Western Digital Corp. has announced the next-generation WD Caviar hard drive family. The new WD Caviar hard drive, a 5400-RPM, 30GB-per-platter model, is now in volume production.
“Western Digital is the only hard drive manufacturer able to deliver 30GB per platter now,” said John Donovan, vice president of industry analyst firm Trend Focus. “Progressing with momentum from its recent success in the 7200 RPM performance market segment, Western Digital’s timely execution is resulting in a significant competitive advantage.”
The new WD Caviar family provides up to 60GB of storage and is the first 5400 RPM hard drive available with a 30GB-per-platter design. Western Digital was also the first manufacturer to deliver a 7200-RPM, 10GB-per-platter design in December 1999 and then doubled that to be the first with 20GB per platter in August 2000.
“Western Digital’s achievement of 30GB per platter is another milestone demonstrating our commitment to customers, and the manner in which we are executing to meet their needs,” said Arif Shakeel, executive vice president and general manager of Western Digital’s Hard Drive Solutions division. “The desktop market remains the critical core component of our business. Time-to-market leadership in the desktop market also enables Western Digital to continue to expand its personal storage technologies into non-PC areas.”
The WD Caviar 5400 RPM, 30GB-per-platter model is a two-platter design with as many as four heads. It will be available in 30GB and 60GB capacities. The drive also utilizes new differential preamp technology that eliminates grounding noise and enables a higher data rate.