WD Gold Enterprise-Class SATA HDD – 4TB (WD4003FRYZ)

The Western Digital 4TB Gold 7200 rpm SATA III 3.5″ Internal Enterprise HDD – WD4003FRYZ is a high-performance, high-reliability hard disk drive explicitly designed for demanding datacenter and enterprise environments.

Key Features & Specifications

• Capacity: 4TB, providing substantial storage for enterprise applications.
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch, standard for internal server and storage system bays.
• Interface: SATA III (6 Gb/s), offering a fast and widely compatible connection.
• Rotational Speed (RPM): 7200 RPM, delivering strong performance for a mechanical drive, essential for responsiveness in multi-user server environments.
• Cache Size: 256MB, optimizing data flow and improving responsiveness.
• Max. Sustained Transfer Rate: Up to 255 MB/s (may vary slightly by specific firmware versions or test conditions, some sources indicate up to 269MB/s).
• Workload Rating: Up to 550TB per year. This is a critical metric for enterprise drives, indicating its ability to handle extremely high volumes of data read/write cycles annually – up to 10 times the typical desktop drive rating.
• Reliability:
  • MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): Up to 2.0 million hours (some newer Gold models reach 2.5 million hours). This is a hallmark of enterprise drives, signifying exceptional durability for continuous, mission-critical operations.
  • Load/Unload Cycles: 600,000 cycles.
  • Non-recoverable Read Errors: Less than 1 in 1015 bits read, ensuring very high data integrity.
• Vibration Protection: Features sophisticated electronics and technologies that actively monitor and correct both linear and rotational vibrations in real-time.
• RAID-specific, Time-Limited Error Recovery (TLER): Helps prevent drives from being prematurely dropped from RAID arrays due to extended error recovery, which is essential for data integrity and uptime in RAID environments.
• Compatibility: Extensively tested and validated for broad compatibility with various OEM storage systems, SATA controllers, and host bus adapters, ensuring seamless integration into complex IT infrastructures.
• Warranty: Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, reflecting its robust design and intended long-term, continuous operation.
• Power Consumption (Typical): Operational: ~7.0W; Idle: ~5.9W.
• Acoustics (Average): Idle Mode: 29 dBA; Seek Mode: 36 dBA.

Ideal Use Cases

• Enterprise servers: For applications demanding high uptime, consistent performance, and robust data integrity.
• Datacenter environments: Including hyperscale cloud storage, private cloud infrastructure, and data warehousing.
• Enterprise storage systems: Such as large RAID arrays, Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems with many bays, and Storage Area Networks (SANs).
• Data analytics and mining: Where large datasets are constantly accessed, processed, and written.
• High-end, continuous video surveillance systems: That require highly reliable and performant storage for continuous recording and archiving.

Full Specifications

Key Highlights

• Storage Capacity: 4TB — solid for enterprise-level data storage or a robust home NAS.
• Interface: SATA III — ensures fast and reliable data flow, compatible with most modern systems.
• Transfer Speed: Up to 255MB/s — snappy for large files, backups, or databases.
• Recording Tech: CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) — ideal for consistent performance under heavy workloads.

Performance & Reliability

• 7200 RPM & 128MB Cache — optimized for faster access and smoother operations.
• Workload Rating: Up to 550TB/year — built for serious usage in demanding environments.
• MTBF: 2 million hours — speaks volumes about reliability and endurance.
• Power Draw: 7.0W active / 5.9W idle — reasonably efficient for an enterprise drive.

 Environmental Range

• Operating Temp: 5°C to 60°C
• Non-Operating Temp: -40°C to 70°C
  Good to go from desert heat (hello Dubai!) to freezing storage cabinets.

 Certifications & Warranty

• Wide array of global certifications — from FCC to CE to TUV.
• 5-Year Limited Warranty — Western Digital backing its promise of durability.