Advanced Format - when do we get it?

[Gwendlethred]

I see that Western Digital have already released Advanced Format versions of their Caviar Green and Scorpio Blue drives but I haven't seen them on OC.
Are any of the drives supplied by OCUK Advanced Format capable?
Seeing as all new drives should be AF capable by Jan 2011 I'd be surprised if no one is releasing them yet.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/advancedformat/

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/WhitePapers/ENG/2579-771430.pdf

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8557144.stm

 

[Gwendlethred]

I'm also assuming that the new format rollout is fueling the current rapid drop in Hard Drive prices as the manufacturers clear their old lines.
So over the next 9 months we'll see a further large drop in legacy prices - possibly down to 30 quid a terabyte by the Autumn - then a new tech price hike in the New Year... possibly 150 smackers for a Advanced Format 1 Terabyte Drive would be my guess.

 

[rpstewart]

The WD Green drives with EARS model numbers are Advanced Format drives, OCUK have them in 1Tb, 1.5Tb and 2Tb sizes.

 

[Gwendlethred]

Thank you for that! I'd have ordered one with my delivery yesterday if only they had had Advanced Format in the part description!

LOL Ah well I lose out on the delivery charge and have to eat humble pie for my price prediction too!

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2879-701229.pdf

 

[Ziggy4]

then a new tech price hike in the New Year

I can't see this affect pricing much at all. I also think there will be much disappointment if people are expecting some magical leap in performance. Early benchmarks on the new Greens have been posted already. It's more about improving format efficiency and we might expect to see > 2 TB drives appear in the not too distant future. Link below to WD's white paper.

http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/WhitePapers/ENG/2579-771430.pdf