Overview

The Western Digital WD Red Plus 4TB NAS HDD (model WD40EFAX) is a 3.5-inch internal hard drive specifically engineered for network-attached storage (NAS) environments. It offers 4TB capacity, spins at 5400 RPM, and includes a 64MB cache. The drive uses Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) technology, which provides superior write performance and reliability compared to older SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) drives. Designed for 24/7 continuous operation in home and small office NAS systems, this drive balances low power consumption, heat output, and dependable performance. It positions itself as a mid-range NAS HDD, offering excellent value for users who need reliable bulk storage without breaking the bank.

Compatibility Guide

This HDD uses a standard 3.5-inch SATA interface, making it compatible with most NAS enclosures and desktop PCs that have a 3.5-inch drive bay. It supports SATA 6Gb/s and is backward compatible with SATA 3Gb/s. Power is supplied via a standard SATA power connector. Major NAS brands such as Synology, QNAP, and Asustor list this drive in their compatibility matrices. It is suitable for RAID configurations, though users should verify their specific NAS model's supported drive list. Note that this drive will not physically fit in 2.5-inch bays or laptops.

Product Info

The WD Red Plus 4TB was released in the latter half of 2023. It is available through major retailers, including Japan, often in an eco-friendly package. Pricing typically ranges from ￥28,000 to ￥30,000 (as of May 2026), placing it in the same bracket as competitors like the Seagate IronWolf 4TB and Toshiba N300 4TB. The drive comes with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. The market positioning is entry-to-mid-range for NAS HDDs, ideal for home and small business backup and file storage.

Best Use Cases

Home NAS Builders: Perfect for storing photos, videos, and documents on a personal cloud. The CMR recording ensures consistent performance even under mixed read/write loads typical of home NAS usage. Small Office File Servers: Provides reliable shared storage for multiple users. Low noise and vibration make it suitable for office environments where quiet operation is appreciated. * Budget-Conscious Bulk Storage: An excellent choice for archiving media libraries or creating backup drives. The cost per terabyte is significantly lower than SSDs, making it ideal for large data repositories.

Things to Consider

The WD Red Plus 4TB operates at 5400 RPM, so its random access performance is lower than 7200 RPM drives or any SSD. It is not recommended for databases, virtualization, or OS boot drives. Competitors like Seagate IronWolf and Toshiba N300 offer similar specifications; however, the WD Red Plus is known for its power efficiency and quiet operation. If you plan to use RAID, be aware of potential timeouts during error recovery, which can be mitigated by configuring RAID controllers appropriately. Also, ensure your case or NAS has a 3.5-inch bay; this drive will not fit in 2.5-inch slots. Consider your workload: for heavy sequential writes or archival storage, this drive is excellent, but for frequent random reads/writes, an SSD would be a better investment.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Manufacturer: ウエスタンデジタル(Western Digital)
  • ASIN: B0CKSSJSZ4
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.