Desktop power users on a budget will often pair an SSD boot drive with a cheap, spacious 5400+ RPM desktop drive like the 3 TB Western Digital Green (WD30EZRX). However, while the latest 5400+ RPM hard disk drives can deliver very good throughputs, they are still much slower in random accesses. So, those who can afford it will still go for high-performance 7,200 RPM hard disk drives, like the new-generation Western Digital Black hard disk drives.

The new-generation Western Digital Black family differs from the previous generation by its use of Advanced Format Technology, which allows for greater capacity and throughput. The new Western Digital Black family now consists of five models, which differ only in their storage capacities.

Now, let's take a closer look at this new big daddy of the WD Black family of hard disk drives!