Western Digital Corp. today announced that it is in volume production of the next-generation WD Caviar Serial ATA (SATA) family of 3.5-inch desktop hard drives built on 160 GB-per-platter technology utilizing WD-designed and -manufactured recording heads. This new product family also incorporates ramp load technology, a proven technique in mobile-class drives that parks the recording heads when the drive is idle, powered off and spinning up. WD utilizes ramp load in its new desktop products to maximize shock robustness and minimize power consumption, enabling continued leadership in quality and long-term reliability.

"Our high density 160 GB-per-platter design with ramp load is a platform that enables WD to continue serving our customers' growing needs for dependable, high capacity hard drives," said John Coyne, WD's president and chief operating officer.

The WD Caviar family of 3.5-inch hard drives delivers high performance with 7,200 RPM spindle speed, 300 MB/s transfer rate, cache sizes up to 16 MB, and Native Command Queuing (NCQ); capacities ranging from 40 GB to 500 GB; and cool operating temperatures and quiet operation, which enable customers to integrate WD products in the most demanding environments.