WD's 1TB SATA 6.0 Gbps HDD Out in Japan

Western Digital is selling an HDD in Japan that uses the SATA 6.0 Gbps interface.

TechConnect reports that over in Japan, hard drive manufacturer Western Digital has introduced a new Caviar Black model that uses the speedy SATA 6.0 Gbps interface. Codenamed WD1002FAEX, the 3.5-inch, 1 TB drive has a 64 MB buffer memory, and operates at 7200 rotations per minute (RPM). The drive also features a sound output of 33 dBA while seeking.

Legit Reviews adds to the report, translating information provided by Japanese website Akiba. According to the site, WD's new drive has a maximum internal transfer rate of 126 MB/s. The drive also consumes 6.8 W of power during an active state, 0.7 W while in sleep mode.

Right now WD is selling the WD1002FAEX drive for 10,000 yen-- that's roughly around $111 USD, making it slightly more expensive than the SATA 3.0 Gbps model (WD1001FALS).

Currently there's no indication that the drive will hit the States, however this is a good indication that a new wave of SATA 6.0 Gbps drives from WD could be on the horizon soon.