AfterDawn: News

Western Digital introduces the first 2TB hard drive

Western Digital has just announced a new SATA II hard drive with a whopping 2TB (2 trillion Byte) capacity. The company says not only is it bigger than other hard drives on the market, but it also uses less power.

"With the launch of the new WD Caviar Green 2 TB hard drive, customers receive the additional capacities needed to operate today's highly advanced programs and high-resolution digital files while using less power than typical drives with similar performance and capacities," said Western Digital senior vice president Jim Morris



According to the company's website, power usage of the highest capacity Caviar Green is just barely better than previous models (Caviar Blue and Caviar Black) during Read/Write operations. Where it really seems to shine is when it's idle. While earlier models use nearly the same power whether they're doing anything or not, the Caviar Green's power drops by nearly half.

When comparing Caviar Green hard drives with similar specs to their Caviar Blue and Black predecessors the difference is much more pronounced. According to the website a 1TB Caviar Green drive with 16MB of cache uses about 64% as much power as a comparable Caviar Black. When idle it uses just 36% as much power.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 27 Jan 2009 13:12

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• 34 comments

• borhan9

  All I have to say is i want one :)

  27.1.2009 15:25 #1

• hoddey

  WD finally launches 2TB drive
  
  Available in Australia
  
  WD's much talked about 2TB hard drive has gone on sale in Australia, and we're expecting it to pop up in Europe and the States within days, if not hours. We were expecting it last week, but it seems WD wasn't in a hurry to launch it.
  
  The cheapest listings currently stand at just under AU$400, while the WD's 1TB drive sells for under AU$180. Australians have the misfortune of paying more for their hardware than the rest of the world, and we expect prices in Europe to be slightly lower, well under €200.
  
  Updte: The WD Caviar Green 2 TB is available at select resellers and distributors. MSRP for the WD Caviar Green 2 TB hard drives (model WD20EADS) is $299.00 USD. More information about WD Caviar Green desktop drives may be found on the company's Web site at http://wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=576
  
  Specs:
  
  * Capacity: 2TB (400Gb/sq.in. areal density)
  * 32MB cache buffer
  * Variable spindle speed
  * 3.5-inch form-factor
  * 500GB/platter, 4-platter design
  * 3Gb/sec SATA with NCQ
  * SATA power connector only
  * PMR head technology
  * RoHS compliant
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green hard drive launches, gets previewed
  
  
  
  http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/weste...nches-gets-pre/

  27.1.2009 15:49 #2

• zero9121

  I hope a 2TB external drive is in the making.

  27.1.2009 15:54 #3

• 7thsinger

  Originally posted by borhan9: All I have to say is i want one :)Same here.

  27.1.2009 16:07 #4

• xugiua

  I'm looking online to find one to buy right now, nice.

  27.1.2009 16:15 #5

• nonoitall

  Wow, a whopping 2 billion bytes. I think there's a typo. ;-)
  
  (As a terabyte would be either 1 trillion or 2^40 bytes, depending on who you ask.)

  27.1.2009 16:42 #6

• ZippyDSM

  So whats the usable space 18XXX-19XXGB?

  27.1.2009 17:19 #7

• ThePastor

  Overpriced for now... but I assume this means that the 1TB drives will drop in price.
  1TB for less than $100 seems to be a good pricepoint... :D
  
  I just got 750GB for like $85, a month or two ago.

  27.1.2009 18:23 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by ThePastor: Overpriced for now... but I assume this means that the 1TB drives will drop in price.
  1TB for less than $100 seems to be a good pricepoint... :D
  
  I just got 750GB for like $85, a month or two ago.
  I got a 1TB drive for 89+12 shipping a month ago.
  its a WD :X

  27.1.2009 18:26 #9

• rvinkebob

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: So whats the usable space 18XXX-19XXGB?2000000000000 bytes = about 1863GB
  
  KB to MB Converter
  

  
  

  27.1.2009 19:07 #10

• Pop_Smith

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: So whats the usable space 18XXX-19XXGB?Based on a little fun with the Google Calculator it is only 1.78TB.
  
  I typed in 2,000,000,000,000 Bytes / 1024 and it spat out 1.77635684 terabytes, which is roughly 1.78TB or only 1,780GB.
  
  Getting ripped off 220GB (that's the size of my old PCs entire drive!) sucks. Curse Microsoft for having a TB as 1,024GB.

  27.1.2009 19:13 #11

• rvinkebob

  Originally posted by Pop_Smith: Based on a little fun with the Google Calculator it is only 1.78TB.
  
  I typed in 2,000,000,000,000 Bytes / 1024 and it spat out 1.77635684 terabytes, which is roughly 1.78TB or only 1,780GB.
  
  Getting ripped off 220GB (that's the size of my old PCs entire drive!) sucks. Curse Microsoft for having a TB as 1,024GB.How did it come out as 1780GB? 2,000,000,000,000 / 1024 = 1953125000KB; 1953125000 / 1024 = 1907349MB; 1907349 / 1024 = 1863GB.
  

  
  

  27.1.2009 19:18 #12

• ZippyDSM

  thanks guys I just figure 15% of usable space.
  
  Its not bad but annoying sometimes ><
  

  Fallout 3 has stole my soul, for about 30 hours till the paint wore off.... even if its a action focused FPS RPG, at least its a FPS RPG not a under deved shooter like Bioshock!

  27.1.2009 19:19 #13

• rvinkebob

  Yeah, but it'll go a long way when we start getting to 8TB HDD's :P
  
  I figure a 2TB HDD will fit 10 years worth of files, for me anyway.
  

  
  

  27.1.2009 19:21 #14

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by rvinkebob: Yeah, but it'll go a long way when we start getting to 8TB HDD's :P
  
  I figure a 2TB HDD will fit 10 years worth of files, for me anyway.I already haz 1.5TB of anime ;_; I only haz 700GB left I is running out of roooommmmm >>
  

  Fallout 3 has stole my soul, for about 30 hours till the paint wore off.... even if its a action focused FPS RPG, at least its a FPS RPG not a under deved shooter like Bioshock!

  27.1.2009 19:23 #15

• dragnandy

  how much is this going to cost? around 300USD? i definitely want in. i recently bought a 500gb for like 80USD. wow!

  27.1.2009 19:29 #16

• Pop_Smith

  Originally posted by rvinkebob: How did it come out as 1780GB? 2,000,000,000,000 / 1024 = 1953125000KB; 1953125000 / 1024 = 1907349MB; 1907349 / 1024 = 1863GB.Yes, you are correct. I questioned it personally when what I typed was shown but I figured someone would just correct me. >.<
  
  I actually think Google's Calculator whacked. It gives me different figures based on if I put "bytes" at the end of the number or not.
  
  Here is exactly what it said:
  
  2 000 000 000 000 000 Bytes / 1024 = 1.77635684 terabytes.
  
  If I remove the word "bytes" it spits out what you got:
  
  2 000 000 000 000 000 / 1 024 = 1 953 125 000 000
  
  That is pretty strange and yet funny in my opinion.
  
  EDITED by Pop_Smith: Removed my personal quote. :P

  27.1.2009 20:06 #17

• windsong

  WD needs to stop dragging their heels and give SS drives a price reduction. They keep churning out CRAP drives with moving parts that dont last 2 months let alone 2 years. You drop it..and its BROKE.

  27.1.2009 23:16 #18

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by windsong: WD needs to stop dragging their heels and give SS drives a price reduction. They keep churning out CRAP drives with moving parts that dont last 2 months let alone 2 years. You drop it..and its BROKE.ss drives still have a write limit right?

  27.1.2009 23:18 #19

• Buik

  1TB drives have already been available for under $100 US. Got one a few months ago from NewEgg. It is a WD Green model (OEM) Not a problem. Plugged it into A usb/sata Docking Station, and it has been a work horse for several months. Hope to get it filled up soon so I can justify my next purchase.

  27.1.2009 23:39 #20

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Buik: 1TB drives have already been available for under $100 US. Got one a few months ago from NewEgg. It is a WD Green model (OEM) Not a problem. Plugged it into A usb/sata Docking Station, and it has been a work horse for several months. Hope to get it filled up soon so I can justify my next purchase.Don;t say that I have 400GB left on mine >>
  I need a 50pack of DL discs more than I need a new 80$ 1TB drive >>
  I also need a new PSU >>

  27.1.2009 23:42 #21

• EricCarr

  If you buy an enclosure for this 2TB. You will have an external drive.

  28.1.2009 04:09 #22

• Gplanet

  I have 3 1TB hard drives and looking forward to a 2TB

  28.1.2009 05:33 #23

• nonoitall

  Originally posted by Pop_Smith: Curse Microsoft for having a TB as 1,024GB.
  Actually, 1024 is pretty universal among most operating systems (not just Windows) as a multiplier, so it would be more useful to curse hard drive manufacturers for being the sticklers who use 1000 as a base. ;-)
  
  Just figure it's 2 trillion (ahem, trillion, not billion) bytes as opposed to 2 TiB. And always use binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, etc.) when you want to avoid ambiguity.

  28.1.2009 06:54 #24

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by Pop_Smith: Curse Microsoft for having a TB as 1,024GB.
  Actually, 1024 is pretty universal among most operating systems (not just Windows) as a multiplier, so it would be more useful to curse hard drive manufacturers for being the sticklers who use 1000 as a base. ;-)
  
  Just figure it's 2 trillion (ahem, trillion, not billion) bytes as opposed to 2 TiB. And always use binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, etc.) when you want to avoid ambiguity.
  or knock 12-15% off and move on with your life :P
  ZOMG! numbers!!!?!?!? wut? 0_o

  28.1.2009 10:59 #25

• cmcjk

  "Actually, 1024 is pretty universal among most operating systems"
  
  I thought it was universal with all OS's. 1024 comes from the fact that they are based on binary and not a decimal system. 10 to the power of 3 = 1000, 2 to the power of 10 = 1024. Using 2TB = 2,000,000,000,000 bytes is just a way to push the numbers up for the ignorant.
  
  FYI 2,000,000,000,000 is 1 "billion" in the long number system and 1 "trillion" in the short system. Most people now use the short system.

  28.1.2009 11:58 #26

• nonoitall

  IDK, I haven't checked them all, so I didn't want to say that, but suffice it to say that most computers use binary units as opposed to decimal ones. :-D
  
  Interesting tidbit about the long vs. short numbering, too. Now that you mention it, I seem to remember hearing about that at some point, but it's since slipped my mind.

  28.1.2009 15:21 #27

• wdtv

  I got a 1.5 TB Seagate External Hard drive. It's not bad, a little slow though. Paid $155 for it online. Great for my Wdtv.
  
  Oh but what really gets me ticked is you have 1.5 tb, and then look at the properties, you only really have 1.3 tb.

  30.1.2009 10:20 #28

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by wdtv: I got a 1.5 TB Seagate External Hard drive. It's not bad, a little slow though. Paid $155 for it online. Great for my Wdtv.
  
  Oh but what really gets me ticked is you have 1.5 tb, and then look at the properties, you only really have 1.3 tb.You paid to much,seagate sucks and 1.5 HD has issues........

  30.1.2009 13:21 #29

• mukhis

  seagate 1.5 TB is not as bad as some people are saying (mostly without having it, just after reading reviews). i have two since blackfriday, both are working w/o trouble.

  9.2.2009 13:07 #30

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by mukhis: seagate 1.5 TB is not as bad as some people are saying (mostly without having it, just after reading reviews). i have two since blackfriday, both are working w/o trouble.Still would not trust or pay much for the SG brand its just not what it use to be.

  9.2.2009 13:09 #31

• mukhis

  Quote:Still would not trust or pay much for the SG brand its just not what it use to be.
  i paid $103 ea (after live cashback, shipping and tax), not bad i think, after all, 5 yr warranty for peace of mind. right now, all good HDDs are almost equally priced, so no complaints from my part.

  9.2.2009 13:17 #32

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:Still would not trust or pay much for the SG brand its just not what it use to be.
  i paid $103 ea (after live cashback, shipping and tax), not bad i think, after all, 5 yr warranty for peace of mind. right now, all good HDDs are almost equally priced, so no complaints from my part.
  I could get a 1.5TB for 120 for 3 or 4 months now I chose to get a 89$ WD 1TB because I'd rather not get a SG drive.

  9.2.2009 13:21 #33

• mukhis

  your choice, but i still trust SG, WD, hitachi, samsung equally.

  9.2.2009 13:28 #34