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This Host Bus Adapter (HBA) is a small 1x PCI Express card that offers two SATA-2 ports for connecting to your larger than normal drives to your machine.
If you have a UEFI supporting motherboard then you can then boot through this card too.
Installation is straightforward, although we did have to remove the half-height bracket from the one sent as we were installing into a full desktop PC. Once done its business as usual.
You don't have to provide drivers, and Windows 7 was up and running with the new drive quickly (note that Windows XP will need to make do with smaller drives, as the old OS isn't supported).
Overall, there's a lot to like about the Caviar Green 3TB.
Western Digital's decision to bundle the drive with a controller card is a wise one, and means that while it is slightly more hassle than simply installing a second hard drive in your machine, it's a lot more painless than completely replacing your motherboard (and there aren't many UEFI options out there right now anyway).
If you're looking for a large drive with a ridiculous amount of capacity (formatted you're looking at 2.72TB), and don't mind paying a little bit over the odds for it, this is the drive for you.
The fact that it runs quietly and keeps an eye on your electricity bill is the icing on the cake. Those looking for extreme performance should hold out for the Black edition though.
We liked:
This makes for a staggering amount of performance from a single drive, making it an ideal option for those with limited space.
The drives green credentials shouldn't just appeal to corporate buyers either, especially when it's this quiet and cool in use.
We dislike:
The add-in card will put some off, although it's very easy to install and get the drive up and running.
Performance is a little on the uninspired side, although that's mainly down to drive's green credentials.
Given the inclusion of the HBA the value for money isn't bad, although it does suffer comparisons with far more affordable 1TB drives out there, such as Western Digital's own Caviar Green 1TB, which can be had for £42.
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