As we are quite experienced generals already, we will estimate the armory first. What does a server HDD need? First of all it is high reliability. From this point of view Raptor looks very attractive: the claimed service time is 1.2 million hours, which is the same as by any up-to-date SCSI solution. And if something still happens to the drive, WD’s five-year warranty will come to rescue. The company approached this issue very seriously, which is a definite plus.

Secondly, the users expect a server hard drive to be fast, as the fewer HDDs will be needed to ensure a certain performance level, the better. Raptor should theoretically be quite fast with its 10,000rpm. Our tests will show if this is enough for success.

The third key feature of a server hard disk drive is the interface allowing to connect or disconnect the drive “on the go” and to build multi-drive arrays easily and at a relatively low cost. At first glance the new WD drive complies with this requirement as well. SATA interface supports HotPlug and allows building disk arrays very easily.

And finally, the last thing: server drives should be of large storage capacity. Unfortunately, WD cannot suggest an alternative to the 146GB SCSI monsters. Raptor drive is now available only as a 36GB version, so it will be a tough task to build a high-capacity array. However, the price of the newcomer, which is lower than that of SCSI drives of the same storage capacity, is a consoling factor. As well as the price of SATA RAID controllers, which is much lower than that of SCSI RAID controller cards.

Don’t you think it’s time to look this Raptor into the eyes? :)

Here it is. It features a completely new case with the ribbed surface providing better rigidity (at the same time these ribs help to dissipate the heat more efficiently). The motor has been moved from the location typical of all 7,200rpm drives, because the platters of a 10,000rpm drive should be of smaller diameter. Instead there appears more space for a more powerful positioning mechanism. Sure, as the seek time needs to be lowered.

And this is our Raptor without the case cover:

And now let’s take a look at the connectors:

Note that Raptor features two power supply connectors: a standard SATA connector and the older four-pin connector. By the way, WD recommends to avoid using both connectors at the same time. Just in case...

The PCB, which can be seen on one of the pictures above is placed with the chips facing the inside, which reduces the risk of EMI damage if the HDD will be installed into the PC case not quite professionally. But not al the chips are inside. One of them is left on the outer side of the PCB. What chip is that?

This is the ATA<->SATA converter chip from Marvell. Will WD give it up soon? Otherwise, why did they place it in such an awkward location?

The table below presents the specifications of the new WD Raptor drive compared with WD400JB:

As you see, both drives are of almost the same storage capacity and they feature cache-buffer of the same size – 8MB. These are the only similarities between them. Raptor marked as WD360GD boasts an impressive advantage over the other drive in the access time/