Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Solved

Which WD Caviar Black Model Number(s) preferred for Gaming Build?

Last response: in Storage
Share

Which WD Caviar "Black" Model Number(s) are the preferred HDD's for Gaming Build?
-- I need some guidance.


After reading about various "gaming builds" on THG, and seeing Western Digital Caviar 'Black' mentioned quite often, I decided to purchase one. However, when I went to Western Digital's web site to look at their list of "500GB WD Caviar Black" drives, I saw they had nearly 20 of them! Although they stated '500GB' on each, the prices on their list included some that were nearly $1,500.00, or more! One of them had its weight listed as 33.3 POUNDS! I have no idea why. The web site offered no descriptions that explained the reason for the huge prices. I'm a real novice at shopping for a new drive.

With too many choices (and, without being able to understand what the heck the differences were between the drives they listed), I came here for some "real" explanations.

I want to buy the "best" model available, as far as quality, speed (seek/access, etc.), dependability, warranty, etc. It can be either a 500GB, 650GB?/750GB?, or 1.5GB.

I'm looking for specific WD MODEL NUMBERS (for the one/s Tom's Hardware builders recommend for gaming), so that I can then read more about the drives, find best low price, etc.

More about : caviar black model number preferred gaming build

Register or log in to remove
Gaming Expert

Where are you buying from, so we can review your available options for purchase?

I'm actually a bigger support of the Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB drive, which can typically be purchase at the same price of the 500GB Blacks with better performance.
Related ressources
Ask the community

tecmo34 said:
My recommendation: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

WD Black: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite... (don't worry if your motherboard isn't SATA III capable, as it will run fine on SATA II)


I'm going to mark this as the 'Best Answer,' even though it isn't what I sought to find originally. Everybody seemed to want to steer me towards buying other brands (their own preferences) instead of the brand I said I wanted. I'm sure the intentions were good, but I tried to make my choice clear in my original topic so that there wouldn't be any side-tracking to the topic.

I was also hoping to get just a simple 'list' of only the Model Numbers of each size of the WD drives that Tom's Hardware's "Build-Your-Own" contest "recommended." I couldn't find that info. From such a list, I could easily do the shopping without fearing that I bought the wrong Model.

I went ahead and ordered the Western Digital Caviar "Black" 500GB SATA III 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Internal Desktop HDD.
Model Number: WD5002AALX

Thank you, techmo34, for mentioning what you did about the SATA II/III capability. That's very good to know!

One of these days soon, I'm hoping to start another topic to ask about an ASUS Motherboard. The MB I need must meet my certain req's. I know which CPU I want, but the specific RAM type is still an open issue for me.

Thanks again, everyone, for your kind suggestions and advice!


Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Storage categories
!