The WD Black P10 Game Drive is a pretty tight little piece of kit. It understands that game file sizes are larger than ever and growing as a new hardware generation looms. You can see this in real terms — models start at 2TB before hitting a monstrous 4TB and 5TB. The drive is USB 3.0 ready. This means it’s capable of speeds of up to 140MB/s and, according to WD, can store up to 125 games.
I had a very big game to install indeed. The PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2 had just arrived, clocking in at a giant 112GB. I wanted to jump the game over to the powerful ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo I’m currently reviewing for a bit of a stress test. RDR2 was the perfect test case for the P10, a huge game transferred from one machine to another. The entire process took 30 minutes and was totally hassle-free. Straight on, straight off again.
The P10, like any portable drive, will work with your home consoles as well. While the Xbox One won’t ask you to change anything, you’ll need to format the drive if you want to use it with your PlayStation 4.
It’s a hardy little thing too, designed with the kind of hard-nosed, industrial black fit that has been popular among gaming peripherals forever. It looks a little like a shipping container in miniature, corrugated lines hinting at raw durability. It’s not as survivable as a Lacie but you can throw this one in your bag without much of a worry.
All told, the WD Black P10 Game Drive is a solid game drive. It boasts strong performance and a striking look that travels well. Well worth a look for gamers who love a backup plan.
FOUR-AND-A-HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Fast transfer; Big storage; Cool look; Reasonably hardy
Lowlights: May be less hardy than its industrial look would have you believe
Manufacturer: Western Digital
Price: $138 AUD (2TB) – $258 (5TB)
Website: WesternDigital.com
Available: Now
Review conducted using a loaned retail unit provided by the manufacturer.
