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Western Digital

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200RPM 32MB 3.5" SATA internal hard drive

SKU CH-4K3N-ZZDCD

A 500 GB desktop hard drive spinning at 7200 RPM with a 32 MB cache and a SATA 3Gb/s interface

  • 500 GB capacity stores large media libraries and backups
  • 7,200 RPM spindle speed reduces load times for applications and games
  • 32 MB cache buffers frequent read and write operations
  • SATA 3 Gb/s interface connects directly to standard desktop motherboards
  • 5-inch form factor fits regular drive bays without adapters

500 GB 7200 RPM SATA desktop drive

The Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS is a 3.5-inch internal hard drive with 500 GB capacity and a 7200 RPM spindle. It connects through a SATA 3 Gb/s interface and carries a 32 MB cache buffer. The bare drive suits desktop PCs that need a primary or secondary mechanical volume.

Thermals noise and power in daily use

A 7200 RPM motor and 3.5-inch form factor produce typical mechanical drive heat and audible seek noise under load. Power draw follows standard desktop SATA specifications for this spindle speed. No active cooling or special mounting is required beyond normal case airflow.

Build fit and system requirements

The drive fits any 3.5-inch bay with standard SATA data and power cables. It adds 500 GB of storage without occupying an M.2 slot or PCIe lane. Builders who need more capacity or faster solid-state speeds will need additional drives.

Highlights

  • 500 GB capacity stores large media libraries and backups
  • 7,200 RPM spindle speed reduces load times for applications and games
  • 32 MB cache buffers frequent read and write operations
  • SATA 3 Gb/s interface connects directly to standard desktop motherboards
  • 5-inch form factor fits regular drive bays without adapters

Specifications

No published specifications for this item yet.

Questions about this item

How do I install the WD5001AALS 3.5" SATA drive in a desktop case?

Mount the 3.5 inch drive in a standard bay using four screws, connect a SATA data cable to the motherboard port and a SATA power cable from the PSU; the step often missed is securing both cables firmly so vibration does not loosen them over time

What maintenance or replacement will the WD5001AALS need later?

No routine maintenance is required; the drive has no user-serviceable parts, so replacement is only necessary if SMART data reports reallocated sectors or the unit fails to spin up at 7200 RPM

What limit appears first on the WD5001AALS during sustained heavy writes?

The 3 Gb/s SATA interface caps maximum throughput, so sustained sequential transfers will hit that bus ceiling before the 32 MB cache or 7200 RPM platters become the bottleneck

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