Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game DriveFrom real comments

Name: Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game Drive
Rating: 2.3 (10 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 10 mentions across 6 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment33%

PROS 33%

CONS 67%

Rank based on 10 mentions across 6 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You plan to shuck it and use the internal drive inside a well-ventilated PC
You want a drive that can be opened with basic tools like Torx 10 or pliers
You're fine risking warranty voidance to access the internal HDD

What users love

Shuckable with common tools0 mentions

Generally positive

Quality internal hard drive0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You need the enclosure to run cool without extra external cooling
You're bothered by clicking or noisy drive operation
You want to keep the warranty intact and never open the case

What users complain about

Difficult to open case0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Poor thermal management0 mentions

Strongly criticized

Noisy clicking sound0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Warranty concerns when opening0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Price first, then what commenters say

Best choice

1Premium

Seagate Exos X16~$349 · 1.9× pricier

Full advertised capacityGood packaging designLong-term reliabilityNoticeable operating noiseDrive failures reportedShipping/packaging damage in some regions

Seagate Exos X16~$349 · 1.9× pricier

Full advertised capacity

Good packaging design

Long-term reliability

Noticeable operating noise

Drive failures reported

Shipping/packaging damage in some regions

2Premium

Synology DS224+~$349 · 1.9× pricier

Unofficial RAM upgrades often workEasy setup and softwareLong-term reliabilityNo 2.5GbE networkingOutdated/recycled hardwareLimited large-drive support

Synology DS224+~$349 · 1.9× pricier

Unofficial RAM upgrades often work

Easy setup and software

Long-term reliability

No 2.5GbE networking

Outdated/recycled hardware

Limited large-drive support

3Premium

Synology BeeStation Plus~$329 · 1.8× pricier

Good for families and beginnersEasy setup and daily useUseful for Plex/media servingNo RAID redundancyVendor lock-in to Synology drives1GbE network bottleneck

Synology BeeStation Plus~$329 · 1.8× pricier

Good for families and beginners

Easy setup and daily use

Useful for Plex/media serving

No RAID redundancy

Vendor lock-in to Synology drives

1GbE network bottleneck

4Upper

Western Digital WD My Passport Wireless~$229 · 1.3× pricier

SD card backup on the goLarge storage capacityMulti-device wireless streamingDifficult WiFi and app setupPassword recovery and reset issuesBulky thickness

Western Digital WD My Passport Wireless~$229 · 1.3× pricier

SD card backup on the go

Large storage capacity

Multi-device wireless streaming

Difficult WiFi and app setup

Password recovery and reset issues

Bulky thickness

5Upper

Seagate Game Drive Hub for Xbox~$200 · similar price

Massive storage capacityExtra front USB portsGood value for the spaceReliability and failure issuesStays powered on after Xbox shutdownNo power button and noise complaints

Seagate Game Drive Hub for Xbox~$200 · similar price

Massive storage capacity

Extra front USB ports

Good value for the space

Reliability and failure issues

Stays powered on after Xbox shutdown

No power button and noise complaints

6Upper

Seagate IronWolf Pro~$200 · similar price

Enterprise-grade workload ratingGood capacity-to-price value for bulk storageReliable long-term performance for many usersNoise complaints (clicking, chattering, grinding)Inconsistent reliability and DOA unitsLong RAID rebuild times with large capacities

Seagate IronWolf Pro~$200 · similar price

Enterprise-grade workload rating

Good capacity-to-price value for bulk storage

Reliable long-term performance for many users

Noise complaints (clicking, chattering, grinding)

Inconsistent reliability and DOA units

Long RAID rebuild times with large capacities

7Upper

Synology BeeStation~$199 · similar price

Good for non-technical family membersGood value vs cloud subscriptionsVery easy setupNo redundancy, single point of failure1 Gbit Ethernet bottleneckPoor or slow customer support

Synology BeeStation~$199 · similar price

Good for non-technical family members

Good value vs cloud subscriptions

Very easy setup

No redundancy, single point of failure

1 Gbit Ethernet bottleneck

Poor or slow customer support

Best value

8Upper

Synology DS214se~$169 · similar price

Reliable long-term operationEasy to use interfaceGood value versus competitorsUncertain streaming performance under loadWeak CPU and limited RAMAccount and connectivity issues reported

Synology DS214se~$169 · similar price

Reliable long-term operation

Easy to use interface

Good value versus competitors

Uncertain streaming performance under load

Weak CPU and limited RAM

Account and connectivity issues reported

You are here

9Upper

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game Drive~$179

Shuckable with common toolsQuality internal hard driveDifficult to open casePoor thermal managementNoisy clicking sound

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game Drive~$179

Shuckable with common tools

Quality internal hard drive

Difficult to open case

Poor thermal management

Noisy clicking sound

10Mid

Seagate IronWolf~$120 · 1.5× cheaper

Long-term reliability for NAS workloadsStrong sustained write speedsPurpose-built for NAS environmentsLoud operational noiseDead-on-arrival and early failuresHigh operating temperatures

Seagate IronWolf~$120 · 1.5× cheaper

Long-term reliability for NAS workloads

Strong sustained write speeds

Purpose-built for NAS environments

Loud operational noise

Dead-on-arrival and early failures

High operating temperatures

Good value
1. Seagate Game Drive Hub for Xboxarrow_upward4
2. Synology BeeStationarrow_upward3
3. Synology DS214searrow_upward3
Easy setup
1. Synology BeeStationarrow_upward3
2. Synology BeeStation Plusarrow_upward3
3. Synology DS224+arrow_upward3
Reliable long term
1. Seagate IronWolfarrow_upward6
2. Synology DS224+arrow_upward3
Drive failure
1. Seagate Exos X16arrow_downward1
2. Seagate Game Drive Hub for Xboxarrow_downward7
High price
1. Western Digital WD My Passport Wirelessarrow_downward1
2. Synology BeeStation Plusarrow_downward3
5 year warranty
1. Seagate IronWolf Proarrow_upward2
2. Seagate IronWolfarrow_upward1

Overall Impression

The enclosure appears to trap heat during normal use. Multiple commenters describe high operating temperatures inside the D10's case. One reported idle temperatures of 56C rising to 65C under load, only cooling to normal levels once pointed at a fan or removed to an internally cooled PC. Another owner of the 8TB version separately noted the drive running hot at up to 56C. This suggests the plastic enclosure offers limited ventilation for the drive inside it.

Opening the case is a notoriously stubborn process. Instead of a few screws, the D10 case relies on roughly a hundred plastic clips that commenters found very difficult to release. Tools like Knipex water pump pliers and a Torx 10 screwdriver were recommended to pry clips and remove screws successfully. Even with guidance, users called the clips the most stubborn part of the job, and one discarded the case entirely once the drive was freed.

Some owners hear unusual clicking noise from the drive. One 8TB D10 owner reported a repeated clicking or 'brrrrrrrrt' sound occurring roughly every 1 to 1.5 seconds, alongside high heat and noise levels. Despite this, standard HDD diagnostic tools indicated the drive was functioning normally. This mismatch between audible symptoms and diagnostic results may leave buyers uncertain whether the noise signals a real problem.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

buildShuckable with common tools

2 mentions

Generally positive

Users successfully opened the case and removed the internal drive using accessible tools like Torx 10 screwdrivers and water pump pliers, following a tutorial. This makes repurposing the internal drive achievable for DIY-minded buyers.

@sven.321

First of all, very good video, makes everything much easier. For the clips that hold the hard drive, I used a Knipex Cobra ES water pump pliers. With these I was able to grab them nicely in parallel from above and pull them out after the damn cover was finally removed. Regarding the other tools needed: Screws on the cover: imperial hex socket (very flat), but can be opened easily with Torx 10. Screws rubber buffer on HDD: TX10

smart_displayTranslated from German

January 26, 2020

@kai84m

Thanks again for the tutorial! Removal worked well. These pressed clips were the most stubborn :D The case is already in the trash :P

smart_displayTranslated from German

January 4, 2020

storageQuality internal hard drive

1 mentions

Widely praised

One commenter found a well-regarded HGST DC HC320 drive inside and noted the version shown in the video used the even better helium-filled HGST DC HC520, which reportedly runs much cooler internally. This suggests WD ships capable enterprise-grade drives inside the D10 enclosure.

@juliashenandoah3965

Very good, I took it apart today. This case is completely unusable, the whole thing is a total design flaw – if a hard drive inside runs at 56 degrees at idle all the time and reaches 65 degrees under load... If you have to point a grill fan at an external hard drive case so it runs at normal 42 degrees at idle, that delights every silent computer fan! (Sarcasm...) In this absolutely unventilated plastic bomb design flaw, I had a PERFECT finest HGST DCHC320 8 terabyte inside, which is now enjoying its new and appropriate cooled home internally in my PC! Where it no longer constantly overheats to the point of not working, even at idle. (The one in your video is the even better modern helium-filled HGST DCHC520, which doesn't get hot, I have one too and it runs uncooled internally at about 34 degrees at idle and 36 degrees under load.) Thanks for the detailed video and the tip with the organ donor card – I was able to open this stupid excessively overheating and additionally equipped with felt like 100 plastic clips instead of just four screws zero-quality hard drive oven plastic bomb this way about 99% undamaged. :D The hard drive harvest this week was good... best to also scatter a few old SATA cables as seeds, maybe then 14 or 16 finest HGST terabytes will grow.

smart_displayTranslated from German

March 17, 2025

build_circleDifficult to open case

3 mentions

Frequently criticized

The enclosure is held together with roughly a hundred plastic clips instead of simple screws, which multiple users found extremely stubborn to remove, requiring specialized pliers and careful technique. This makes any repair or shucking attempt frustrating and time-consuming.

@juliashenandoah3965

smart_displayTranslated from German

March 17, 2025

@sven.321

smart_displayTranslated from German

January 26, 2020

@kai84m

Thanks again for the tutorial! Removal worked well. These pressed clips were the most stubborn :D The case is already in the trash :P

smart_displayTranslated from German

January 4, 2020

warningPoor thermal management

2 mentions

Strongly criticized

Commenters reported the drive running very hot inside the enclosure, reaching up to 56C at idle and 65C under load in one case, only normalizing with external cooling or after removal from the case. This points to inadequate airflow in the D10's plastic housing.

@juliashenandoah3965

smart_displayTranslated from German

March 17, 2025

@V1lkas

ive 8tb version DC HC320 u ve maybe sometimes clicking like clock? every 1-1.5sec? he is hot (56st max) and very noisy hdd, clicking brrrrrrrrt etc but hdd tune says everything is ok

smart_display

January 20, 2021

volume_upNoisy clicking sound

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

One 8TB owner described a repeated clicking noise roughly every 1 to 1.5 seconds along with high heat, despite diagnostic software reporting the drive as healthy. This raises concern even if not confirmed as a hardware fault.

@V1lkas

ive 8tb version DC HC320 u ve maybe sometimes clicking like clock? every 1-1.5sec? he is hot (56st max) and very noisy hdd, clicking brrrrrrrrt etc but hdd tune says everything is ok

smart_display

January 20, 2021

gavelWarranty concerns when opening

1 mentions

Generally negative

A prospective buyer specifically asked whether opening the case voids the warranty, indicating uncertainty and hesitation around accessing the internal drive without losing coverage.

@PanosOikonomopoulos

Is the warranty voided when the case is opened? I just got mine and I am trying to find out.

smart_display

May 22, 2020

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game Drivechat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what (similar price)

Good value

Easy setup

Reliable long term

Drive failure

High price

5 year warranty

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 Game DriveFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression