Toshiba Stores 400GB Into Two 2.5-Inch Hard Disks

Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) announced the industry’s first commercially available 200GB-per-platter 5,400 RPM HDD, which will provide the highest HDD capacity at 400GB for integration into mobile PCs for the holiday season. In addition, the company also introduced a new family of high-end 7,200 RPM HDDs, offering up to 320GB storage capacity and superior performance.

The standard 9.5-millimeter-high package of both HDDs fits existing product designs, enabling an easier migration path to high-capacity storage for portable PC, gaming and personal storage manufacturers catering to the diversified needs of mobile users in the digital age.

In addition to increasing areal density to 308 gigabits-per-square-inch, the 400GB MK4058GSX incorporates acoustic techniques that make the 5,400 RPM HDD nearly inaudible during seek operations. The large storage capacity and silent operation of the MK4058GSX are particularly suited for video and audio playback.

400GB MK4058GSX

For optimum user experience in data-intensive applications such as image processing, video editing, multimedia and gaming, Toshiba’s new 7,200 RPM, MKxx54GSY series delivers first-rate performance through a combination of factors, including optimized firmware, caching algorithms and fast data throughput of 1,020 megabits per second.

The MKxx54GSY provides a variety of capacity options ranging from 320 to 80GB. For added durability in mobile applications, free-fall sensor options also are available on the new HDD series.

Environmentally Conscious HDDs
Both the MK4058GSX and MKxx54GSY series reflect progress Toshiba has made toward its corporate initiative to enhance the environmental soundness of its products by discontinuing use of certain chemical substances and reducing carbon dioxide emissions during HDD operation. The company ceased use of the six substances banned by the European Union Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) in all new products developed since April 2005, achieving full compliance with the RoHS Directive before the requirement came into effect in July 2006.

Focus on the elimination of toxic substances in halogenated flame retardants began in 2001 when Toshiba shipped HDDs with halogen-free printed circuit boards. The MK4058GSX takes this initiative further by discontinuing the usage of specified hazardous halogens and toxic chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), antinomy trioxide and red phosphorus across all components incorporated in the drive.

Better Power and Temperature Performance vs. 3.5-inch HDDs
The eco-conscious MK4058GSX and MKxx54GSY also deliver lower power consumption and cooler operation than 3.5-inch HDDs at the same capacity points, offering PC manufacturers a solution to miniaturize designs with more environmentally sound storage alternatives. Power consumption during read and write operation can be reduced by as much as 70 percent over the most power-conservative 3.5-inch HDDs with both of Toshiba’s new 2.5-inch HDDs.

"These introductions up the ante in capacity and performance as Toshiba remains focused on designing and developing innovative storage solutions to fuel the next generation of digital products for end users," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "Beyond building storage products that are technically excellent based on our rich engineering heritage, we also continue to collaborate on a global basis to bring environmentally conscious products to market."

Availability
Toshiba’s new 7,200 RPM 2.5-inch HDD series will begin shipping to PC manufacturers in August, while the 400GB 5,400 RPM HDD will enter high-volume production by September.

Product Specifications

Model Number: MK4058GSX Series

• Maximum Capacity (Formatted): 400GB
• Number of platters: 2
• Areal density: 308 Gb/in2
• Media transfer rate: 826.2 Mbps
• Average seek time: 12 ms Read / 12 ms Write
• Rotational speed: 5,400 RPM
• Buffer memory: 8MB
• Interface: SATA 3.0Gb/s (Serial ATA Revision 2.6, ATA-8)
• Interface transfer rate: 300 MB/sec
• External dimensions (WxDxH; mm): 69.85mm x 100.0mm x 9.5mm
• Weight (g): 102g (max)
• Energy consumption efficiency: 0.0015 W/GB
• Shock resistance: Operating  3,920 m/s2 (400G, 2ms); Non-operating  8,820 m/s2 (900G, 1ms)
• Acoustics: Idle 2.5 Bels; Operating 2.5 Bels

Model Number: MKxx54GSY Series

• Maximum Capacity (Formatted): 320GB, 250GB, 160GB, 120GB, 80GB
• Number of platters: 2, 2, 1, 1, 1
• Areal density: 247.1 Gb/in2
• Media transfer rate: 1,020 Mbps
• Average seek time: 10.5 ms Read / 12 ms Write
• Rotational speed: 7,200 RPM
• Buffer memory: 16MB
• Interface: SATA 3.0Gb/s (Serial ATA Revision 2.6, ATA-8)
• Interface transfer rate: 300 MB/sec
• External dimensions (WxDxH; mm): 69.85mm x 100.0mm x 9.5mm
• Weight (g): 2-platter: 115g; 1-platter 111g (max)
• Energy consumption efficiency: 0.0028 W/GB, 0.0036W/GB, 0.0056W/GB, 0.0075W/GB, 0.0113W/GB
• Shock resistance: Operating  2,940 m/s2 (300G, 2ms); Non-operating  8,820m/s2 (900G, 1ms)
• Acoustics: 2-platter Idle 2.5 Bels / Operating 2.8 Bels; 1-platter: Idle 2.0 Bels / Operating 2.5 Bels

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