The Western Digital Blue (1TB) SSD Review: WD Returns to SSDs

Mixed Random Read/Write Performance

The mixed random I/O benchmark starts with a pure read test and gradually increases the proportion of writes, finishing with pure writes. The queue depth is 3 for the entire test and each subtest lasts for 3 minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. As with the pure random write test, this test is restricted to a 16GB span of the drive, which is empty save for the 16GB test file.

Like the SanDisk X400, the WD Blue performs better on the mixed random I/O test than competing planar TLC drives and about the same as the slowest MLC drives.

The WD Blue once again slightly raises the efficiency standards for planar TLC, but is still nowhere near as efficient as 3D TLC or MLC.

WD Blue 1TBCrucial BX100 1TBCrucial BX200 960GBCrucial MX200 1TBCrucial MX300 1050GBOCZ Trion 150 960GBOCZ VX500 1TBOCZ Vector 180 960GBSamsung 850 EVO 1TBSamsung 850 Pro 1TBSanDisk Extreme Pro 960GBSanDisk X400 1TB

The WD Blue starts the mixed random I/O test with a pretty good random read speed, but performance declines as writes are added to the mix until near the end of the test, where the jump in the last segment of the test is not as large as what most drives experience.

Mixed Sequential Read/Write Performance

The mixed sequential access test covers the entire span of the drive and uses a queue depth of one. It starts with a pure read test and gradually increases the proportion of writes, finishing with pure writes. Each subtest lasts for 3 minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. The drive is filled before the test starts.

The WD Blue performs above average for a planar TLC SSD on the mixed sequential I/O test, but is not competitive with MLC or 3D TLC.

In absolute terms the WD Blue has pretty low power draw on this test, but the efficiency is not close to setting a record.

WD Blue 1TBCrucial BX100 1TBCrucial BX200 960GBCrucial MX200 1TBCrucial MX300 1050GBOCZ Trion 150 960GBOCZ VX500 1TBOCZ Vector 180 960GBSamsung 850 EVO 1TBSamsung 850 Pro 1TBSanDisk Extreme Pro 960GBSanDisk X400 1TB

The WD Blue's U-shaped performance curve across this test is fairly typical, but the dropoff at the beginning is relatively steep and the minimum is a bit on the low side.