- High 4TB capacity in a standardized 7mm 2.5-inch enclosure for legacy laptop and desktop upgrades
- Saturates SATA III bus limits with sequential reads up to 560 MB/s and writes up to 525 MB/s
- High endurance profile featuring 1,000 TBW, 2.25 million hours MTTF, and a 5-year warranty
- Efficient low-power slumber (33 mW) and DevSlp (10 mW) idle modes
- Maximum throughput is capped by the SATA III 6 Gb/s interface protocol relative to modern NVMe drives
- Elevated peak write power consumption reaching 4.65 W during continuous heavy write cycles
Overview
Packing four terabytes of flash memory into a standard seven-millimeter cased form factor provides aging desktop rigs, home servers, and older laptops with an expansive capacity upgrade without demanding PCIe expansion slots. Built around SanDisk TLC 3D NAND and a native SATA III 6 Gb/s interface, the drive effectively saturates the legacy bus protocol, achieving sustained sequential transfer rates up to 560 MB/s for reads and 525 MB/s for writes alongside random throughput reaching 85,000 read and 76,000 write IOPS.
Thermal behavior reflects the energy demands of driving higher-density flash arrays through a compact 2.5-inch casing. While routine operations maintain a modest average active power draw of 1,090 mW, sustained write bursts push peak consumption up to 4,650 mW, requiring sensible passive air circulation when installed in enclosed drive cages or compact laptop caddies to remain comfortably within its 0°C to 70°C operating window. Conversely, idle system states remain exceptionally efficient, dropping down to 33 mW in slumber and just 10 mW in Device Sleep mode to preserve battery reserves in portable hosts.
Long-term endurance is rated at 1,000 TBW alongside a 2.25 million-hour mean time to failure and a five-year limited warranty, delivering reliable write cycling for secondary media arrays, boot volumes, and everyday data storage. With an impact resistance rated for 1,500 G at 0.5 milliseconds and a light 34.5-gram casing, the unit functions as a seamless, durable drop-in replacement across SATA-equipped hardware environments where reliable multi-terabyte bulk storage is essential.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Model | WD Blue SA510 4TB SSD |
| Capacity | 4TB |
| Model Number | WDS400T5B0A |
| SKU | WDS400T3B0A |
| Form Factor | 2.5-inch / 7mm cased |
| Interface | SATA III 6 Gb/s (backward compatible with SATA II and SATA I) |
| NAND Flash Type | SanDisk TLC 3D NAND |
| Sequential Read | Up to 560 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | Up to 525 MB/s |
| Random Read | Up to 85,000 IOPS |
| Random Write | Up to 76,000 IOPS |
| Endurance (TBW) | 1,000 TBW |
| Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) | Up to 2,250,000 hours |
| Average Active Power | 1,090 mW (1.09 W) |
| Max Read Operating Power | 1,800 mW (1.8 W) |
| Max Write Operating Power | 4,650 mW (4.65 W) |
| Slumber Power | 33 mW (0.033 W) |
| Device Sleep (DevSlp) Power | 10 mW (0.010 W) |
| Operating Temperature | 32°F to 158°F (0°C to 70°C) |
| Non Operating Temperature | -67°F to 185°F (-55°C to 85°C) |
| Operating Vibration | 5.0 gRMS, 10–2000 Hz |
| Shock Resistance | 1,500 G @ 0.5 msec half sine |
| Dimensions | 3.95 x 2.75 x 0.28 in (100.25 x 69.9 x 7.0 mm) |
| Weight | 1.22 oz (34.5 g) |
| Warranty | 5-year limited warranty |
Primary Sources & Audited Citations
Recommended Alternatives in Storage (SSDs & HDDs)
At a Glance
How reliable is the Western Digital WD Blue SA510 4TB SSD Review: Maximizing Legacy SATA Density according to Mizex audits?
An outstanding high-capacity drop-in upgrade for older laptops, desktops, and secondary storage arrays seeking reliable multi-terabyte SATA performance without replacing existing hardware.
What are the known quirks or drawbacks of the Western Digital WD Blue SA510 4TB SSD Review: Maximizing Legacy SATA Density?
Our reliability audit identified the following documented caveats:
- Maximum throughput is capped by the SATA III 6 Gb/s interface protocol relative to modern NVMe drives
- Elevated peak write power consumption reaching 4.65 W during continuous heavy write cycles
What are the key engineering highlights of the Western Digital WD Blue SA510 4TB SSD Review: Maximizing Legacy SATA Density?
The top strengths recorded in our evaluation include:
- High 4TB capacity in a standardized 7mm 2.5-inch enclosure for legacy laptop and desktop upgrades
- Saturates SATA III bus limits with sequential reads up to 560 MB/s and writes up to 525 MB/s
- High endurance profile featuring 1,000 TBW, 2.25 million hours MTTF, and a 5-year warranty
- Efficient low-power slumber (33 mW) and DevSlp (10 mW) idle modes