Western Digital · NAS hard drive buying guide
Western Digital WD Red Pro 26TB (WD260KFGX) Buying Guide
Product facts and dated cost
Western Digital WD Red Pro 26TB · Exact identity: WD260KFGX
26TB decimal capacity · CMR · SATA 6 Gb/s
Catalog amount: $1,213.99 · historical · Price record: 2026-09-27T14:01:51.882009+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
WD Red Pro 26TB: specifications and dated store comparison →26TB decimal CMR Red Pro, exact WD260KFGX, helium 7200 rpm class.
One 26TB 3.5-inch SATA HDD, CMR / Helium, OptiNAND Yes, 512 MB cache, 7200 rpm. Enclosure sold separately.
This guide is for the exact WD260KFGX. Official ratings come from a reread of the January 2025 WD Red Pro data sheet column plus the current US product page. 2 original test groups apply to this exact MPN. Results stay bound to the stated host, protocol and file size. ChooseCompute has not tested this drive. Listing prices below keep their original observation dates. See the review evidence ↓
Is 26TB WD Red Pro storage right for your NAS?
A 26TB-per-bay capacity plan
One drive provides 26TB decimal before formatting; redundancy, snapshots and backup still consume headroom.[1][9]
Multi-bay commercial NAS
Current official pages claim RAID-optimized NAS at any / unlimited bay count. That is not a host HCL entry and does not override branded-drive policies.[1][9]
Quiet storage beside a desk
Published idle/seek is 25 / 32 dBA. Installed resonance is still enclosure-specific.[1]
WD260KFGX exact specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
Capacity, power, cooling and sound for WD260KFGX
Official column vs the product-page chip
The January 2025 table for WD260KFGX: CMR / Helium, OptiNAND Yes, 287 MB/s, 25 / 32 dBA, 6.0W / 3.6W, 5 to 65°C, 2,500,000 hours, 550 TB/year, 5-year limited warranty, origin TH. US product pages currently say unlimited / any bay count and mention NASware plus TLER. Marketing copy that mentions OptiNAND only on 22/24/26TB does not override the 20TB Yes cell.[1][9]
Measured temperatures need their setup
ITmedia reported40–48.5°C surface readings without a directed fan; Igor’sLAB measured a50.3°C rear hotspot after one hour of open-setup stress and40.4°C front maximum in its two-stream server workload. These results support planning airflow, not a promise for a packed NAS enclosure.[2][10]
What exact-model tests found for WD260KFGX
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.
ITmedia PC USER
モリケンJul 16, 2025
Testing one 26TB WD Red Pro WD260KFGX
Exact WD260KFGX. Sequential SATA was about 290 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark; HD Tune averaged 241.8 MB/s across the surface. ASUSTOR AS5404T 2.5GbE iSCSI sequential roughly matched SATA; the SMB copy was strongly asymmetric (264 MB/s up, 97.7 MB/s down).
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
Testing one 26TB WD Red Pro WD260KFGX
Tested: One WD260KFGX: desktop SATA on AMD X670E; USB 10 Gbps Century CROSMDSP10G cradle; ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 Gen2 (AS5404T) 2.5GbE iSCSI and SMB file copy. No case fan on SATA/USB benches.
Applies to: Exact-drive PC, dock and one-drive NAS path evidence; network results include the entire client/NAS path.
- Exact WD260KFGX. Sequential SATA was about 290 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark; HD Tune averaged 241.8 MB/s across the surface.Source location: Pages 1–2
- ASUSTOR AS5404T 2.5GbE iSCSI sequential roughly matched SATA; the SMB copy was strongly asymmetric (264 MB/s up, 97.7 MB/s down).Source location: Page 3
- Affiliate disclosure is printed on the article. No instrumented dBA.Source location: Page 1 header; page 3 動作音
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark sequential (SATA) | about 290 MB/s read and write | Windows desktop, SATA; article says roughly 290 MB/s each wayPage 2, SATA CrystalDiskMark 9.0.0 screenshot discussion |
| HD Tune Pro 6.1 full-surface (SATA) | max 301.3 / min 133.3 / avg 241.8 MB/s | Full-surface scan; USB cradle nearly the samePage 2, HD Tune Pro 6.1 |
| USB-cradle wattmeter | cradle empty 1 W; idle 7–8 W; access 9–10 W; spin-up 21 W | Includes cradle; author estimates HDD-only ~6–9 W excluding spin-upPage 3, 消費電力 |
| 274 GB video copy over NAS share | PC→NAS 1066 s (264 MB/s); NAS→PC 2952 s (97.7 MB/s) | 362 files / 274 GB, DiskBench, AS5404T as network drive not iSCSIPage 3, file-copy timing |
| Measured mass | 655.3 g | One sample vs 0.67 kg ±3% data-sheet rowPage 2, scale photo caption |
| SATA benchmark surface thermography | 40°C front;42.3°C rear;48.5°C near controller | No fan directed at the drive during desktop SATA benchmarking; ambient temperature and emissivity not stated. Surface temperatures, not internal drive sensor.ITmedia page3 thermography paragraph |
Limits to keep in mind
- Single drive, no RAID rebuild test.
- USB power includes the cradle.
- NAS copy is path-limited by 2.5GbE and protocol, not a pure disk ceiling.
igor’sLAB
Igor WallossekAug 13, 2025
Western Digital WD Red Pro 26 TB NAS hard disk in test
The drive under test is WD260KFGX (MDL WD260KFGX-68CNGN0), not an unlabelled capacity class. CrystalDiskMark 6.0.2, 1 GiB, Seq Q32T1: 268.4 MB/s read / 259.1 MB/s write. Official January 2025 column is 287 MB/s; this 1 GiB run is below that rating.
Read the original reviewTest setup, measurements & limitations
Western Digital WD Red Pro 26 TB NAS hard disk in test
Tested: Front label photo: WD260KFGX-68CNGN0, S/N SZGJMWJN, 22 APR 2025, Thailand, NASware. Desktop benches include CrystalDiskMark 6.0.2 1 GiB and ATTO 4.01 32 GB file, QD 4, Direct I/O, Bypass Write Cache. Idle power chart is 12V SATA only (Rohde & Schwarz HMO3054). CDM3 runs on D:0% (1/24215GiB);1/4/8/32GiB test files. Test-host CPU/interface details not established in this article.
Applies to: Exact-MPN original lab after label photo. Not a NAS-network result. 5V rail not on the idle chart.
- The drive under test is WD260KFGX (MDL WD260KFGX-68CNGN0), not an unlabelled capacity class.Source location: 00a-Front-Side.jpg label
- CrystalDiskMark 6.0.2, 1 GiB, Seq Q32T1: 268.4 MB/s read / 259.1 MB/s write. Official January 2025 column is 287 MB/s; this 1 GiB run is below that rating.Source location: CDM-01.jpg
- ATTO 32 GB, 512 B–64 MB, QD 4: large-block read about 257–267 MB/s and write about 254–260 MB/s (256 KB read 267.09 MB/s; 64 MB write 254.29 / read 262.19 MB/s).Source location: ATTO-32.jpg (32 GB file)
- Idle 12V SATA average is about 5.8–5.9 W on a 30 s trace. That is the 12V rail only, not full 5V+12V package power, and is above the 3.6 W idle cell.Source location: 52-HDD-Idle.png
- AJA read/write curves fluctuate with occasional sub200MB/s dips; smoothed trends above250MB/s do not establish a guaranteed minimum. Frame-number axes are not elapsed-time axes.Source location: OriginalAJA-Read-2/AJA-Write-2 graphs
| Measurement | Result | Conditions & source location |
|---|---|---|
| ATTO 256 KB read / 64 MB read | 267.09 / 262.19 MB/s | 32 GB file, QD 4, Direct I/O, Bypass Write CacheATTO-32.jpg |
| Idle 12V SATA average | ~5.8–5.9 W | 30 s, 100 ms interval; 12V rail only52-HDD-Idle.png |
| CDM6.0.2 1GiB read/write profiles | 268.4/259.1;3.507/4.280;3.097/4.229;0.934/4.057 MB/s | In order:SeqQ32T1,4KiBQ8T8,4KiBQ32T1,4KiBQ1T1;3 runs,D:0%(1/24215GiB).Original CDM-01.jpg |
| CDM6.0.2 4GiB read/write profiles | 267.8/265.7;2.501/3.714;2.503/3.669;0.909/3.036 MB/s | In order:SeqQ32T1,4KiBQ8T8,4KiBQ32T1,4KiBQ1T1;3 runs,D:0%(1/24215GiB).Original CDM-04.jpg |
| CDM6.0.2 8GiB read/write profiles | 277.2/267.0;2.206/3.790;2.267/3.775;0.729/2.849 MB/s | In order:SeqQ32T1,4KiBQ8T8,4KiBQ32T1,4KiBQ1T1;3 runs,D:0%(1/24215GiB).Original CDM-08.jpg |
| CDM6.0.2 32GiB read/write profiles | 272.0/262.0;2.304/3.748;2.396/3.607;0.697/2.669 MB/s | In order:SeqQ32T1,4KiBQ8T8,4KiBQ32T1,4KiBQ1T1;3 runs,D:0%(1/24215GiB).Original CDM-32.jpg |
| 12V-only stream / random-read power | Approximately8.4 /13.2 W averages | 30-second traces,100ms intervals;Rohde&SchwarzHMO3054; excludes5V rail. Startup peaks about31W.Original53-HDD-Stream/54-HDD-Random-Access-Read/51-HDD-Start charts |
| One-hour open-setup stress thermography | Front spot43.9°C,max44.8°C;rear spot45.0°C,max50.3°C | Emissivity0.95;ambient not stated. Centre markers are spots, not surface averages.Original01a/02a thermal images and page3 |
| 45-minute two-stream OBS thermography | Front spot36.0°C,max40.4°C | Installed server case;emissivity0.95;back not shown,ambient unknown.OriginalIR-01.jpg and page3 |
Limits to keep in mind
- One WD loan sample, no publication obligation or preconditions, disclosed in conclusion; no multi-drive test.
- CDM 1 GiB is not a full-surface map.
- Idle watts omit the 5V rail.
- Intro table 265 MB/s disagrees with the January 2025 287 MB/s column and with these screenshots.
- Thermal overlays show centre-spot and min/max temperatures; article calls the spot an average. Surface readings do not establish internal temperatures. Camera-stream counts are estimates, not a many-camera experiment.
Before you buy
Current and historical WD260KFGX listings and ownership costs
2 dated current main offer(s) from 2026-09-10 kept
Displayed Newegg card keeps checkedAt 2026-09-10 and $1144.99. A 2026-09-11 reread of the same URL used the primary sold-by pane: Sold by Newegg, new, in stock, ShippingCharge 0.01. Popover other-sellers (Adorama/BeachAudio/etc.) were not selected. Unknown-seller Newegg row ['merchant-newegg-4-new'] archived.[7][8]
Compare stores for this exact model
One 26TB 3.5-inch SATA HDD, CMR / Helium, OptiNAND Yes, 512 MB cache, 7200 rpm. Enclosure sold separately. Check the total delivered price at the store.
Lowest observed price
$1,429.99
In stock at observation
Currency not confirmed
5 stores · 1 recent price observation
Amazon
Sold by Adorama
$1,429.99
Observed price
Currency not confirmed
In stock at observation · Condition not recorded
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 4:01:35 AM UTC[12]
View exact product at AmazonBest Buy
Sold by Newegg Official
$1,213.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 2:01:51 PM UTC[13]
View exact product at Best BuyB&H
Seller not recorded
$1,240.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 3:11:04 PM UTC[11]
View exact product at B&HWestern Digital
Seller not recorded
$1,389.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 26, 2026, 4:07:57 PM UTC[14]
View exact product at Western DigitalNewegg
Sold by Newegg
$1,429.99
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
One 26TB 3.5-inch SATA HDD
Observed shipping: $0.00
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 1:25:33 AM UTC[15]
View exact product at NeweggPrices 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.
WD260KFGX questions before buying
Is WD260KFGX the same as every WD Red Pro 26TB?
No. This page is only WD260KFGX. Other capacities and retired suffixes are separate products.[1][9]
Will one WD260KFGX deliver 287 MB/s?
287 MB/s is the official internal transfer rating for this column (footnote: up to stated read speed; host, capacity and workload change results). NAS copies are usually limited by RAID, clients and Ethernet.[1]
Does unlimited bays mean any NAS will accept it?
No. It is Western Digital's current family compatibility claim. Confirm the NAS vendor list, DSM/QTS policy, bay firmware and warranty rules for the exact enclosure.[1][9]
Do MTBF, 550 TB/year or five years tell me this unit will last?
No. Footnote 5–7 on the data sheet treat MTBF as a population statistic, workload as a temperature-dependent rating, and warranty as regional support—not a field failure rate.[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] Western Digital WD Red Pro data sheet — January 2025 ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · January 2025 family PDF, WD260KFGX column plus footnotes 1–8; highlights 'unlimited # of bays'
- [2] Testing one 26TB WD Red Pro WD260KFGX ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Exact-MPN original test; configuration, findings, measurements and limitations preserved in the matching review record.
- [3] B&H: WD260KFGX historical US listing ↗
Checked Aug 30, 2026 · Catalog record dated 2026-08-30: exact MPN, new condition, seller status retailer, availability in-stock. Historical catalog reference price $1240.99. Any usable 2026-09-10 main offer is recorded separately rather than overwriting this historical observation.
- [4] Amazon: WD260KFGX historical US listing ↗
Checked Aug 31, 2026 · Catalog record dated 2026-08-31: exact MPN, new condition, seller status marketplace-unverified, availability listed. No historical price adopted for this URL. Any usable 2026-09-10 main offer is recorded separately rather than overwriting this historical observation.
- [5] Best Buy: WD260KFGX historical US listing ↗
Checked Aug 31, 2026 · Catalog record dated 2026-08-31: exact MPN, new condition, seller status marketplace-unverified, availability listed. No historical price adopted for this URL. Any usable 2026-09-10 main offer is recorded separately rather than overwriting this historical observation.
- [6] Western Digital: WD260KFGX historical US listing ↗
Checked Aug 31, 2026 · Catalog record dated 2026-08-31: exact MPN, new condition, seller status manufacturer, availability listed. No historical price adopted for this URL. Any usable 2026-09-10 main offer is recorded separately rather than overwriting this historical observation.
- [7] Amazon: WD260KFGX current US new listing ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Exact MPN in title; selected new main buy box provides Add to cart and shows seller Amazon.com; numeric price is hidden behind cart.
- [8] Newegg: WD260KFGX 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 $1144.99.
- [9] WD Red Pro NAS Hard Drive — 26TB US product page ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Key features, Specifications (Capacity/Model Number/Transfer Rate/Compatibility), FAQ comparing Red Pro vs Red Plus
- [10] igor’sLAB WD Red Pro 26 TB test (WD260KFGX label) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Front label WD260KFGX-68CNGN0; CDM-01.jpg; ATTO-32.jpg 32GB; 52-HDD-Idle.png 12V
- [11] B&H product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:b1c92311324749cf7f9fc6cb5618a9b2f4c8f318dce80b717388890d049d7ab2
- [12] Amazon product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:12274d1dc2ffa5cb75bfa494643aa6209fd899860685b9e6b55123dc5395e563
- [13] Best Buy product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:0e4f889f3b4d135a773e9a85521d0db79c0fe59c3a07389ac094c65c9de52427
- [14] Western Digital product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 26, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:4b44b2bbd946a1e936e39e683f141b569379c79d22e7c196080d44fe958862aa
- [15] Newegg product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · newegg-main-item; sha256:1507c7e3e4419c6ee41e66c859a14e2793682cce0cc88a9cd8cd6b576e3bb6ff
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 column/footnotes, complete ITmedia and Igor original text with applicable image verification, primary Newegg and dated retained offers.
- 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)