What two 12TB drives provide in RAID1
Two equal 12 TB drives in RAID1 provide roughly 12 TB before formatting and reserved space. Redundancy protects availability in some failures; keep an independent backup.[1]
Western Digital · NAS hard drive buying guide
WD Red Plus 12TB (WD120EFGX) Buying Guide
Product facts and dated cost
Western Digital WD Red Plus 12TB · Exact identity: WD120EFGX
12TB decimal capacity · CMR · SATA 6 Gb/s
Catalog amount: $520.99 · historical · Price record: 2026-10-09T01:23:14.085810+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
WD Red Plus 12TB: specifications and dated store comparison →A 12TB Red Plus option for a growing file library, with measured RAID1 transfers and audible mechanical activity to consider.
One 12 TB WD120EFGX drive ·3.5-inch SATA ·CMR ·7200 RPM
WD120EFGX is the current air-filled 12TB WD Red Plus SKU: CMR, 7200 RPM, 512 MB cache, 260 MB/s rated internal transfer, 180 TB/year, 3-year limited warranty. Tom's Hardware's 12TB Red Plus lab used WD120EFBX (helium, 256 MB, 196 MB/s) and is related only. A 2026 RAID1 article on two WD120EFGX drives reported about 180–195 MB/s over TerraMaster 5GbE and QNAP 2.5GbE paths; the original page could not be re-opened, so those figures remain an unreverified prior record. This site has not tested the drive. See the review evidence ↓
Is this 12TB drive right for your NAS?
Shared files and backup targets
CMR and the 180 TB/year class suit NAS data storage within the stated limits.[1]
A NAS beside your desk
Enclosure resonance and seek activity need separate assessment.[1]
Latency-sensitive applications
Mechanical storage is capacity-oriented; application response depends on seeks and the whole NAS.[1]
Key hard drive specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
Capacity, NAS workload and placement
Drive speed is only part of a NAS transfer
The 260 MB/s rating is an internal drive figure. Your NAS processor, network, filesystem, RAID and file sizes determine end-to-end transfers. Small-file applications also encounter mechanical seek delays.[1]
180TB/year workload and the eight-bay design
This model is rated for 180 TB/year of reads and writes. Annual workload is not lifetime writes. Red Plus is designed for up to eight bays; frequent transfers can consume the annual rating even if the drive is not full.[1]
Acoustic ratings and NAS placement
The datasheet lists 34 dBA idle and 39 dBA average seek. These are laboratory ratings, not noise measured at your desk. Mount securely, leave cooling clearance, and avoid relying on brand or family names to predict quietness.[1]
Why the WD120EFGX suffix matters
WD120EFGX uses air, 512 MB cache and 7200 RPM. Earlier same-capacity Red Plus models have different power, acoustics and performance. A review of an older EFBX model does not describe this drive.[1]
Why WD120EFBX lab numbers are not this drive
Tom's Hardware published a 12TB Red Plus review whose specifications table names WD120EFBX: 256 MB cache, up to 196 MB/s, quieter 29 dBA class and helium-like efficiency. The September 2025 family table lists WD120EFGX separately as air, 512 MB, 260 MB/s and 34/39 dBA. Do not treat the Tom's Hardware charts as WD120EFGX measurements.[6][1]
What original reviews found
Our buying advice combines official specifications with the original reviews below. We have not tested this product ourselves. Expand a review for its setup, measurements and limitations.
Računalniške novice
Peter ČebronAug 5, 2026
RAID1 writes in two NAS systems, with audible activity
Računalniške novice reported approximately 180–195 MB/s for large sequential writes using two WD120EFGX drives in RAID1, in a TerraMaster F2-425 Plus over 5GbE and a QNAP TS-664 over 2.5GbE. These are whole-NAS transfers; the client, protocol and firmware were not fully specified. Mechanical activity was audible, without a calibrated sound-level measurement.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
Test WD Red Plus 12 TB – ogromno prostora za NAS, toda tišina ni njegova odlika
Tested: Two WD120EFGX drives in RAID1, first TerraMasterF2-425 Plus with 5 GbE, then QNAPTS-664 with 2.5 GbE andQTS.
Applies to: Exact 12 TB MPN tested; whole NAS transfer path.
- The author reports audible mechanical activity; placement deserves attention.Source location: Noise discussion
- Routine backups and4K direct playback worked; one simultaneous transcode was reported without major problems. This describes the NAS setups and is not a drive-only transcoding capability.Source location: Arhiviranje, varnostne kopije in Jellyfin
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| Large sequential-file writes | Approximately 180–195 MB/s | Both tested NAS configurations over their networks; not isolated platter speed.Uradne in moje hitrosti so nekaj čisto drugega |
Limits to keep in mind
- Firmware, client, protocol and sample source were not fully specified.
- The article says two drives were received for testing but does not identify the supplier.
- Acoustic specification comparisons are not calibrated measured dBA.
- Short test; no fleet failure evidence.
- Unreferenced family-level failure-rate figures in the article are not adopted as exact-model reliability evidence.
Before you buy
Current and historical WD120EFGX listings and ownership costs
1 usable current main offer checked on 2026-09-10
Each current row keeps the selected main seller, condition, availability and only a price visible without a cart action. Null price means the main buy box hid it; every current fact is a dated observation that requires a fresh check before purchase.[5]
Compare the cost of usable storage
Budget for all drives in the array, backup capacity and eventual replacements. Compare the cost after your chosen redundancy overhead.[1]
Include power and the enclosure
The drive is rated at 6.1 W idle and 8.8 W read/write at room temperature. Actual consumption depends on operation; the NAS adds its own power.[1]
Verify the offered unit
Check WD120EFGX, one 12 TB drive, new condition, the actual seller and regional warranty. A retailer suffix is preserved in offer notes for verification.[1]
Compare stores for this exact model
One 12 TB WD120EFGX drive ·3.5-inch SATA ·CMR ·7200 RPM Check the total delivered price at the store.
Lowest observed price
$594.99
In stock at observation
Currency not confirmed
3 stores · 1 recent price observation
Western Digital
Seller not recorded
$594.99
Observed price
Currency not confirmed
In stock at observation · Condition not recorded
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 3:48:14 AM UTC[8]
View exact product at Western DigitalNewegg
Sold by TheKeyKey.
$520.99
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
One 12TB 3.5-inch SATA HDD
Observed shipping: $0.00
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 1:23:14 AM UTC[9]
View exact product at NeweggB&H
Seller not recorded
$538.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 3:10:05 PM UTC[7]
View exact product at B&HPrices are dated observations. Confirm the model, seller, condition, stock and delivered total at the store. Older prices remain visible as history. Links may earn a commission.
Compatibility, capacity and backup questions
Does WD120EFGX use CMR or SMR?
WD120EFGX uses conventional magnetic recording (CMR), according to the manufacturer's specifications.[1]
Does the MTBF rating predict years of life?
No. It is a population estimate under specified workload and temperature conditions, not a promise for one drive.[1]
Does the NAS bay rating mean universal compatibility?
No. Check the exact enclosure, firmware and capacity qualification.[1]
Does RAID replace a backup?
No. Redundancy does not protect against every deletion, malware incident or whole-device loss. Keep an independent copy.[1]
Can I use a review of an older same-capacity Red Plus drive?
Not as an exact-model test. WD120EFGX uses air, a 512MB cache and 7200 RPM; older EFBX models have different power, acoustic and performance specifications. Check the complete model suffix.[1]
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] WD Red Plus HDD data sheet (September 2025) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · September 2025 p.2 column WD120EFGX; footnotes 1–10
- [2] B&H WD120EFGX product listing ↗
Checked Sep 8, 2026 · MFR WD120EFGX-SPCPHN0; exact base MPN, 12 TB and quantity 1; In Stock and Add to Cart.
- [3] Western Digital WD120EFGX product listing ↗
Checked Sep 8, 2026 · Exact SKU title/model confirmed; price and inventory appear as unresolved template fields. No stock inference from hidden buttons.
- [4] Test WD Red Plus 12 TB ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Opening exact MPN; RAID1 setup; network transfer and noise sections
- [5] Newegg: WD120EFGX current US new listing ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Exact MPN in H1; selected main offer shows Add to cart, seller Newegg, and a visible price of $459.99.
- [7] B&H product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:ddf4a2999eca18d088e4a302b2ac35d577be716dab345b36fcef19a103772f2f
- [8] Western Digital product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:53db6a0a4ee1fd712a16bcde35ed088ba898fc778117b5ca7d85c7e2a85a8b4b
- [9] Newegg product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · newegg-main-item; sha256:ef7dfca7ff97c9a9ac61751879ec9bb7bf238b01e210e5456e90d6446d20a9f3
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Exact official MPN specifications, power/acoustic/environment columns and footnotes; original test evidence and applicability; primary merchant states and dated retained offers. Partial coverage and original-image/video gaps remain explicit.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)