WD60EFRX - CMR or SMR?

CMR family level

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Legacy line at every capacity outside the SMR models its 2020 list names; this part number is not named individually. The answer comes from Western Digital internal client HDD recording technology - SMR drives by capacity (7 July 2020), which states it at FAMILY level - it does not name this part number. Families can ship mixed recording technologies, so this is the family's answer, not a verified answer for this exact drive.

What the part number decodes to

We hold no vendor document that defines the segments of WD60EFRX, so we do not decode it.

Nearest model with a sourced answer: WD6005FFBX (WD Red Pro 6TB, CMR). Listed for comparison only - two part numbers can use different recording methods, so its answer is not WD60EFRX's.

Live rankings this model belongs to: every 6TB hard drive. Product pages for this part number: WD Red Legacy 6TB WD60EFRX · WD Red Plus 6TB NAS (no current offer).

Family-level source (states it for the family, does not name this part number): Western Digital internal client HDD recording technology - SMR drives by capacity (7 July 2020) · Checked

What this means for you

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Legacy line at every capacity outside the SMR models its 2020 list names; this part number is not named individually. That is useful evidence and it is not verification: a family can ship more than one recording method - WD Red is the standing example - so for a NAS or anything that rebuilds, prefer a drive whose own part number is documented. For a single drive holding replaceable data the distinction is largely academic.

Specifications

Model numberWD60EFRX
BrandWD
FamilyWD Red Legacy
Capacity6TB
Form factor3.5"
Rotational speed—
Cache—
Recording technologyCMR (family level - part number not named)
Workload rate—
Warranty—
StatusDiscontinued
Replaced by—

A dash means we have not found a manufacturer document stating that field for this exact model. We leave it blank rather than filling it from a retailer listing.

We track this drive - live price
WD Red Legacy 6TB WD60EFRX
$285.00 · $47.50/TB
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Related models

Other WD Red Legacy capacities
WD10EFRX1TBCMR · familyWD20EFRX2TBCMR · familyWD30EFRX3TBCMR · familyWD40EFRX4TBCMR · familyWD80EFRX8TBCMR · familyWD100EFRX10TBCMR · family
The same capacity from other makers
ST6000VX0016TBCMRST6000VX0096TBCMRST6000VN0016TBCMR · family
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Frequently asked questions

Is the WD60EFRX CMR or SMR?

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Legacy line at every capacity outside the SMR models its 2020 list names; this part number is not named individually. So the family answer is CMR, from Western Digital internal client HDD recording technology - SMR drives by capacity (7 July 2020); we have not found a document that names this exact part number.

Can I use the WD60EFRX in a NAS or RAID array?

The recording technology is unsourced, so we cannot clear it for arrays either way. What the spec table does say: no stated workload rating and no stated warranty. For an array, prefer a 6TB drive whose recording technology is sourced, such as the WD6005FFBX (CMR).

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