10,000 RPM VelociRaptor Hard Drive Still Relevant with $45 Deal

VelociRaptor HDD
(Image credit: Amazon)

Before the era of affordable SSDs, WD’s 1TB, 10,000 RPM VelociRaptor internal hard drive line was the storage solution enthusiasts coveted. Now that SSDs have fully supplanted it’s place as the most powerful consumer-level storage option, it’s still a fast hard drive that’s much more affordable than it used to be. So if you need a lot of space for cheap, or are perhaps just a little nostalgic, today’s Newegg deal- which slashes the VelociRaptor down to $45.99, is for you.

Normally selling for $59.99, the WD1000CHTZ VelociRaptor Internal HDD offers 1TB of storage with a 10,000 RPM spin speed and a 64MB cache. These are the same specs as the more expensive WD1000DTHZ that we reviewed way back in 2012, although the WD1000CHTZ doesn’t include the icepack heat sink of its more expensive brother. For that trade off, though, this version of the VelociRaptor is an inch thinner at 2.5 inches x 15mm.
 

was $59.99 now $45.99

1TB WD1000CHTZ VelociRaptor HDD: was $59.99 now $45.99
The WD1000CHTZ VelociRaptor HDD is a 1TB hard drive with a 10,000 RPM spin speed and a 64MB cache. Unlike certain other VelociRaptor models, it doesn’t have a built-in icepack, but it is thinner than these models at 2.5 inches x 15mm.

Even the best SSDs that offer 1TB of storage still cost at least twice as much as the VelociRaptor, giving it a space in the market even years later. For instance, it’s not uncommon to have one SSD for programs that need to boot fast, and 1 HDD for data that doesn’t require speed. At 10,000 RPM, though, the VelociRaptor still continues to be faster than other hard drives- most other 1TB HDDs in this price range have a spin speed of 7,200 RPM. 

So, if you’re looking for cheap, bulk storage that still doesn’t lose on speed, the VelociRaptor continues to be relevant despite its prehistoric age.

Michelle Ehrhardt

Michelle Ehrhardt is an editor at Tom's Hardware. She's been following tech since her family got a Gateway running Windows 95, and is now on her third custom-built system. Her work has been published in publications like Paste, The Atlantic, and Kill Screen, just to name a few. She also holds a master's degree in game design from NYU.

  • logainofhades
    I need one of these.
    Reply
  • Kamen Rider Blade
    They need a 15K RPM model with Multi-actuators.

    Saturate SATA 600 or port over SAS 12 to SATA and saturate it =D.
    Reply
  • g-unit1111
    "Sold and Shipped by: Server Part Deals "

    Something tells me this could be super shady, but that's just me.
    Reply
  • USAFRet
    meh...1 day sale, on a mostly obsolete drive, from a 3rd party seller.
    Reply
  • spongiemaster
    Just say no. These are not relevant. Not even at that price.
    Reply
  • ThatMouse
    No sorry, there's no reason to buy a new 1TB HDD. Save your money for an SSD.
    Reply
  • pug_s
    Kamen Rider Blade said:
    They need a 15K RPM model with Multi-actuators.

    Saturate SATA 600 or port over SAS 12 to SATA and saturate it =D.

    15K hard drives are not made anymore because they break down too easily.
    Reply
  • Soaptrail
    pug_s said:
    15K hard drives are not made anymore because they break down too easily.

    I bought one of those SCSI 15K drives, it was an easily way to turn your PC case into an easy bake oven. I wonder if that had anything to do with them breaking down.

    This article actually makes me want to buy a 1TB velociraptor but i am sure i could get a SATA SSD 1TB for cheap which is still a better deal even if it is $95.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Soaptrail said:
    I bought one of those SCSI 15K drives, it was an easily way to turn your PC case into an easy bake oven. I wonder if that had anything to do with them breaking down.
    Not many mechanical contraptions will last long at 15k RPM without hydrodynamic bearings, bearing oil cooling and filtering, especially when tolerances are nanometer-scale.
    Reply
  • Kamen Rider Blade
    What about Mag Lev bearings?
    Reply