G-Technology Introduces G-Drive and G-Raid External HDDs up to 20TB
By Jim Bask
G-Technology this week introduced several new models of its G-Drive and G-RAID products with Thunderbolt 1, USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt 2 soltions. These are direct attached storage (DAS) devices, based on the latest hard drives featuring 10 TB capacity. The new DAS products aim to significantly increase performance and capacities of devices aimed at consumers and prosumers. The introduction of such storage solutions emphasizes that Western Digital (which owns the HGST and the G-Technology brands) is moving its helium-filled HDDs into the consumer space.
The first new G-Drive, with Thunderbolt 1 and USB 3.0, quotes a 10 TB capacity will give a maximum transfer rate of up to 245 MB/s, which is in line with the performance of the latest enterprise-class drives. In fact, the new product from G-Technology offers a combination of highest capacity and sustained transfer rate for a single-drive DAS in the industry. Officially, Western Digital only says that the new G-Drive is based on an enterprise-class HDD and does not confirm that the DAS utilizes the company’s flagship helium-filled HDD with 7200 RPM spindle speed (such as the HGST Ultrastar He10), but that is something logical to expect given the company’s portfolio of products.
The 10 TB capacity point will add a new member to the stack, with a $699.95 price point for the TB1 flagship G-Drive (using TB3 and USB 3.0). A USB 3.0 only version of the G-Drive 10 TB external HDD will also available for $599.95. The new 10 TB drives complement other G-Drive models with 3, 4, 6 and 8 TB of space…[continue reading]