Western Digital Throws Down Storage Gauntlet with New 26TB WD Red Pro and Upgraded Professional Lines
Western Digital just threw down the gauntlet. They announced their brand-new 26TB WD Red Pro NAS hard drive. That's not all. They've also raised capacities on their professional G-DRIVE and G-RAID lines. This means serious storage upgrades for home users through to creative professionals.
26TB WD Red Pro: NAS Storage Gets a Huge Boost
Let's talk about that 26TB Red Pro to start. It's not an ordinary hard drive. It's designed expressly for Network Attached Storage (NAS) units that operate 24/7. Think about plenty of space for backups, media servers, or just storing those adorable puppy photos. Key features of this beast are:
- Massive 26TB Capacity: One of the biggest CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) drives available. Expect predictable performance without SMR slowdowns.
- NAS-Optimized: Optimized for continuous operation. It is ideal for high-performance NAS environments.
- Built to Last: With a 2.5 million hour MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and a workload rating of 550TB/year – this drive is built to last.
- Fast Transfers: Up to 287 MB/s internal transfer rates. This provides fast access to your files.
- Vibration Protection: Anti-vibration technology keeps things steady in multi-drive RAID configurations. This safeguards your files.
You can purchase the 26TB WD Red Pro today. The suggested price tag is approximately $570.
G-DRIVE and G-RAID Get Bigger and Better for Pros
For creative professionals handling massive video files, images, and projects, Western Digital has also bolstered their G-DRIVE and G-RAID lines. These are all high-speed, dependable solutions for extreme workflows. Here's a quick rundown:
G-RAID SHUTTLE Series: RAID Powerhouses with High Performance
- G-RAID SHUTTLE 8 (Up to 208TB): An 8-bay monster for massive storage and backup consolidation. Consider this: RAID 5 speeds of up to 1700MB/s read and 1500MB/s write.
- G-RAID SHUTTLE 4 (Up to 104TB): More compact 4-bay design. It still delivers serious speed for real-time video editing, with speeds well-suited to 4K and 8K workflows.
G-RAID PROJECT and G-DRIVE PROJECT: Speed and Versatility
- G-RAID PROJECT 2 (52TB): Enterprise-level Ultrastar HDD dual-drive setup pre-configured with RAID 0 speed. Access through Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C.
- G-DRIVE PROJECT (26TB): A single 26TB drive, Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. An added bonus is one SanDisk Professional PRO-BLADE SSD Mag slot for future SSD upgrades.
G-DRIVE: Tried and Voluminous
- G-DRIVE (Up to 26TB): A general reliable USB-C drive for rapid backup and everyday production workflows. Now available in a behemoth 26TB capacity, with an aircraft-grade aluminum case.
Storage for the Future
Western Digital is obviously ahead of the expanding demand for storage. Whether you are a home end user requiring a huge NAS, or a creative professional drowning in data, these new drives have the capability, performance, and reliability to keep pace. It is the ideal time to be looking into replacing your storage.
