Western Digital
Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD (WD20EFRX)
Bottom line: The Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD ($209.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 22:15 UTC): CMR recording keeps RAID rebuilds and ZFS resilvers predictable, unlike SMR drives; main trade-off: 5400RPM class trails 7200RPM NAS drives on sustained sequential throughput.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ CMR recording keeps RAID rebuilds and ZFS resilvers predictable, unlike SMR drives
- ✓ NASware firmware tuned for RAID error recovery, not desktop timeouts
- ✓ Rated for 180 TB/yr workload - far above typical home NAS use
- ✓ 5400RPM class runs cooler and quieter in packed multi-bay enclosures
Cons
- ✗ 5400RPM class trails 7200RPM NAS drives on sustained sequential throughput
- ✗ 64 MB cache is small next to 128-256 MB on newer NAS models
- ✗ 3-year warranty, shorter than the 5-year term on WD Red Pro
- ✗ 2TB is entry-level capacity in a line that reaches 14TB
Manufacturer description
The WD Red Plus 2TB (WD20EFRX) is Western Digital's CMR-based NAS drive built for always-on small business and SOHO storage. Running at a 5400RPM performance class over SATA 6 Gb/s with a 64 MB cache, this 3.5-inch drive trades peak throughput for lower heat and power draw - the right tradeoff when four or eight spindles share one enclosure 24x7. NASware firmware handles the compatibility and error-recovery behavior that desktop drives get wrong in a RAID array, and Western Digital rates the WD Red Plus line for workloads up to 180 TB per year, well above what a typical home media server or…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the nas & home servers category. Western Digital's nas & home servers lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for nas & home servers of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the WD20EFRX CMR or SMR?
CMR. Western Digital renamed this model WD Red Plus specifically to distinguish it from the SMR-based WD Red line. Confirm by model number WD20EFRX, since some units still ship with older WD Red labeling.
How many drive bays does this support?
It is built and tested for NAS systems with up to 8 bays, covering most SOHO and small-business enclosures.
Will it work with ZFS or Synology RAID?
Yes. The CMR platters and NASware firmware are aimed at RAID array rebuilding on ZFS and other file systems, and the drive is intended for 24x7 small and medium business NAS environments.
What warranty comes with it?
A 3-year limited warranty from Western Digital. Check the product listing for current terms in your region.
Is 5400RPM fast enough for a NAS?
For file sharing, archiving, and media streaming over gigabit Ethernet, yes - the network is usually the bottleneck. The 5400RPM performance class also runs cooler and draws less power, which matters in a 24x7 multi-bay chassis.
Key Features
- Available in capacities ranging from 1-14TB with support for up to 8 bays
- 5400RPM performance class
- Supports up to 180 TB/yr workload rate*| * Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. Workload Rate is annualized (TB transferred ✕ (8760 / recorded power-on hours))
- NASware firmware for compatibility
- Small or medium business NAS systems in a 24x7 environment
- 3-year limited warranty
Full Specifications
| Brand | Western Digital |
|---|---|
| Color | Red |
| Model Name | Red |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
| Model Number | AU-44LB-F32X |
| Hard-Drive Size | 2 TB |
| Mfr Part Number | 8809321846036 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Data Recovery Service |
| Hardware Platform | PC; Mac |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | NASware firmware (PC; Mac ) |
| Data Transfer Rate | 215 megabits_per_second |
| Enclosure Material | Aluminum |
| Additional Features | Data Recovery Service |
| Hard Disk Interface | Serial ATA-600 |
| Warranty Description | 3-year manufacturer limited warranty |
| Hard Disk Description | Mechanical Hard Disk |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 3.5 inches |
| Full listing title | Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD20EFRX |
Ready to buy?
Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD20EFRX is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
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