black come with a very impressive 5-year limited warranty, which adds to the value of money and the confidence the brands have of these internal hard drives.
RoHS Compliant
Products that are RoHS complaint mean they have followed the restricted use of hazardous substances. The Seagate Firecuda and the WD Black are RoHS complaint, safer to use, and more environmentally friendly.
That’s all for the similarities, so we will move on to their differences.
Differences Between Seagate Firecuda and WD Black Drive
Appearance
This most important thing is the size as you will need to choose the right form factor for your PC.
Seagate Firecuda
This comes in two form factors, 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches. The 2.5-inch form factor measures 3.95 x 2.5 x 0.28 inches and weighs 3.36 ounces (0.21lbs). The 3.5-inch form factor is almost identical to the WD Black. It is green, black and red.
WD Black
It only comes in a 3.5-inch form factor. It measures 5.79 x 4 x 1.03 inches and weighs 1.65lbs. WD keeps things simple and this hard drive is all-black.
The Winner Is- The Seagate Firecuda
Read next – WD Red vs Black: Which Western Digital is Better?
Revolutions Per Minute
WD Black Awards
Inside the internal hard drive, there is a disk that spins. The faster it spins (so the higher the RPM) the better it will perform.
Seagate Firecuda
It has a 5400 RPM.
WD Black
Here, the RPM is significantly higher at 7200 RPM.
The Winner Is- The WD Black
Read next – Seagate IronWolf vs WD Red: Which Internal Hard Drive is Better?
Ideal Uses
Both of these internal hard drives are aimed at games, but that’s not to say their uses are limited.
Seagate Firecuda
This internal hard drive is ideal for consoles, gaming laptops and mini PCs.
WD Black
As well as game proofing your PC for the future, it is also great for photos, videos, and other large multimedia content.
The Winner Is- The WD Black
Read next – WD Black vs Seagate Barracuda: Which Hard Drive is Better?
The Cache
The cache is where data is temporarily stored while it is being copied onto the internal hard drive. A large cache allows for smooth running.
Seagate Firecuda
This has a cache buffer of 128MB
WD Black
There is a 2X DRAM 256MB cache.
The Winner Is- The WD Black
Read next – WD Blue vs Black: Which Western Digital is Better?
Technology
Certain features, like the technology an internal hard drive comes with, will have a great impact on the overall performance.
Seagate Firecuda
Here, you can experience a hard drive that is flash enhanced. It combines 8GB NAND technology with HDD storage capacity, making it a hybrid drive and making up for the smaller cache. There is also an optional data recovery plan available.
WD Black
With its dual-core processing enabling twice the processing capacity, you can enjoy maximum performance. It also has StableTrac, keeping the motor shaft secure and reducing the impact from vibrating components on your PC.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Pros and Cons
Just before our final verdict, here are some pros and cons of the Seagate Firecuda and the WD Black drive.
Seagate Firecuda
Pros:
- It makes an amazing difference in speed with a PS4
- It’s quiet and there are no issues with overheating
- The price is good for the storage capacity and speed
Cons:
- There seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding the product specifications and how it’s advertised leading people to think they have received the wrong one
WD Black
Pros:
- Impressive read and write speeds compared with other 7,200RPM hard drives
- Excellent cache which makes it feel even faster
- It is exactly as advertised
Cons:
- Because of the higher RPM, it is louder
Video Comparison
Seagate Firecuda
WD Black
Seagate Firecuda vs WD Black Infographic: Similarities and Differences
It is not simply a question of which hard drive is better, but which hard drive is best for your needs and budget. This infographic explains the details so that you can quickly decide which drive is best for you.
Important Warranty Information
Manufacturer warranties can change so it is best to submit a warranty question to Amazon customer service to get the latest warranty status.
Click here for the complete information.
For more Seagate warranty information click here.
This current information from Amazon customer service always supersedes the information that is displayed here.
The Final Verdict
We really do want the Seagate to win. It has some fantastic technology two different form factors and a great price, especially when you think of the 5-year limited warranty. Seagate still has a significant number of problems with quality control and we are not sure if it’s worth it for a few dollars less.
The WD Black is not much more expensive than the , but as you know that the brand name is more reliable. The of transferring data was brilliant and for that, we could forgive the slight noise. Between the , the RPM, and the dual-core processing, it isn’t just fast, but it really improves the of your PC and your games. Overall, we found the WD Black to have the right amount of everything for a good price making it the superior .
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
