Western Digital WD Red NAS

Launched on April 19, 2019, the Western Digital WD Red 2TB (model WD20EFAX) is part of the WD Red NAS HDD family’s SMR-era refresh, adding a 256MB cache while moving the 2–6TB models to device‑managed SMR. It’s a 3.5-inch, SATA 6 Gb/s, 5400‑RPM‑class drive intended for home/SOHO NAS use up to eight bays.

Positioned as a budget NAS option, it exists to provide inexpensive, quiet mass storage rather than high write throughput. Its SMR layout and large cache suit sequential reads and light, sustained writes—good for media libraries, backups, and secondary PC “game library” roles, or a budget upgrade where capacity per dollar matters. Unique note: this specific 2TB WD Red uses SMR recording (WD20EFAX).