TechRadar reviewed the WD Red Plus 14TB and noted its reliability in NAS environments, though it found the pricing not competitive. The drive features a helium-filled design, 550TB/year workload rating, and delivers read speeds near 265MB/s. While it's built for continuous operation, it runs at 5400 RPM, making it slower than its Red Pro counterpart. This makes it a solid choice for NAS users prioritizing durability over raw performance, but those seeking better value may want to consider alternatives.
Full review
Capacity and physical design
According to APH Networks, the drive weighs 1.52 pounds, making it slightly lighter than the 10TB model at 1.65 pounds but heavier than the 12TB variant at 1.46 pounds. The drive's design includes a silver finish with a red label across the middle, identifying it as part of the Red series, and the label prominently displays 'WD Red' at the bottom. The drive is helium-filled to reduce resistance and enable more platters in the same space, contributing to its compact design. The PCB is notably larger than that of smaller capacity drives, reflecting the increased internal components. The drive supports SATA 6Gb/s interface and comes with 512MB of cache, which is the largest cache size in the Red series to date.
APH Networks noted that the drive's physical dimensions are 4 x 5.787 x 1.028 inches (101.6 x 147 x 26.1 mm), and it weighs 1.4 pounds (0.64 kilograms). The drive is designed with NASware 3.0 firmware, which is intended to balance performance and reliability in NAS and RAID environments. The drive also features 3D Active Balance Plus, a technology designed to reduce vibration and noise in multi-drive configurations, and it is TLER enabled to prevent drives from being dropped out of RAID arrays unexpectedly.
Performance benchmarks
StorageReview.com evaluated the WD Red 14TB in a RAID6 configuration within a QNAP TS-1685 NAS, measuring performance across various workload profiles. In 4K random performance tests, the drive achieved 938 IOPS write and 8806 IOPS read in iSCSI, and 734 IOPS write and 5369 IOPS read in CIFS. The average latency was 272.927ms for write and 29.064ms for read in iSCSI, while CIFS showed 348.7ms write and 47.669ms read. In 8K sequential throughput tests, the drive reached 227,267 IOPS read and 104,679 IOPS write in iSCSI, and 52,235 IOPS read and 41,272 IOPS write in CIFS. The 8K 70/30 mixed workload showed a performance range of 643 IOPS to 1,698 IOPS in iSCSI and 2,497 IOPS to 2,157 IOPS in CIFS. The performance metrics indicate that the drive performs well in both read and write operations, with the read performance being notably higher than write performance in most tests.
TweakTown conducted performance tests using CDM and ATTO, measuring read speeds of 227 MB/s and write speeds of 239 MB/s. The drive showed a significant performance boost over the 10TB model, with IOPS ranging from 250 at QD1 to 550 at QD16, and 32 at QD32. File server performance started just above 200 IOPS and scaled to 310 IOPS at QD2 and 490 IOPS at QD4, with QD8 through 32 maintaining nearly the same performance at 600 IOPS. Email server performance showed a strong start, pushing to 475 IOPS at QD4, while web server performance scaled evenly through each step, starting just under 200 IOPS at QD1 and landing at 500 IOPS at QD8. Workstation performance moved quickly to 400 IOPS at QD4, with a touch over 500 IOPS at QD16 and ending at 500 IOPS at QD32. These results suggest that the drive is well-suited for a variety of NAS environments, with strong performance in both read and write operations.
Power consumption and efficiency
APH Networks reported that the WD Red Plus 14TB drive consumes 6.5W under load, 3.0W idling, and 0.8W standby, which is considered very good. This power consumption is slightly higher than the Red Pro variant, which consumes 6.2W under load, but still significantly better than the Seagate IronWolf ST14000VN0008, which consumes 7.3W under load. The drive's power efficiency is further enhanced by its helium-filled design, which reduces resistance and enables more platters in the same space. The drive's power consumption is particularly beneficial for NAS systems that operate 24/7, as it can significantly reduce energy costs over time. The drive's power management features are designed to minimize energy usage while maintaining performance, making it a suitable choice for users who are concerned about power consumption.
TweakTown's testing revealed that the drive's power consumption scales with each new drive generation. The 4TB and 6TB models share a similar power profile, while the 8TB model, due to extra platters, has the highest consumption. The move to helium with the 10TB model lowered consumption once again. The WD Red Plus 14TB drive, with its 6.5W load consumption, is positioned as a power-efficient option among its peers, especially when compared to drives that do not utilize helium technology. The drive's power consumption is also notable for its low idle and standby power, which further contributes to its overall energy efficiency. This makes it a suitable choice for users who want to minimize their environmental impact while maintaining high performance.
Reliability and durability features
APH Networks emphasized that the WD Red Plus 14TB drive includes several reliability features, such as 3D Active Balance Plus, which helps reduce vibration and noise in multi-drive configurations. The drive is also TLER enabled, which limits the error recovery time to seven seconds, preventing drives from being dropped out of RAID arrays unexpectedly. The drive is designed and tested for NAS compatibility and reliability, with features tailored to preserve data and maintain optimal performance. The drive's reliability is further enhanced by its use of conventional magnetic recording technology, which avoids performance-penalizing technologies like shingled magnetic recording.
StorageReview.com noted that the drive is designed and tested in 24/7 conditions, with a focus on reliability and performance. The drive's TLER feature is crucial for maintaining RAID array stability, as it prevents drives from entering deep recovery mode and failing to respond within a set period of time. The drive's 1,000,000 hours MTBF rating indicates a high level of reliability, and its support for up to 180 TB/year workload rate makes it suitable for demanding NAS environments. The drive's design and testing are specifically tailored for NAS use, with features that enhance data preservation and performance. The drive's reliability is further supported by its use of high-density platters and conventional magnetic recording technology, which ensures consistent performance and longevity.
Market positioning and value proposition
The drive's pricing is competitive when compared to the similarly specified Seagate IronWolf Pro, though the Red Pro model offers a 5-year warranty compared to the 3-year warranty of the Red Plus. The Red Plus 14TB is positioned as a cost-effective solution for home and small business NAS systems, with features tailored for reliability and performance. The drive's 14TB capacity offers a sweet spot between the smaller, cheaper drives and the larger, more expensive models, making it a suitable choice for users who need high capacity without the premium price tag.
APH Networks highlighted that the Red Plus series is designed for NAS environments and is not as robust as the Red Pro series, which includes additional features like a multi-axis shock sensor and enterprise-grade reliability. The Red Plus 14TB is suitable for small NAS environments and offers a good balance of performance, reliability, and cost. The drive's features, such as 3D Active Balance Plus and TLER, make it a solid choice for users who are looking for a reliable drive for NAS use without the need for enterprise-grade features. The drive's 3-year warranty and 180 TB/year workload rating make it a suitable choice for users who are concerned about long-term reliability and performance in NAS environments.
Comparison with Red Pro variant
APH Networks compared the WD Red Plus 14TB with the Red Pro variant (model WD141KFGX), noting that the Pro model comes with a 5-year limited warranty compared to the 3-year warranty of the Plus model. The Red Pro variant also includes a multi-axis shock sensor, which is traditionally exclusive to enterprise class HDDs, and features dynamic fly height technology that automatically compensates head positioning to ensure each I/O operation will not induce excessive physical wear on the disk components. The Red Pro model is rated for 1,000,000 hours MTBF and supports up to 24 drives running concurrently, compared to the Plus model's support for up to 8 drives. The Red Pro model also consumes 6.2W under load, which is 0.3W less than the Plus model, and offers better power efficiency.
StorageReview.com noted that while the Red Plus 14TB offers good performance and reliability, the Red Pro variant is more robust and suitable for enterprise-grade applications. The Red Pro model's inclusion of a multi-axis shock sensor and enterprise-grade reliability features make it a better choice for users who require maximum durability and performance. The Red Pro model's 5-year warranty and better power consumption make it a more attractive option for users who are willing to pay a premium for enhanced features and reliability. The Red Plus 14TB, while still a solid choice, is positioned as a cost-effective solution for home and small business NAS systems, offering a good balance of performance, reliability, and cost.
User experience and compatibility
APH Networks emphasized that the WD Red Plus 14TB is specifically tested for compatibility with NAS systems and is designed for reliability. The drive's NASware 3.0 firmware is intended to balance performance and reliability in NAS and RAID environments, making it a suitable choice for users who are looking for a drive that can handle the demands of a NAS system. The drive is also TLER enabled, which prevents drives from being dropped out of RAID arrays unexpectedly, ensuring that users can rely on their NAS system's stability. The drive's design and features are tailored for NAS use, with a focus on data preservation and performance, making it a solid choice for users who are concerned about long-term reliability and performance in NAS environments.
TweakTown's review noted that the drive's performance is consistent across various workload types, making it suitable for a wide range of NAS applications. The drive's ability to handle high-capacity storage needs while maintaining performance and reliability makes it a good choice for users who are looking for a drive that can meet their storage requirements without compromising on performance. The drive's compatibility with NAS systems is further enhanced by its support for up to 8 bays, making it suitable for users who need to expand their storage capacity. The drive's features, such as 3D Active Balance Plus and TLER, contribute to its overall reliability and make it a suitable choice for users who are concerned about long-term performance and data integrity.
Strengths
- +Built for 24x7 NAS environments with 550TB/year workload rating
- +Helium-filled design for reduced resistance
- +Capable of reading speeds close to 265MB/s and writing 250MB/s
Watch-outs
- −Not price competitive compared to similar Seagate IronWolf Pro drives
- −High price point
How it compares
The WD Red Plus 14TB offers a 550TB/year workload rating and helium-filled design, matching the Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB in durability but at a lower price point.
Rating sources
“The performance might have been slightly better, but it is difficult to argue with the resilience of this drive.”
“The Western Digital Red WD140EFFX 14TB is a 7,200 RPM drive with eight high density platters inside. While Western Digital advertises this drive as a "5,400 RPM class" drive, this is misleading, because the spindle does indeed spin at 7,200 RPM according to our measurements.”
“WD Red drives come with NASware 3.0 technology to balance performance and reliability in NAS and RAID environments.”
“With its 14TB capacity solution now on the market, consumers get more choice and the WD Red is certainly worth a look for those needing high capacity NAS drives.”
Our 4.0 score is the average of the 4 scored reviews above; 1 more reviewed it without printing a score and is not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
