WD VelociRaptor gets backplane compatibility

The new backplane version of the WD VelociRaptor is specifically designed for 3.5-inch drive-based servers, PC and Mac® computer enthusiasts and professional workstations that require the need for a backplane structure. A favorite among enthusiasts, the WD VelociRaptor comes packed with twice the capacity and a 35 percent performance increase and runs 35 percent cooler over the previous "Raptor" generation.

The comparatively low cost and high reliability of SATA technology increasingly has been deployed into servers in both 2.5- and 3.5-inch form factors. Additionally, an increasing number of workstations are configured with backplanes to streamline design of multi-drive systems.

"This newest product is a perfect solution for the changing enterprise environment," said John Kim, vice president of TrendFocus. "It delivers leading-edge storage capacity and performance with lower power consumption."

Built with enterprise-class mechanics and packed with up to 300 GB of storage capacity into a 2.5-inch enterprise form factor, the 2.5-inch WD VelociRaptor drive is enclosed in the IcePack™, a 3.5-inch mounting frame with a built-in heat sink -- a customization that fits the drive into a standard 3.5-inch system bay and keeps this powerful drive extra cool when installed in a high-performance desktop chassis.

"We designed the latest version of the WD VelociRaptor due to the increasing amount of systems that require a backplane mounting system. We have had overwhelming demand of our WD VelociRaptor as it provides enthusiasts with the computing speed and capacity they thirst for," said Tom McDorman, vice president and general manager of WD's enterprise solutions storage business unit. "The new WD VelociRaptor further demonstrates WD's commitment to the enthusiast and server market by delivering the greatest performance, compatibility, and reliability of all SATA hard drives currently on the market."