Western Digital G-DRIVE HDD Review | Serviceable Storage

Western Digital is known for quality storage devices. If you're confused by the occurrence of Sandisk next to its name, the answer is that essentially they are the same company. The WD brandign is now reserved for hard disks only. And so, we come to the WD G-Drive, a mammoth storage offering that's aimed for enterprise-use.

Currently, the G-Drive stands as one of the highest capacity HDDs with 26TB down pat. So it goes without saying that this is not consumer-grade but rather enterprise-class. If you are running a cloud facility, this one comes into play.

Now that the WD mark stands for only HDDs, we can expect a consolidation of all the unique capabilites the company had for building lasting and high-performing professional storage hardware. How that converges into the G-Drive is what we are looking into with this review.

The WD G-Drive can be divided into the more diverse Desktop version and the comparably limited ArmorATD version. How they differ? The quick details are below:

·         The drive has 4TB to 26TB (desktop) and up to 6TB (portable ArmorATD) storage capacity

·         On the inside, there is a 7200 RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class HDD

·         For the desktop version, the interface is USB-C (10 Gbps) and Thunderbolt 3 (Pro/Project models); USB-C (5Gbps) for ArmorATD

·         You can get transfer speeds up to 280MB/s  for desktop and up to 130MB/s for ArmorATD

·         The casing is Anodized aluminum if you choose the standard version. If you go for Rugged casing (ArmorATD) than it is an upgraded IP54 rating

·         As the baseline, the G-Drive is macOS Time Machine compatible but it is  easily reformatted for Windows

·         There is a LED small light near the front logo to give status indicators

·         Keeping to the theme, the desktop version has an external adapter while the portable ArmorATD is Bus-powered

·          It comes with an industry-standard 3–5-year limited warranty

·         The HDD is ready for the macOS 10.11+, Windows 10+ platforms

·         The standard version includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, however a few models may carry a USB-C to USB-A cable

The Western Digital G-Drive was launched in 2022 as a line of enterprise-class HDD models. But the G-Drive has taken leaps since then, giving more and more storage capacity over the years.

Over that time, the connectivity has gone from strength to strength. The WD Professional G-Drive boasts USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) connectivity that reaches 10Gbps transfers. Further advances include the Thunderbolt 3 in some Pro variants. Overall, the device is serious hardware for seriously large workloads.

Historically, the G-Drive lineup focused on upping storage capacities, often integrating 7200 RPM enterprise-class Ultrastar drives. Thus, the brand has become synonymous with cloud centres.

The exterior of the G-Drive is a standard anodized aluminum casing (this means the aluminum has been treated to a chemical process that greatly increases its durability). Touching the casing, you feel a friction grip that prevens accidents. There are groves on the casing that work as a heatsink, a much needed feature on a device that performs heat-producing, heavy-duty tasks. 

The non-portable desktop version is non-bus powered so naturally it comes with ports that fit with the accompanying external adapter. The ArmorATD is by contrast equipped for portability.

HDDs are speed deficient when comapred to SSDs so the G-Drive may not seem all that. However, for a product of it's kind, the G-Drive is pretty deicdedly efficient. It achieved sustained transfer speeds of up to 280MB/s for both read and write operations, particularly in higher capacities like 22TB or 24 TB. 

The 7200 RPM mechanism didn't make that much of a sound which is remarkable and neither did the chassis heat up. What more can you wish from a high-capacity HDD mainly intended for use as storage backup.

Yes, secondary storage is the ideal use for this HDD as unlike SSDs, it is not suited for real-time operations or as primary storage. This point is bolstered by the fact that there are no additional layers of data security built into the G-Drive.

The G-Drive's connectivity options are designed around the SATA3 connector. This needs to be highlighted because the difference between the faster external USB standard is substantial compared to the inner drive's connector. On balance, this will reduce bandwidth in real-world transfers.

The box pack comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable and an external power adapter that is multi-port compatible, a huge plus in our opinion. A few models may even carry USB-A to USB-C cables.

Expanding the net, Thunderbolt-enabled machines are supported on the G-DRIVE Pro/Project models which offer Thunderbolt 3 ports. If you want to connect a chain of devices, dual ports for daisy-chaining do the job.

What's in a name? Well, everything you need to know that's what. To put it plainly, the WD Professional G-Drive is not for lay consumers, as the name indicates. This is an HDD targeted squarely at creative professionals, photographers, videographers, and anyone managing large datasets.

It is said that creative professionals prefer the macOS for their jobs. So there is another hint to its target-user in the fact that G-Drive is pre-formatted for macOS. Granted that formatting for Windows is a pretty simple procedure, the G-Drive is Apple Time Machine compatible right out of the box.

This plug-and-play experience for Mac users simplifies setup. But don't let that deter you, PC lovers. A basic disk utility tool is all you need to make this your own.

Right off the bat, we want to state that the G-Drive is for stationary use as a backup hard drive. Set it up and let it spin away without moving it over and over and you will be rewarded with a device that does what it says on the tin. The Ultrastar internal drive gives sustained operation for hours and hours without slowing down or heating up.

You need a reliability guarantee for any device you trust with large amounts of data. The WD Pro G-Drive offers the same in exchange for a few ground rules. Do not under any circumstances fidget with it while it is performing transfers. The parts are built to last as much as the technology is capable of at the moment but that means you the user has to adhere to best practices in order to get the most out of this HDD.

Here are the pros and cons that you need to know:

Pros

·         Massive storage for large media/backups.

·         Consistent, fast HDD speeds as an enterprise drive.

·         Groved and channeled aluminum body helps with cooling.

·         Wide compatibility with USB-C and Thunderbolt.

·         Plug-and-play for macOS and Time Machine.

·         3–5-year warranty coverage.

·         Aesthetically pleasing exterior design for studios/offices.

·         ArmorATD is an option for those looking for protection during field use.

Cons

·         Not as fast as SSDs for rapid access.

·         Desktop models need an external power adapter.

·         Larger and heavier, less ideal for travel although this is only true of desktop models.

·         Requires reformatting for Windows.

·         May need third-party backup/encryption tools as none is provided.

·         Mechanical drive so expect a few hums and haws when in operation.

No doubt the WD Professional G-Drive is a storage behemoth and is relevantly aimed for enterprise usage. The overall transfer speeds are great but limited by the connector capabilities of the internal drive.

If you want a high-capacity back up hard drive for your office, this product is a very good option in terms of bang for your buck.