Targeted at the consumer electronics and security surveillance markets, the US$299 takes advantage of the company's GreenPower Technology, using a combination of features to reduce power consumption by up to 40 percent. WD says that the drive's operating noise level is "virtually below the threshold of human hearing," making it a ideal for consumer electronic purposes such as DVRs and media centers, as well as for audio- and video-recording situations where low operating volume is key.

The AV-GP hard drives include a technology the company calls Preemptive Wear Leveling (PWL) to prevent uneven wear across the drive surface, which is common in AV streaming situations such as always-on video surveillance. The company's IntelliPark technology helps reduce power consumption by unloading the heads when not in operation to reduce aerodynamic drag. IntelliPark also makes the drive more resistant to non-operating shock in environments where the drive is transported or handled frequently.