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Western Digital has such a large range of internal hard drives it’s hard to know where to start. Luckily, each series has a particular color to help differentiate the HDDs. When you look at the WD Gold and the WD Black, even the names tell you they are something special.
We are going to take a look at these two higher-end hard drives. We will compare all of the features of the WD Gold vs WD Black including speed, technology, and value for money. You will be able to find a comparison chart for quick viewing and some pros and cons. Let’s start with what the WD Gold and the WD Black have in common.
WD Gold vs WD Black – Similarities
Hard Drive Type
The WD Gold and the WD Black are advanced-format hard drives with a 3.5-inch form factor. They are of the fastest hard drives being SATA III (6.0GB/s).
Appearance
Because the WD Gold and the WD Black have a 3.5-inch form factor, they are also the same size. They measure 5.79 x 4 x 1.03 inches. The WD Gold weighs 1.58 pounds and the WD Black weighs 1.66 pounds—nothing that would influence our decision.
Revolutions per Minute
The revolutions per minute, or RPM, indicate the speed at which the disk inside the hard drive spins. The WD Gold and the WD Black have 7,200RPM.
Value for Money
You might be looking at a $10-15 dollar difference but that could vary from seller to seller. The WD Gold and the WD Black both come with an industry-leading 5-year limited warranty.
Side by Side Comparison
The comparison chart below gives you a quick recap.
WD Gold | WD Black | |
| Image |  |  |
| Size | 5.79 x 4 x 1.03 inches | 5.79 x 4 x 1.03 inches |
| Weight | 1.58lbs | 1.66lbs |
| Storage Capacity | 4TB | 4TB |
| Other Capacities | 1TB, 2TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB |
| Form Factor | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac and Linux | Windows, Mac |
| Uses | Enterprise servers, storage systems, NAS, surveillance systems, data warehousing/centers | PC enthusiasts, gaming, creative professionals, system builders |
| Technology | Enhanced RAFF, RAID-specific time-limited error recovery | StableTrac and Acronis True Image WD Edition |
| Cache | 128MB | X2 DRAM 256MB |
| Revolutions per minute | 7,200RPM | 7,200RPM |
| Transfer Rate | Up to 201MB/s | Up to 256MB/s |
| SATA 6.0 GB/s | Yes | Yes |
| Workload | 2 million hours/ 550TB/year | Not stated |
| Warranty | 5-year limited warranty | 5-year limited warranty |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Now, we will go over what the WD Gold and the WD Black don’t have in common.
Differences Between WD Gold and WD Black
Storage Capacities
We have paid specific attention to the 4TB hard drives, but there are other capacities available for both.
WD Gold
You can also find this with 1TB, 2TB, 6TB, 8TB, and 10TB.
WD Black
You have the same options as the WD Gold but with an additional capacity of 500GB.
The Winner Is- The WD Black
Read next – WD Purple vs WD Black: Which Hard Drives are Better?
Compatibility
The hard drives are compatible with a range of devices that have a spare 3.5-inch bay available.
WD Gold
This will run with Windows, Mac, and Linux though it may need formatting.
WD Black
It is compatible with Windows and Mac, again, there is a possibility of formatting.
The Winner Is- The WD Gold
Read next – WD Red vs WD Gold: Which Hard Drives are Better?
Uses
It’s true that these two hard drives are interchangeable, but they have been designed with different uses in mind.
WD Gold
These are enterprise-level hard drives. They have been created to handle servers and storage systems of large companies, even data warehousing and data centers. They can be used in NAS systems as well as surveillance systems.
WD Black
The WD Black series is better suited to PC enthusiasts and creative professionals like video and photo editors. It’s also a good choice for gamers and system builders.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next – Seagate Firecuda vs WD Black: Which Gaming Hard Drives are Better?
Technology
The technology a hard drive comes with is closely linked to its ideal uses.
WD Gold
Enhanced RAFF technology monitors and corrects the drives rotational vibration in real-time, making it better for high vibration environments. RAID- specific time-limited error recovery for reduced drive fallout.
WD Black
StableTrac Technology increases the relatability of the hard drive and optimizes performance. Acronis True Image WD Edition is WDs cloning software, which is free to download.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Cache and Transfer Speeds
Aside from the 6GB/s transfer speeds, you also want to think about the transfer speeds between the host and drive
WD Gold
The cache is 128MB with transfer speeds of up to 201MB/s.
WD Black
The cache is 2 DRAM 256MB which helps to allow for transfer speeds of up to 256MB/s.
The Winner Is- The WD Black
Read next – WD Black vs Seagate Barracuda: Which Hard Drives are Better?
Workload
One of these hard drives is designed to handle greater workloads.
WD Gold
This has a mean time before failure of 2 million hours and an equally impressive workload of 550TB per year.
WD Black
There is no information on the workload.
The Winner Is- The WD Gold
Pros and Cons
Before our final verdict, we have some pros and cons of the WD Gold and the WD Black.
WD Gold
Pros:
- Generally faster read and write speeds
- A great choice for professionals
- Will handle heavier workloads, up to 550TB per year
Cons:
- Louder than other hard drives
WD Black
Pros:
- It’s ideal for gaming
- It’s quieter than the WD Gold
- Installation is easy, as an upgrade it’s even easier
Cons:
- There may be a slight clicking which can be annoying
The Final Verdict
For both of these hard drives, we got transfer speeds of at least what we were expecting, which was perfect. The setup was simple and with a little tech knowledge, formatting was easy enough too. The price was fairly similar, and the warranty was the same. While the WD Black may have been a little bit faster, the WD Gold could certainly handle the additional workload.
Today, we have a very rare occasion— two winners. For small offices and personal use, the WD Black is the essential choice because it is quieter. The WD Gold has had a few complaints about the noise but that’s expected with a hard drive designed for enterprise-level storage and performance—it’s not designed to be used in your living room PC. However, for large businesses, the WD Gold is an excellent choice for durability and reliability.