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The WD Black² (WD1001X06XDTL) puts a 120 GB SSD and a 1 TB hard drive in one 2.5-inch, 9.5 mm SATA unit. Despite “hybrid” in its name, it is not a cache drive that automatically moves files between flash and disk: the SSD and HDD are separate storage devices exposed through one SATA connection. Its appeal was fitting both into a laptop with one drive bay; its trade-offs were modest capacity on the SSD, launch-era driver dependence, and performance that varied between the two components.
What the WD Black² is—and what “hybrid” does not mean
Western Digital’s model WD1001X06XDTL combines a 120 GB solid-state drive with a 1 TB hard disk. The manufacturer described it as a fully accessible SSD for the operating system alongside a hard drive for personal data and large files in its November 2013 product overview.
That arrangement differs from a conventional cache-based hybrid drive. The Black² presents two distinct storage devices; the HDD is not simply a hidden capacity pool or an automatic cache for the SSD. The intended division was to install the operating system and frequently used software on the SSD, then store larger files on the HDD. Users therefore needed to manage where files and applications were stored rather than relying on automatic tiering.
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| Specification | WD Black² detail |
|---|---|
| Model | WD1001X06XDTL |
| Storage | 120 GB SSD plus 1 TB HDD |
| Form factor and height | 2.5 inches; maximum height 9.50 mm |
| Interface | SATA 6 Gb/s |
| Maximum dimensions | 100.30 mm long × 69.85 mm wide × 9.50 mm high |
| SSD rated internal transfer rates | Up to 350 MB/s read and 140 MB/s write |
These are Western Digital’s specifications in its February 2014 specification sheet, not independent benchmark results. The manufacturer described the drive as designed for most 9.5 mm 2.5-inch bays, but that does not establish fit or operating-system support in every computer. Check the exact machine’s bay clearance and SATA connection before buying.
#1 Best Overall
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
How setup and drive access worked at launch
StorageReview reported that the SSD appeared first and that installing a required driver in Windows exposed both devices. It also noted that launch packages directed users to obtain drivers online and that Windows was the supported platform at release. These are launch-era observations, not confirmation that the driver remains available or that current Windows, macOS, or other operating systems support the drive. See StorageReview’s review for its account of the original setup.
- Confirm that the computer accepts a 2.5-inch SATA drive with up to 9.5 mm height.
- Before installation, verify that the required driver and setup instructions are available for the computer’s operating system. Do not assume a launch-era driver works with a current OS.
- After installation, check whether both storage devices are visible. If only the SSD appears, the launch-era review indicates that driver installation was needed to expose the HDD in Windows; current recovery steps depend on the system and available driver support.
- Choose the SSD for the operating system and applications that benefit from flash storage, and use the HDD for larger files. The drive does not perform this placement automatically.
What independent testing found
StorageReview’s 2013 review measured the HDD portion at 106 MB/s sequential read and 107 MB/s sequential write in its 2 MB sequential test. In its 2 MB random-transfer test, it recorded 46 MB/s read and 47 MB/s write. These are results from that review’s historical test setup, not guaranteed rates for every unit or a current comparison against newer drives.
Rank #2
- Extra storage to capture and collect your best in-screen game captures.Specific uses: Gaming
- Speed up to 250 MB/s rated at 7200RPM with active cooling technology to help you stay in the game.
- Features two 7.5W USB Type-A charging ports to charge your gaming gear and accessories.
- Purpose-built for gamers based on WD_Black quality and reliability.
For the SSD portion, StorageReview reported competitive reads in some tests but comparatively weak write performance against the contemporary drives in its test group. That finding is distinct from WD’s rated maximums of 350 MB/s read and 140 MB/s write: manufacturer maxima and results from an independent review answer different questions and should not be treated as interchangeable.
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Who benefited from the two-in-one layout
The original use case was a laptop with one drive bay: replace its existing drive with a single device that offered an SSD for the operating system and a larger HDD for bulk storage. This avoided installing a second internal drive where the machine did not provide another bay. A single SSD offers simpler storage management but not this product’s combined capacity; a conventional HDD or cache-based hybrid has a different storage and performance arrangement. If a computer can hold separate SSD and HDD devices, that option avoids putting both roles inside this older combined drive, though fit and system support still need checking.
Rank #3
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 8100 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD with Heatsink.
- EXPERIENCE PCIe Gen 5: Drastically enhance your gaming and content creation experience with this PCIe Gen 5.0x4 NVMe M.2 SSD.
- BLISTERING SPEEDS. IMMENSE CAPACITIES. Your drive reaches sequential read speeds up to an astonishing 14,900MB/s, sequential write speeds up to 14,000MB/s, and over 2,300,000 IOPS of random performance (2TB – 4TB models) and offers up to 8TB of capacity.
- EXTENDED ELEVATED PERFORMANCE. With its custom heatsink, the WD_BLACK SN8100 SSD delivers up to 15x longer sustained performance under heavy workloads compared to the non-heatsink version.
- CUSTOM WD_BLACK HEATSINK. The custom WD_BLACK heatsink is the lowest profile option on a PCIe 5.0 drive with RGB lighting. Made from anodized aluminum, it delivers silent, fanless cooling and customizable lighting to match your build.
What to verify before buying one now
The available launch-era product and review information does not establish present-day price, stock, driver availability, current OS compatibility, or warranty coverage for a remaining or secondhand unit. WD’s February 2014 specification sheet listed a five-year limited warranty, but that historical term does not show that any particular used drive is still covered or that coverage transfers.
- Match the listing to model WD1001X06XDTL; similar WD Black names can refer to different products.
- Check the actual drive’s condition, included accessories, seller, and return terms.
- Confirm the exact computer model, available bay height, SATA connection, operating system, and intended workload.
- Establish whether the required driver and setup support are available for that system before relying on access to both devices.
Neither the launch-era reviews nor the manufacturer documents cited here validate a specific modern replacement for an individual computer. A replacement choice should be based on that machine’s specifications and current OS support, rather than assuming any 2.5-inch SATA drive will work.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
Rank #4
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.Specific uses: Gaming
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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