Toshiba Corporation today announced the launch of nine new
2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDD) that employ the company's latest
advances in HDD technology. The new drives include the MK3252GSX,
which achieves an industry-leading(1) capacity of 320GB, and the
MK2049GSY, which improves performance with a 7,200rpm rotational
speed. Toshiba will mass produce the drives in turn, starting from
November.
The MK3252GSX uses an improved read-write head and enhanced
magnetic layer to boost areal density and achieves a storage capacity
of 320GB. The high-speed MK2049GSY offers a rotation speed of 7,200rpm
and also integrates a large capacity 16MB buffer memory, supporting
high-speed processing of large volumes of data: the drive improves the
maximum internal data transfer rate by approximately 46%(2) and
increases the average random access time by some 8%(2).
The new drives will provide product manufacturers with a broad
line-up supporting many and diverse applications, including high
density storage of multiple data sources, such as movies and digital
photos, on high-end notebook PCs, and improved overall system
performance from high-speed data transfers.
Both models support an optional Free Fall Sensor function, which
detects falling HDD and parks the head before it crashes.
The new drives also comply with the EU's RoHS directive, which
came into force in July 2006.
Toshiba will feature the new drives at the IFA 2007, one of the
worlds's largest consumer electronics trade fairs, which will be held
in Berlin, Germany, from August 31 to September 5. The Toshiba booth
will be located at Hall 21a/Stand 101. The drives will also feature at
DISKCON USA 2007, organized by The International Disk Drive Equipment
and Materials Association (IDEMA), which will be held in Santa Clara,
California, from September 19 to 20.
Background
Hard disk drives are now found in diverse applications, from
mobile PCs to digital audio players. The market has a voracious
appetite for larger data capacities, as more powerful networks and
applications bring audio-visual capabilities to more products,
particularly AV notebook PCs and new generations of digital media
players. Toshiba will sustain the industry's ability to meet customer
needs by providing cutting-edge technologies that add to areal
density, operating speed and overall drive performance.
Key Features of the New Products
1. 320GB capacity, the largest capacity(1) of any 2.5-inch hard
disk drive
MK 3252GSX brings industry's largest capacity to a 2.5-inch drive.
2. Improved performance to 7,200 rpm rotational speed
MK2049GSY offers a rotation speed of 7,200rpm and integrates a
16MB buffer memory, supporting high-speed data processing speed of
large capacities of data. The new drive increases the maximum transfer
rate by approximately 46% and the average random access time by
approximately 8%
3. Increased areal density from improved head and disk coating
Improvements in the head and the magnetic layer of the disk
increase areal density.
(1) The industry's largest commercially available capacity in a
2.5-inch hard disk drive, as of August 21, 2007 (source: Toshiba)
(2) Comparison based on Toshiba's current 2.5-inch HDD (MK1637GSX)
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Main Specifications
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Model MK3252GSX MK2552GSX MK1652GSX MK1252GSX MK8052GSX
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Formatted capacity 320GB 250GB 160GB 120GB 80GB
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Number of platters 2 1
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Number of heads 4 2 1
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Average seek time 12ms
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Interface ATA8
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Interface speed 3Gbps (Serial ATA2.6)
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Rotational speed 5,400rpm
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Buffer memory 8MB
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Dimensions 69.85 x 100.0 x 9.5mm
(W x D x H, mm)
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Weight 102g (max) 98g (max)
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Shock resistance In operation: 350G; Not in operation: 900G
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Model MK2049GSY MK1649GSY MK1249GSY MK8049GSY
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Formatted capacity 200GB 160GB 120GB 80GB
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Number of platters 2 1
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Number of heads 4 3 2
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Average seek time 12ms
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Interface ATA8
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Interface speed 3Gbps (Serial ATA2.6)
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Rotational speed 7,200rpm
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Buffer memory 16MB
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Dimensions 69.85 x 100.0 x 9.5mm
(W x D x H, mm)
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Weight 115g (max) 111g (max)
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Shock resistance In operation: 300G; Not in operation:
900G
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Note: Hard disk capacity is calculated on the basis of 1MB =
1-million bytes, and 1GB = 1-billion bytes.
