Interface: ST500DM002 lists SATA 6 Gb/s; WD5003AZEX lists SATA 6Gb/s.
Cache (MB): ST500DM002 lists 16; WD5003AZEX lists 64.
Manufacturer limited warranty: ST500DM002 lists 2 years (eligible new drives); WD5003AZEX lists 5 years (eligible new drives).
Sustained transfer (up to MB/s): ST500DM002 lists 144; WD5003AZEX lists 150.

A larger cache, higher RPM or higher advertised sequential speed alone does not establish which drive is better for your workload.

Specifications side by side

Show differences only

Manufacturer specifications for ST500DM002 and WD5003AZEX
Specification	ST500DM002	WD5003AZEX
Manufacturer	Seagate	Western Digital
Product family	Desktop HDD	WD_BLACK
Model number	ST500DM002	WD5003AZEX
Capacity (TB)	0.5	0.5
Interface	SATA 6 Gb/s	SATA 6Gb/s
Cache (MB)	16	64
Form factor	3.5-inch	3.5-inch
Average idle power (W)	4.6	Not recorded
Power-on hours per year	2400	Not recorded
Workload rating (TB/year)	55	Not recorded
Average operating power (W)	6.19	Not recorded
Manufacturer limited warranty	2 years (eligible new drives)	5 years (eligible new drives)
Sustained transfer (up to MB/s)	144	150
RPM	Not recorded	7200
Recording	Not recorded	CMR

Compatibility and buying checks

Compare new and renewed offers separately. The manufacturer specification does not guarantee the warranty or return policy of a marketplace seller.

Reviewed 2026-09-07. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.

Reviewed 2026-08-21. Published specifications; no independent benchmark or failure-rate claim.