TEST: Western Digital WD_BLACK D30 Game Drive SSD 500GB external SSD

Technical data
Image
Manufacturer	Western Digital
Model number	WDBATL5000ABK-WESN
Storage capacity	500 GB (466 GiB)
pSLC-Cache	6 GB approx.
Read speed	900 MB/s
Write speed	900 MB/s
Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbit/s)
Connection	USB Typ C
Size (LxWxH)	96 x 58 x 35 mm
Weight	125 gram
Price	ca. 56 USD (= 0,11 $ / GB)
Paid link	Buy on Amazon

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Compared to the top performer*

Read speed

45 %

Write speed

42 %

*) Test result evaluated according to AS SSD Score within the same size.

AS SSD Benchmark

Standard performance test

The standard test was performed using a 5 GB file. A total score of 860 points was achieved.

AS SSD	Read:	Write:
Seq in megabytes per second	853,02 MB/s	799,40 MB/s
4K in megabytes per second	21,14 MB/s	67,12 MB/s
4K-64Thrd in megabytes per second	261,24 MB/s	153,81 MB/s
Access time in milliseconds	0,057 ms	0,255 ms
Score	368	301
Total score	860

Copy Performance Test

A common everyday situation is simulated here. Three test folders are created:

• ISO (folder with two large files)
• Program (folder with many small files)
• Game (folder with small and large files)

The three folders are copied using the Windows Copy command (the cache remains enabled). The practical test of December 20, 2023 shows the performance for simultaneous write and read operations. The lower the duration, the better the performance.

AS SSD Copy-Benchmark	Transfer rate:	Duration:
ISO two large files	539,67 MB/s	4,26 s
Program many small files	113,85 MB/s	61,83 s
Game small and large files	201,06 MB/s	34,36 s

Compression Performance Test

This measures the write and read speed of the SSD is measured depending on the compressibility of the data (according to the manufacturer, these should be 900MB/s and 900MB/s respectively).

CrystalDiskMark Benchmark

Here, two sequential and two random performance tests are performed, similar to the ones performed on the AS SSD.

CDM	Read [MB/s]	Write [MB/s]
SEQ1M Q8T1	935,30	841,96
SEQ1M Q1T1	568,02	773,82
RND4K Q32T16	466,62	376,99
RND4K Q1T1	34,13	71,60

HD Tune Pro Endurance test

This is a long term test to make full use of the memory capacity. You can see when a cache is full and the writing performance decreases. A test file of 50 GB was written to the medium. After approx. 6 GB, the pSLC-Cache was full and the performance was throttled.
At least the test file could be read with an average write speed of 891 MB/s and written with 250 MB/s.

HD Tune Pro Benchmark

HD Tune writes a 5 GB file to the Western Digital external SSD. The transfer data of the read speed is displayed graphically. The minimum, maximum and average values are also determined. The determined access time and burst rate are also displayed.

ATTO Disk Benchmark

Here, a 256 MB file is written several times to the Western Digital external SSD. The I/O block size varies (from 512 bytes to 64 megabytes). The larger the blocks, the faster they can be written and read.

SSD-Z Benchmark

Similar to HD Tune, a 500 MB file is written to the Western Digital external SSD here. The transfer data is displayed. The more constant the line, the better.

The benchmark test was performed on December 20, 2023.
Information about the test system can be found at the bottom of the home page.
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