Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS (500 GB)

vs Comparable 3.5" SATA Hard Disks
Item 1456: Western Digital Caviar Black 500 GB WD5001AALS
BrandWestern Digital
FamilyCaviar Black
PartWD5001AALS
Size500 GB
Cache32 MB
RPM7200
Form Factor3.5"
InterfaceSATA
Speed3 Gb/s
Warranty5 year
WD5001AALS Reviews1
$ 165.45

Maximum performance

Sophisticated performance enhancing features deliver the speed you need for demanding applications like photo and video editing and Internet gaming.

No compromises

High performance, high capacity, high reliability, and cutting-edge technology make up WD Black, the ideal drive for those who demand only the best.

Industry-leading warranty

WD Black carries the highest available warranty protection on the market, a 5-year limited warranty

Dual processor

Twice the processing power to maximize performance. (wdc.com)

Disk Interface RPM Cache (MB) Size (GB) Warranty Years Best Price Vendor Value (GB/$)
Western Digital AV-GP WD20EURS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 2000 3 75.99 26.32
Western Digital WD Green WD15EARS-FR SATA 3 Gb/s 64 1500 57.99 25.87
Western Digital Green WD20EZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 2000 2 79.99 25.00
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 2000 2 79.99 25.00
Western Digital Caviar Green WD30EZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 3000 2 119.99 25.00
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 83.95 23.82
Seagate ST4000DM000 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 4000 168.59 23.73
Western Digital WD25EZRS SATA 3 Gb/s 2500 105.50 23.70
Seagate Barracuda STBD3000100 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 127.99 23.44
Toshiba DT01ACA300 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 2 129.99 23.08
Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY0030HNC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 3000 3 134.00 22.39
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EADS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 2000 3 89.99 22.22
Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 134.99 22.22
Toshiba PH3200U-1I72 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 90.99 21.98
Toshiba DT01ACA200 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 2 91.35 21.89
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 2000 3 91.99 21.74
Seagate Barracuda STBD2000101 SATA 7200 2000 93.31 21.43
Toshiba PH3300U-1I72 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 142.10 21.11
Western Digital AV-GP WD30EURS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 3000 3 142.87 21.00
Western Digital Red WD30EFRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 3000 5 144.99 20.69
Seagate SV35.5 ST3000VX000 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 146.99 20.41
Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY0020HNC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 32 2000 3 99.00 20.20
Western Digital Caviar Green WD25EZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 2500 2 124.19 20.13
Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 5 49.99 20.00
Hitachi Ultrastar A7K1000 HUA721010KLA330 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 50.01 20.00
Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 1500 3 76.70 19.56
Seagate SV35.5 ST2000VX000 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 107.79 18.55
Western Digital Red WD20EFRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 2000 5 109.00 18.35
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST31000340NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 54.99 18.19
Western Digital Caviar Green WD30EZRS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 3000 2 165.02 18.18
Seagate Barracuda ST1500DM003 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1500 83.52 17.96
Western Digital AV-GP WD25EURS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 2500 3 141.99 17.61
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723030ALA640 (0F12450) SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 5 173.00 17.34
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 59.99 16.67
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723030ALA640 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 3000 179.99 16.67
Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 HDS5C3030ALA630 (0F12460) SATA 6 Gb/s 32 3000 3 179.99 16.67
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 1000 2 61.29 16.32
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3750528AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 750 3 45.99 16.31
Hitachi Deskstar 0S03228 SATA 5400 3000 189.99 15.79
Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 HDS5C3030ALA630 SATA 6 Gb/s 32 3000 3 189.99 15.79
Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 1500 3 96.00 15.63
Hitachi 0F10452 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 2000 129.00 15.50
Western Digital AV-GP WD15EURS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 1500 3 97.00 15.46
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EZEX SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 2 64.68 15.46
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 3 64.95 15.40
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000524AS SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 64.99 15.39
Seagate Barracuda ST320005N4A1AS-RK SATA 3 Gb/s 5900 32 2000 129.99 15.39
Hitachi Deskstar H3IK20003272SP SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 2000 130.99 15.27
Seagate Constellation CS ST2000NC001 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 131.99 15.15
Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723020BLA642 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 134.99 14.82
Toshiba DT01ACA100 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 67.50 14.81
Toshiba DT01ACA Series DT01ACA100 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 2 68.50 14.60
Western Digital AV-GP WD10EURX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 1000 3 68.65 14.57
Seagate ST310005N1A1AS-RK SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 68.86 14.52
Western Digital AV-GP WD15EVDS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1500 3 103.50 14.49
Seagate SV35.5 ST1000VX000 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 69.23 14.44
Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 5 141.40 14.14
Seagate Pipeline HD ST1000VM002 SATA 3 Gb/s 5900 64 1000 71.60 13.97
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721010CLA332 (0F10383) SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 74.99 13.34
Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY0010HNC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 3 74.99 13.34
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 3 75.00 13.33
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1500 3 115.21 13.02
Seagate Pipeline HD ST3500312CS SATA 3 Gb/s 8 500 38.99 12.82
Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1500 3 117.00 12.82
HP Midline 454146-B21 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 1000 78.00 12.82
Western Digital Red WD10EFRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 1000 5 78.32 12.77
Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY0015HNC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1500 3 117.99 12.71
Western Digital RE4-GP WD1502FYPS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 1500 5 118.50 12.66
Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 HDS5C3020ALA632 SATA 6 Gb/s 32 2000 159.00 12.58
Western Digital WD AV-GP WD5000AVVS-FR SATA 3 Gb/s 8 500 39.99 12.50
Hitachi Deskstar E7K500 HDS725050KLA360 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 39.99 12.50
Seagate Barracuda Green ST1500DL003 SATA 6 Gb/s 5900 64 1500 119.99 12.50
Toshiba MKx002TSKB Series MK2002TSKB SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 5 159.99 12.50
Seagate Constellation ES.2 ST32000645NS SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 160.00 12.50
Seagate Barracuda ES ST3750640NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 750 60.00 12.50
Western Digital RE4-GP WD2002FYPS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 2000 5 164.99 12.12
Hitachi Deskstar E7K1000 hde721010sla330 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 84.25 11.87
Western Digital WD1001FAES SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 84.90 11.78
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 5 84.98 11.77
Western Digital Caviar Black WDBAAZ0020HNC-NRSN SATA 7200 32 2000 3 169.98 11.77
Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 HUA723020ALA640 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 5 169.99 11.77
Seagate Constellation CS ST1000NC001 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 85.99 11.63
Seagate Barracuda ES ST3750641NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 750 65.00 11.54
Seagate Constellation ES ST31000524NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 5 87.45 11.44
Toshiba MKx002TSKB Series MK1002TSKB SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 5 87.67 11.41
Seagate Pipeline HD ST2000VM002 SATA 3 Gb/s 5900 64 2000 176.25 11.35
Hitachi 0G00062 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 2000 3 176.96 11.30
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD7500AZEX SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 750 5 66.80 11.23
Seagate Constellation ES ST1000NM0011 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 89.45 11.18
Seagate Constellation ES ST32000644NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 2000 5 179.45 11.15
Western Digital Caviar Black WDBAAZ0010HNC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 3 89.99 11.11
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1000 3 91.01 10.99
Seagate NL35 ST3500641NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 46.00 10.87
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 16 500 46.80 10.68
Western Digital RE4 WD1003FBYX SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 5 93.99 10.64
Seagate Barracuda ST315005N4A1AS-RK SATA 3 Gb/s 5900 32 1500 141.45 10.60
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS SATA 3 Gb/s 16 640 3 62.01 10.32
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADX SATA 6 Gb/s 32 1000 99.00 10.10
Samsung F1 RAID Class HE103UJ SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 100.00 10.00
Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 500 2 51.97 9.62
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX SATA 6 Gb/s 32 500 3 52.50 9.52
Samsung EcoGreen F2 Series HD103SI SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1000 105.95 9.44
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 1000 3 106.87 9.36
Toshiba DT01ACA050 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 32 500 54.99 9.09
Hitachi HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 54.99 9.09
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 3 56.01 8.93
Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY5000ENC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 500 3 56.15 8.90
Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AZRX SATA 6 Gb/s 64 750 84.99 8.82
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 750 3 85.00 8.82
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EAVS SATA 3 Gb/s 8 1000 117.00 8.55
Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AUDX SATA 6 Gb/s 32 500 59.01 8.47
Western Digital RE3 WD5002ABYS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 5 59.25 8.44
Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AADS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 750 3 89.00 8.43
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 5 119.49 8.37
Hitachi CinemaStar HCS721050CLA382 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 8 500 59.93 8.34
Seagate ST3500641AS-RK SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 60.44 8.27
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 3 122.38 8.17
Hitachi Ultrastar A7K2000 hua722010cla330 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 1000 122.99 8.13
Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AVDS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 500 3 63.99 7.81
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 64.90 7.70
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3750330NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 750 97.75 7.67
Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AVCS SATA 3 Gb/s 16 500 3 65.31 7.66
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 750 3 98.70 7.60
G-TECH 0G00149 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 8 1000 3 132.04 7.57
Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 66.45 7.52
Western Digital Caviar Blue WDBAAX5000ENC-NRSN SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 3 68.99 7.25
Seagate Constellation ES ST3500514NS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 500 5 69.80 7.16
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500830AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 8 500 3 69.95 7.15
Hitachi Deskstar E7K1000 HDE721050SLA330 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 69.99 7.14
Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AADS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 640 3 90.00 7.11
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5003AZEX SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 500 5 70.52 7.09
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 71.00 7.04
Hitachi Ultrastar A7K1000 0A35770 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 3 71.95 6.95
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10000CSRTL SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 1000 3 146.10 6.84
Seagate Constellation ES ST1000NM0031 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 1000 147.03 6.80
Western Digital AV-GP WD10EVDS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1000 3 150.00 6.67
Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AVVS-63H0B1 SATA 3 Gb/s 5400 8 500 75.01 6.67
Seagate Barracuda Green ST1000DL002 SATA 3 Gb/s 5900 32 1000 154.99 6.45
Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 64 500 5 77.76 6.43
Hitachi Ultrastar A7K2000 0F11000 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 3 78.91 6.34
HP 395473-B21 SATA 1.5 Gb/s 7200 500 79.00 6.33
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALX SATA 6 Gb/s 32 1000 3 158.74 6.30
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B 0A38016 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 1000 159.00 6.29
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 3 79.95 6.25
Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AVVS SATA 3 Gb/s 8 500 3 81.01 6.17
HP StorageWorks MSA2 AJ740A SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 1000 165.00 6.06
Western Digital RE2-GP WD7500AYPS SATA 3 Gb/s 16 750 5 125.00 6.00
Lenovo 43R1990 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 8 500 84.99 5.88
Seagate Constellation ES ST500NM0011 SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 64 500 86.45 5.78
HP GE262UT SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 1000 175.76 5.69
Western Digital WD5000AVVS-63M8B0 SATA 5400 8 500 88.30 5.66
Seagate Barracuda LP ST3500412AS SATA 3 Gb/s 16 500 3 89.00 5.62
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALS SATA 3 Gb/s 32 1000 3 189.00 5.29
Western Digital RE3 WD5002ABYS-01B1B0 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 5 95.00 5.26
HP PV943UT SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 500 95.00 5.26
Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AZDX SATA 6 Gb/s 32 500 98.75 5.06
Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AAVS SATA 3 Gb/s 16 500 3 108.75 4.60
HP Midline 458941-B21 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 500 108.80 4.60
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750630AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 750 3 170.00 4.41
HP Midline 458930-B21 SATA 7200 750 170.00 4.41
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500620AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 3 114.92 4.35
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 3 120.00 4.17
Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AARS SATA 3 Gb/s 64 750 3 189.95 3.95
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD5000HHTZ SATA 6 Gb/s 10000 64 500 5 133.59 3.74
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD6000HLHX SATA 6 Gb/s 10000 32 600 5 171.85 3.49
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3640323AS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 640 3 189.99 3.37
Seagate ST3500631NS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 16 500 165.00 3.03
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 32 500 5 165.45 3.02
HP Midline 458928-B21 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 500 236.99 2.11
IBM 39M4558 SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 500 240.00 2.08
Seagate SV35.5 ST3500410SV SATA 3 Gb/s 16 500 249.95 2.00
HP StorageWorks MSA2 AJ738A SATA 3 Gb/s 7200 500 322.90 1.55

Price History

Atom Feed

Recent Price Changes

2013-05-08 $165.45 -4.55
2013-04-25 $170.00 +54.01
2013-04-24 $115.99 -54.01
2013-04-22 $170.00 +54.01
2013-04-21 $115.99 -54.01
2013-04-20 $170.00 +54.01
2013-04-19 $115.99 -54.01
2013-04-18 $170.00 +54.01
2013-04-17 $115.99 -54.01
2013-04-17 $170.00 +54.01

Manufacturer's Specs

General
InterfaceSATA 3 Gb/s
Formatted Capacity500,107 MB
User Sectors Per Drive976,773,168
Capacity500 GB
Performance
Buffer To Host (Serial ATA)3 Gb/s (Max)
Buffer Size32 MB
Power
Standby1.00 Watts
Read/Write8.30 Watts
Sleep1.00 Watts
Idle7.70 Watts
Acoustics
Seek Mode 326 dBA (average)
Seek Mode 029 dBA (average)
Idle Mode25 dBA (average)

External links

Western Digital
http://www.wdc.com/
WD5001AALS
http://www.wdc.com/en/produ...

Western Digital WD5001AALS Reviews & Benchmarks

X-bit labs - 500 GB Hard Disk Drives Roundup - May 3, 2010

Other Western Digital Caviar Black Reviews & Benchmarks

X-bit labs - Hard Disk Drives Roundup: Winter 2010 - Dec. 28, 2010
ThinkComputers - Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (WD1002FAEX) SATA 6GB/s Hard Drive Review | Unbiased Computer Hardware Reviews - ThinkComputers.org - Dec. 17, 2010
Silent PC Review - WD Caviar Black 2TB & VelociRaptor 600GB - Oct. 10, 2010
The Tech Report - 7,200-RPM terabytes from Hitachi, Samsung, Seagate, and WD face off - Introducing the Barracuda 7200.12, Caviar Black, Deskstar 7K1000.C, and SpinPoint F3 - July 27, 2010
The Tech Report - Today's solid-state drives: The value perspective - Quantifying the value of today's SSD goodness - July 6, 2010
X-bit labs - Roundup: New Hard Disk Drives with 1 TB and 2 TB Storage Capacities - April 16, 2010
Hot Hardware - Definitive 2TB HD Roundup: WD, Seagate, Samsung - April 16, 2010
StorageReview.com - Western Digital Caviar Black Review (2TB) - March 31, 2010
X-bit labs - Terabyte Hard Disk Drives Roundup: Round Three - March 8, 2010
HardOCP - SATA 6Gb/s on Your New Motherboard? - Feb. 20, 2010
The Tech Report - Western Digital's 6Gbps Caviar Black 1TB hard drive - Two 500GB platters get a faster interface - Feb. 17, 2010
PC Perspective - Western Digital SATA 6Gb/sec 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Review - Feb. 14, 2010
X-bit labs - 2 TB Hard Disk Drives: Now at 7,200 RPM - Jan. 11, 2010
Hot Hardware - Western Digital Caviar Black and RE4 2TB Drives Review - Dec. 9, 2009
Tom's Hardware - 500GB Per Platter: Three Next-Gen 7,200 RPM Hard Drives - Oct. 29, 2009
The Tech Report - Western Digital's Caviar Black 2TB hard drive - Introducing the dual-stage actuator - Oct. 26, 2009
Register Hardware - WD Caviar Black 2TB 7200rpm hard drive - Two terabytes of performance HDD - but it comes at a price - Oct. 7, 2009
Legit Reviews - Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green and Black Hard Drives - Sept. 18, 2009
PC Perspective - Western Digital 7200RPM Caviar Black and RE4 Series 2TB Hard Drive Review - Sept. 7, 2009
Silent PC Review - Caviar Black: WD's Performance 1TB HDD - Jan. 13, 2009
Tom's Hardware - 1TB Evolves: New Drives, More Speed : Hitachi, WD: 1-TB Drives Revised - Sept. 12, 2008
The Tech Report - Western Digital's Caviar Black hard drive: After you've had Caviar, will you ever go back? - Aug. 28, 2008

eBay Auctions

Product Price Shipping Total Bids Time Left

eBay Stores

Product Price Shipping Total Store