Consuming only 3.3 watts in idle mode and 6 watts during seek mode, WD Caviar GP 500 GB 3.5-inch SATA hard drives support quieter, cooler-running desktop PCs and external storage devices, with 30 percent lower power usage.

"Cooler and quieter operation are key benefits of the WD Caviar GP line of hard drives, which has created a strong following among desktop and external HDD customers," said Don Bennett, vice president and general manager of WD's desktop business unit. "When a hard drive requires 30 percent less power to operate, heat generation is significantly reduced, enabling greater long-term reliability in all applications."

The WD Caviar GP 500 GB is built using the same fundamental technologies as the WD Caviar GP 1 TB. The 30% power savings equates to reducing CO2 emission by up to 13.8 kilograms per drive per year - the equivalent of taking a car off the road for 3 days each year. Estimated pricing for this hard drive is $149.99 USD.

Features:

* IntelliPower - A fine-tuned balance of spin speed, transfer rate and caching algorithms designed to deliver both significant power savings and solid performance. Additionally, GreenPower drives consume less current during startup allowing lower peak loads on systems as they are booted.
* IntelliSeek - Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise, and vibration.
* IntelliPark - Delivers lower power consumption by automatically unloading recording heads during idle to reduce aerodynamic drag, and by disabling read/write channel electronics.