Hitachi GST rolls out trio of 3TB internal and external hard drives

Getting into the holiday shopping game before it's over, Hitachi GST has launched a trio of new hard drive solutions - each with 3TB capacities.

The real stars here are the Deskstar internal hard drives, which are boasted as being able to break "2.2TB capacity limit on 32- bit Windows XP systems." But there are some portable options as well.

Each system is rather straight-forward, but as there are so many, here's the breakdown to make things extra clear and simple:

Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 internal hard drive (pictured above)

• 3.5-inch internal HDD
• 32MB buffer
• 6Gb/s SATA interface
• Uses Hitachi's Coolspin technology for cooler, power-saving operation
• 14% quieter than the Deskstar 7K3000
• Availability: Shipping to OEMs and select distributors since November; also available in 1.5TB and 2TB capacities

Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 internal hard drive

• 3TB, 7,200 RPM hard drive
• 64MB buffer
• 6Gb/s SATA interface
• Compatible with 32- and 64-bit Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms
• No extra hardware required
• Pricing: $249.99
• Availability: Ships this week; also available in 2TB capacity

Hitachi XL Desktop External Drives

• USB 2.0 connectivity
• Compatible with Windows and Mac OS X platforms
• Ideal for storing multimedia (i.e. photos, music and videos)
• Pricing: $99.99 for 1TB, $169.99 for 2TB and $249.99 for 3TB
• Availability: Shipping now