WD Blue vs Seagate Barracuda: The Best Choice For Your Computer

While comparing the differences between WD Blue vs Seagate Barracuda hard disks, we tend to measure their transfer speed, size, capacity, cache memory, interface, RPM, form factor, and so on. WD Blue and Seagate Barracuda are hard-disk drives mainly used to increase performance by increasing the cache and the storage space on a system.

One similarity between the two is that they are computer hard drives that enhance the performance of the computer and increase storage space. Let’s discuss this in detail!

Comparison Table

Features	WD Blue	Seagate Barracuda
Storage Capacity	500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 6TB, 8TB	250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 12TB, 14TB
Interface	SATA 6 GB/s	SATA 6 GB/s
Read and Write Speeds	Up to 550 MB/s read speed and 520 MB/s write speed	Up to 550 MB/s write speed and 520 MB/s read speed
Cache	64 MB	256 MB
Form Factor	5 Inch	5 Inch and 3.5 Inch
Revolution Per Minute	5400 and 7200 RPM	4500 and 7200 RPM

What Are the Differences Between WD Blue vs Seagate Barracuda?

The main difference between WD Blue and Seagate Barracuda is that the highest capacity of WD Blue consists of a storage span of eight terabytes, whereas Seagate Barracuda has a storage limit of fourteen terabytes. Note that WD Blue has a cache of 64 MB, whereas Seagate Barracuda has a cache of 256 MB.

– Interface of WD-Blue and Seagate Hard-disks

Both Seagate and WD-Blue comprise a SATA 6.0 GB/s interface which is a third-generation interface mode. When connected to a SATA 6.0 Gb/s port,  it can provide a reading speed of up to 550 MB/s and a writing speed of up to 520 MB/s. If the port is SATA 3 or SATA 1, the read and write speeds will be much slower. Note that the SATA cable is not included with the Seagate or the Western-Digital Blue at the time of purchase.

– Compatibility With the Computer System

Both WD-Blue and Seagate HDDs are highly compatible with the latest computer systems such as Windows and Mac systems. However, running it on MAC might ask to reform it first. However, installing it on Windows is effortless as it only requires the installation of the hard drive.

– Lifespan of Hard Drives

According to the studies conducted on disk-drive, it has been shown that 90% of the hard disks survive for three years and 80% of them survive for four years. However, these estimates vary across the different brands and their qualities. Western Digital and Hitachi hard drives lasted much longer than the Seagate-barracuda hard disks.

– Reliability

When comparing the failure rates of both hard disks; they have the same responses. This is common because the failure of a hard disk depends on multiple factors, such as packaging and handling by vendors and shipping companies; environmental conditions such as temperature, the hard drive’s age, the way these drives are handled, and the condition of the PC that can greatly affect the hard drive’s longevity.

Additionally, the amount of data you write on the hard drive also affects its lifespan. The more data is written, the shorter lifespan it will have respectively. Hence, the capacity of eight terabytes is the limit of how much data you can write on this drive, and if it goes over this limit, the hard drive will fail to function further.

What Is WD Blue Hard Disk Best For?

WD has a good revolution per minute, i.e., 5400 RPM. It has a two-year warranty and provides multiple features with a wide range of storage capacity. The hard drive is also compatible with Windows OS and macOS High Sierra, Sierra EI Capitan, and so on.

– WD Features

This hard drive disc has some great features that you need to know before making the final decision:

• Software/ Technology used is WD Acronis True Image software.
• It is perfectly compatible with Windows and Mac with reformatting.
• Its price on Amazon is $52 – $130.
• The dimensions of this drive are 5.79 x 4 x 1.03 Inches.
• It weighs 0.99 Pounds.
• Provides a two-year warranty.

Now let’s move on and check its advantages:

• It is affordable.
• It has a wide range of capacities.
• Provides great performance for the price.
• Suitable for home uses.
• Simple and easy to set up.

Some disadvantages to be aware of are:

• Slow rotation speed in some models.
• Limited warranty.
• Lower cache than other WD series.
• Not suitable for fast-connectivity requirements.

– Technology

Even in terms of data recovery, the WD Blue hard disk has a higher safety level. This is because it comes with a NoTouch Ramp Load technology that safely positions the recording head off the desk surface and protects the data.

– Software

Another feature of WD Blue is that it provides Acronis True Image software, which clones the entire hard disk, including the operating system, applications, settings, and personal files. Thus, this hard drive is best suited for those who need higher data protection and stability in their systems.

– Task Performance

With Western-Digital Blue hard disk, tasks that require large storage can be handled, such as high-resolution photos, 4K videos, music collections, edge-edge games cutting, and other large files. Hence, it is perfect for people who are interested in photography and need a ton of storage for their different mediums of data.

– Price

It is affordable and provides a lot of options, especially huge storage. When comparing other options, this one is the most affordable one in the marketplace, with six terabytes of storage.

However, the cost varies depending on the model, RPM, and from where the device is bought in the first place. Amidst these, these disks are generally affordable.

What Is Seagate Barracuda Best For?

Seagate is best known for multiple functions, such as: choosing an HDD for music, video, photo editing, and so on. The hard disk drive was developed by Seagate Technology and was the first 7200 RPM hard disk insofar as it was designed to enhance computer speed and storage with a storage capacity of 14 TB.

– Barracuda Features

Some of the well-known features of the disc are:

• The software and technology used is multi-tier caching technology; optional data recovery.
• It is also compatible with Windows and Mac (with reformatting).
• Its price is $45 – $495 on Amazon.
• The dimensions are: 5.79 x 4 x 0.79 Inches.
• It weighs 0.91 Pounds.
• It provides a warranty of two years.

Let’s check the pros of buying this product: 

• It has great speeds.
• A sturdy construction; durability factor is optimal.
• Wide range of capacities.
• Multi-tier Caching Technology.
• A well-balanced weight.

It’s not all; the model comes with a couple of cons. Although they are not significant but can affect your decision:

• Expensive.
• Two-year limited warranty.
• Lower read speeds than write speeds.
• Inconsistent performance.

– Compatibility

This hard disk is more suitable for lightweight computers. It measures 5.79 x 4 x 0.79 inches and weighs 0.91 pounds. Thus, Seagate is suitable for motherboards with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch form factors. Another reason people prefer this disk is due to its cache of 256 MB. Since it provides a multi-tier caching technology, it enhances the performance of the HDD and application loading.

– Design

It is designed for lightweight computers but to enhance the performance of the computer and increase its storage limit. This 3.5-inch hard drive is best suited to be used by desktop computers, homes, and offices alike that need Direct-Attached Storage.

The dimensions are 5.79 x 4 x 0.79 inches, and it weighs 0.91 pounds. The 2.5-inch version of this hard disk is used by laptops as well, but this version doesn’t have a huge capacity, although the other features are almost congruent. 

– Performance

Compared to WD Blue, Seagate Barracuda’s performance is considered to be the best since it has a high market demand and is also the biggest consumer of HDDs in the marketplace. Many consumers have reviewed that this hard disk has an acceptable performance with a speedy output. It typically features a burst workload which it can handle easily.

Due to the writing speed of this hard drive, it is quick and efficient at performing under a heavy workload, something where HDDs fail to match the performance mostly because they have a weaker writing speed than SSDs.

– Price

Although these hard drives are expensive and in the upper range of the price spectrum, they are still among the most affordable HDDs. Since the hard drives come with a two-year warranty and provide a performance boost, the expense seems justified in contrast to the offerings. Thus, buying this instead of WD blue is a better option if the price is not a major issue for the buyer.

Do remember to purchase this hard disk from an authorized retailer that offers the company’s warranty coverage.

– Storage Capacity

There is tough competition when it comes to storage between these two hard disks in the marketplace. Although WD Blue’s company was the first manufacturer that made internal HDDs of up to two terabytes,  Seagate competed with its expanded capacity, now offering the maximum storage capacity of 14 TB with amazing writing speed – perfect for storage solutions for NAS or enterprise-level tasks. 

– Speed

Before buying a hard-disk, people should check its read/write speed. Seagate hard disk has a 550 write speed and 520 read speed with a revolution per minute of 4500 and 7200 RPM. This is fast for an HDD, affecting the booting speed and making the system agile. Based on a benchmark test, we found out that Seagate works faster than the WD-Blue.

– Technology

While using the Seagate hard drive, there are two useful software packages that are easy to set up and provide efficient performance. These are the multi-tier caching technology and DiscWizard software, respectively. The multi-tier caching software in this hard-disk boosts the performance by improving the loading of an application.

Consequently, Seagate’s DiscWizard software allows users to quickly set up the device and format partitions in a preferred manner. Additionally, It also allows cloning of the hard drive onto another by copying all its contents.

– Cache Buffer Size

In an HDD, this feature is important. In simple terms, fast cache means a fast transfer process respectively. During this process, the cache gives a smooth transfer while copying the files onto the hard drive. It determines where the data is saved temporarily while the transfer is taking place. The larger the cache, the faster and smoother the transfer. In contrast to both hard disks, Seagate has a cache of 256 MB – considered to be a great cache speed.

FAQs

1. Which Is Better to Buy: WD Blue vs Seagate Barracuda?

Seagate Barracuda hard drive is the better option. Both the hard drives have a maximum read speed of 520 MB, but writing speeds differ. Additionally, both of them have different strengths and weaknesses. However, the Seagate Barracuda is considered to be the best due to its weight, storage, cache, speed, and dimensions. 

2. Why Is the Seagate Barracuda 120 (250GB) Better Than Western Digital Blue 2.5” (250GB)?

Based on the benchmark tests conducted to determine the differences and decide which of the two hard drives is better, the results showed Seagate 120 is better in performance than Western Digital 2.5 inches. Here are the following results: 

• The Total Terabytes: 1.5x greater. 150 vs 100
• The Random write speed: 90000 IOPS vs 81000 IOPS
• Faster sequential write: 85 MB/s faster. 437 MB/s vs 352 MB/s
• More controller channels: 8 vs 4
• Faster random write: 23.6 MB/s faster. 102 MB/s vs 78.4 MB/s
• Faster random read: 7.2 MB/s faster. 39.8 MB/s vs 32.6 MB/s

The highlighted ones are the results of Seagate 120 (250 GB). As you can see from above—the winner is Seagate.

3. What Is the Lifespan of the Seagate Barracuda Hard Drive?

The latest Seagate with a 14 TB storage capacity has a lifespan of two years with a two-year warranty as well. However, if used properly – it can exceed its warranty easily. Do note that the Seagate-Barracuda Green (ST1500DL003) has a storage capacity of 1.5 TB – an average lifespan of only 0.8 years.

4. What Is the Lifespan of WD External Hard Drive?

WD external hard drives function smoothly without any problems for three to five years. However, it can be less if used excessively and without proper care.

Anything that can cause disk heating problems, such as the metal or plastic design to protect the disk that can be damaged. If that occurs, it will decrease the lifespan of the hard disk.

5. How Does the Western-Digital Blue Hard-disk Perform?

Many test runs have been performed on different WD-Blue models, and the results have shown that there are no big advantages of these disks. Although it has good storage for gaming purposes, it is only better for storage of data and files that do not require a high level of performance.

6. What Is the Ideal Use of WD-Blue and Seagate-barracuda HDDs?

You can use the Seagate-Barracuda and the Western-Digital Blue for gaming purposes on the computer. However, it is also best for photos and video editing in HD, running applications, saving files, and transferring music and videos. They both work in similar ways, but the processing speeds of their performance differ respectively.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should be able to differentiate between the two hard disks discussed above and decide the best one for your computer system. Depending on the storage and cache speed, you can purchase the desired hard disks as per your needs. By contrast, the Seagate barracuda has a larger cache and higher storage space than the WD Blue. Hence, Seagate is faster than WD Blue.

Therefore, in cases of heavy workloads and heating issues in the system, you can choose Seagate as a solution. It may be a bit expensive, but the results are worth the price. However, choosing the WD Blue is also an option as both offer third-generation software compatible with all types of PC and systems.