# ⚡ How fast are the data transfer speeds of the Western Digital Elements Desktop External Hard Drive?

*Published: 2024-06-24 | Updated: 2024-10-22 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/how-fast-are-the-data-transfer-speeds-of-the-western-digital-elements-desktop-external-hard-drive*

---

## Product: Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0080HBK-NESN, Black 8 TB
**Brand:** ‎Western Digital

If you're curious about the data transfer speeds of the Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, here's the lowdown. This drive plays well with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connections, as described by the manufacturer.

When you're using USB 3.0, it's like the fast lane of data transfer highways—speeds can reach up to 5 Gbps. That makes it super handy for moving large files or backing up loads of photos or videos quickly. But, if you're using USB 2.0, you'll see much slower speeds, around 480 Mbps. It'll still work just fine, just not as quickly.

One of the nice things about this drive is how easy it is to use right out of the box. Its plug-and-play feature means you just hook it up to your [Windows 10](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3Dwindows%2B10%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20), [Windows 8.1](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3Dwindows%2B8.1%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20), or [Windows 7](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3Dwindows%2B7%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20) PC, and you're off to the races—no complicated setup needed. 

It's preformatted in NTFS, which is great for Windows systems like Windows 10, 8.1, or 7. [Mac](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3Dmac%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20) users might need to reformat it, but it’s usually not a big deal once you get the hang of it.

People consistently mention how easy it is to set up and how reliable it is in their use—perfect if you're aiming to store a big chunk of data without a tech headache. 

So whether you're zipping through with USB 3.0 or chugging along with USB 2.0, this drive gives you good options and plenty of space without making life difficult.

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Adorama | $164.99  | Check |
| Amazon | $164.99  | Check |
| B&H Photo-Video-Audio | $164.99  | Check |
| Walmart | $164.99  | Check |
| Western Digital Store | $164.99  | Check |
| PCNation | $167.34  | Check |
| CDW | $184.99  | Check |
| Aztek Computers | $189.69  | Check |
| ShopBLT.com | $194.68  | Check |
| colamco.com | $199.29  | Check |
| Technology Galaxy | $208.83  | Check |

---

*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*