WD80EFBX - CMR or SMR?

CMR family level

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Plus 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 WD80EFBX, so we do not decode it.

Nearest model with a sourced answer: WD8005FFBX (WD Red Pro 8TB, CMR). Listed for comparison only - two part numbers can use different recording methods, so its answer is not WD80EFBX's.

Live rankings this model belongs to: every 8TB hard drive. Product pages for this part number: WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFBX.

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

Sources disagree on this model

Not covered by WD's current Red Plus data sheet, so RPM, cache and workload are left blank rather than copied from a neighbouring model. Recording technology comes from WD's client SMR list, which names the shingled models and states that all other capacity points use CMR.

What this means for you

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Plus 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 numberWD80EFBX
BrandWD
FamilyWD Red Plus
Capacity8TB
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 Plus 8TB WD80EFBX
$290.00 · $36.25/TB
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Related models

Other WD Red Plus capacities
WD20EFZX2TB—WD20EFPX2TBCMRWD30EFZX3TB—WD40EFZX4TBCMR · familyWD40EFPX4TBCMRWD40EFZZ4TBCMRWD60EFZX6TBCMRWD60EFPX6TBCMRWD80EFZZ8TBCMRWD80EFPX8TBCMRWD80EFZX8TBCMR · familyWD101EFBX10TBCMR
The same capacity from other makers
ST8000VX0048TBCMRST8000VX0108TBCMRST8000VN0048TBCMR · family
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Frequently asked questions

Is the WD80EFBX CMR or SMR?

Western Digital documents CMR for the WD Red Plus 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 WD80EFBX 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 8TB drive whose recording technology is sourced, such as the WD8005FFBX (CMR).

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