Western Digital
Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD (WD80EFAX)
Bottom line: The Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD ($439.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 08:15 UTC): CMR recording, not SMR - RAID rebuilds and ZFS resilvers stay predictable; main trade-off: 5400 RPM class trails 7200 RPM NAS drives on sustained throughput.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ CMR recording, not SMR - RAID rebuilds and ZFS resilvers stay predictable
- ✓ Rated for 180 TB/yr workload, well above desktop-drive limits
- ✓ 256 MB cache absorbs bursty multi-client NAS transfers
- ✓ 5400 RPM class runs cooler and quieter in packed 8-bay chassis
Cons
- ✗ 5400 RPM class trails 7200 RPM NAS drives on sustained throughput
- ✗ 3-year limited warranty; some rival NAS drives offer five
- ✗ Validated only to 8 bays - not for larger rackmount arrays
- ✗ May ship in older 'WD Red' packaging, so verify WD80EFAX on the label
Manufacturer description
Handle up to 180 TB per year of NAS workload with the Western Digital WD Red Plus 8TB, a 3.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s drive built for small- and medium-business NAS boxes running 24x7. The key detail buyers hunt for is on the label: this WD80EFAX model uses CMR, not SMR, so RAID rebuilds and ZFS resilvers behave predictably instead of collapsing under sustained random writes. That distinction is why Western Digital renamed the CMR line WD Red Plus, and it is the reason this drive still shows up in homelab and SOHO build lists. The 5400 RPM performance class keeps heat and noise down in a stuffed…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. Western Digital's ssds & storage 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 ssds & storage 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 WD80EFAX CMR or SMR?
It is CMR. Western Digital renamed this CMR model WD Red Plus specifically to separate it from the SMR-based WD Red line. If the box still says WD Red, confirm the WD80EFAX model number and you have the CMR version.
How many drive bays does this WD Red Plus support?
Western Digital builds and tests it for NAS systems with up to 8 bays. The WD Red Plus family spans 1TB to 14TB capacities across that same 8-bay support ceiling.
What workload rate can this 8TB drive handle?
Up to 180 TB per year. Western Digital defines workload rate as user data transferred to or from the drive, annualized as TB transferred times 8760 divided by recorded power-on hours.
Is 5400 RPM fast enough for a home or small-business NAS?
For archiving, file sharing, and RAID rebuilds on ZFS or similar file systems, yes - this drive is built for 24x7 SOHO and small-business NAS duty. The 5400 RPM class trades peak throughput for lower heat and noise, and the 256 MB cache and SATA 6 Gb/s interface cover bursty multi-user access.
What warranty comes with the WD Red Plus 8TB?
A 3-year limited warranty from Western Digital. Check the product listing for current terms and regional coverage before you buy.
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 | WD80EFAX-68LHPN0 |
| Read Speed | 540 megabytes_per_second |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
| Model Number | WD80EFAX |
| Built-In Media | Hard Drive |
| Item Type Name | WD Red 8TB NAS Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 GB/S 256 MB Cache 3.5-Inch - WD80EFAX (packaging may vary) |
| Hard-Drive Size | 8000 |
| Mfr Part Number | WD80EFAX |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Shock Resistant |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Data Transfer Rate | 6 gigabits_per_second |
| Enclosure Material | Aluminum |
| Additional Features | Shock Resistant |
| Hard Disk Interface | Serial ATA-600 |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Full listing title | Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD80EFAX |
Ready to buy?
Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD80EFAX 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 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
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