Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB vs Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB
Neither Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB nor Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB wins outright — each takes something the other gives up, so the pick is which of those you want.
| Specification | SeagateBarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB | Western DigitalWD Black HDD 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 4000 | 4000 |
| Current best price | $159.99betterat Newegg · captured 2026-09-13 | $179.99at Amazon.com · captured 2026-09-12 |
| Price per TB | $40.00better | $45.00 |
| RPM | 5400 | 7200better |
| Cache (MB) | 256 | 256 |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch | 3.5-inch |
| Warranty (years) | 2 | 5better |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB is rated 190 MB/s read and 190 MB/s write; Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB, 202 MB/s read and 202 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB carries the higher one.
Price
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB is $159.99 ($40.00 per TB); Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB is $179.99 ($45.00 per TB).
Spindle speed
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB turns at 5400 RPM, Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB at 7200 RPM. Higher RPM shortens the wait for data under the head; lower RPM tends to mean less power draw and a quieter drive.
Cache
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB ships with 256 MB of cache built in, Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB with 256 MB. The buffer lets the drive take in a burst of writes before the platter catches up and keeps recently read data close — useful under mixed, stop-start load, less so for a single large copy.
Warranty
Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB is warranted for 2 years, Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB for 5. The cover is the maker's own commitment; a longer one usually signals a drive built for heavier duty, though it is the mechanism, not the paperwork, that has to last.
Which to buy
It comes down to which you value more: Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB and Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB each lead the other somewhere the site tracks. Read the sections above for which edge — capacity, spindle speed, cache — fits your use.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB or Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB?
- Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB is rated 190 MB/s read and 190 MB/s write; Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB, 202 MB/s read and 202 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB carries the higher one.
- Which costs less per terabyte, Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB or Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB?
- Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB is $159.99 ($40.00 per TB); Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB is $179.99 ($45.00 per TB).
- Should you buy Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB or Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB?
- It comes down to which you value more: Seagate BarraCuda 3.5-inch HDD 4TB and Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB each lead the other somewhere the site tracks. Read the sections above for which edge — capacity, spindle speed, cache — fits your use.