WWD 12TB Gold’s tranfer rate dropped suddenly

If your **WD Gold 12TB** drive's **transfer rate suddenly dropped**, that's a serious signal that something might be wrong — either with the **drive**, the **cable/interface**, or the **system environment**. Here's how to systematically troubleshoot it:

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### 🧪 Step-by-Step Diagnosis

#### ✅ 1. **Check with CrystalDiskInfo or WD Dashboard**

* Look for **SMART attributes** like:

| SMART Attribute | What to Watch For |

| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- |

| Reallocated Sector Count | > 0 = Bad sectors developing |

| Current Pending Sector Count | > 0 = Unstable sectors |

| Uncorrectable Sector Count | > 0 = Read errors |

| Temperature | > 55°C = Possible throttling |

📉 If you see any **non-zero values** above, the drive is likely degrading.

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#### ✅ 2. **Run a Short/Extended Test**

Use **WD Data Lifeguard** or **WD Dashboard**:

* Start with a **short test**

* If it passes, try the **extended/full test**

* If it **hangs**, **fails**, or gets stuck at e.g. 90%, that confirms **read issues or surface damage**

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#### ✅ 3. **Try a Different Setup**

Check if the speed drop is caused by hardware or cabling:

* **Use a different SATA port or cable**

* Try a **different PC**

* Connect directly to **motherboard SATA**, not USB enclosure (if applicable)

* If in a NAS or RAID, test as a **standalone drive**

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#### ✅ 4. **Check File System Health**

If the file system is corrupted, performance may suffer:

* On Windows:

```bash

chkdsk X: /f /r

```

(Replace `X:` with your drive letter)

* On Linux:

```bash

sudo fsck /dev/sdX

```

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#### ✅ 5. **Benchmark the Drive**

Use tools like:

* **CrystalDiskMark**

* **ATTO Disk Benchmark**

* **HD Tune**

Compare to expected WD Gold 12TB performance:

* **Sequential Read/Write**: \~250–270 MB/s (depending on model and fill level)

📉 If you see speeds under 100 MB/s or sharp drops mid-test, the issue is likely drive-related.

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### 🔄 Possible Causes & Fixes

| Cause | Fix / Action |

| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

| Failing sectors | Backup + run extended test + RMA if fails |

| Cable or port issue | Replace SATA/USB cable, try new port |

| Overheating | Improve airflow; verify temps < 55°C |

| Drive >90% full | Cleanup; drives slow when nearly full |

| USB-SATA bridge limitations | Use direct SATA or USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface |

| Background tasks (e.g., indexing, AV scan) | Check Resource Monitor or Task Manager |

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### 🔁 If Problem Persists

#### 🔧 Replace the Drive (if under warranty)

* Check warranty at: [https://support.wdc.com/warranty](https://support.wdc.com/warranty)

* WD Gold drives typically have **5 years warranty**

#### 💾 Backup Now

> ⚠️ If speed dropped suddenly **and** SMART shows bad sectors → back up critical data **immediately**.

> The situation may degrade rapidly.

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### 🧠 Final Tip

* Drives often slow down before dying completely.

* SMART might show “Good” even if problems exist — always trust **symptoms + test results**.

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If you’d like, share the SMART report or benchmark screenshots and I’ll analyze them for you.