Hitachi 5K3000 drives (2TB, green, SATA III capable) are available for $79.99 ($69.99 with rebate) from newegg.  These are non-AF drives.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145475

 

Use coupon code HITACHI5K3.

 

This discount AND the rebate end tomorrow (2/20).

 

Note this is the same rebate that has been running for while on these drives, and only works for 2 drives.  But $79.99 for these drives is good even without the rebate.

Note that, according to some Newegg reviewers, this drive has several slow sectors. I'm not sure what that means or how it pertains to real world use, but if that's the only "quirk" that these drives have than they're good to go in my book.

 

I wonder how many platters this drive has and also if it is 4k sector size but emulates 512 like all the other current AF drives out.

 

Non-AF

Non-AF

 

Thanks. I wish Newegg would include more tech specs, but such is life.

 

Also, another reviewer stated they got the drive for $69.99 before the $10 rebate.

There was a shell shocker where you could buy one drive for $69, and there was the $10 rebate as well.  That has not repeated.

I got 3 of these drives and 1st preclear is done finding 0 errors.  Total time was 24:31.

I got 3 of these drives and 1st preclear is done finding 0 errors.  Total time was 24:31.

 

If you could please run the speed test I outlined in the Hard Drives and Controllers forum and post the results it would be much appreciated.  I would like to get as much results and info on these drives are possible.