WD serves up 2 terabytes of Caviar

Stephen Withers
Monday, 07 September 2009 11:19

Business IT - Technology

Western Digital has begun shipping its 2 TB Caviar Black drives. Enterprise versions are being qualified by OEM customers.

The WD Caviar Black range now includes a four-platter, two-terabyte version intended for gaming PCs, high-performance desktop systems, and workstations.

The drives are also offered in enterprise-class versions meant for servers, NAS and SAN applications.

Common features include a dual-processor design for maximum performance, and dual actuators for increased head positioning accuracy.

The drives also incorporate WD's IntelliSeek, StableTrac and NoTouch technologies to reduce noise and vibration, and improve accuracy and reliability.

"WD Caviar Black 2 TB hard drives maximize the features and functionality of power computing applications such as gaming, photo editing, user generated multimedia and video," said Jim Morris, senior vice president and general manager of WD's client storage systems.

"With the selection of WD Caviar Black hard drives, WD desktop customers receive the best possible mix of capacity, performance and reliability that is required for intense desktop computing," he added.

The RE4 enterprise models incorporate a multi-axis shock sensor, native command queuing, power saving technology and other features for greater reliability.

"Specifically designed for enterprise-class applications, WD's RE4 2 TB drives incorporate the best combination of features, optimum performance, and superior reliability that customers have come to expect from WD," said Tom McDorman, vice president and general manager of enterprise storage solutions for WD.

"Our enterprise products are directly aimed at customers who require additional features and extensive testing that are necessary for high-end enterprise environments," he added.

The Caviar Black 2TB lists at $A429; the price of the RE4 2TB has yet to be announced.