Hitachi's next-generation Deskstar drives

Hitachi announced two new 3.5-inch hard drives that extend the company's long-standing tradition of performance and capacity leadership. The Deskstar T7K500 and Deskstar 7K160 feature 7,200 RPM spin speeds and 3Gb/s SATA interfaces to deliver maximum performance in mainstream and high-performance PCs, gaming systems and low duty cycle servers. The new drives use 160GB+ per platter technology to deliver up to one-half terabyte (500GB) of storage capacity in a one-, two- and three-disk design. The reduced platter count and proven Deskstar design platform optimize the drives for high-volume manufacturing and streamlined product qualifications.

Hitachi will continue to provide its award-winning Deskstar 7K500 for customers that require extended operation and higher duty cycles. These 500 GB drives include enterprise-class features that enhance reliability for nearline storage applications such as disk-to-disk backup and high-bandwidth applications like digital video editing.

"The Deskstar products announced today advance areal densities and include a number of advanced features that provide customers the competitive advantage they need to build innovative and high performance systems," said Jose Antelo, vice president and general manager, Business Management, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "The new drives deliver the industry-leading capacity and performance that defines the Hitachi Deskstar brand and helps accelerate the company's growth in the 3.5-inch segment."

Performance Features

Hard drive performance is a primary requirement for today's savvy consumers and IT managers that use Deskstar drives for digital media and low duty cycle server applications. Both Deskstar drives features optional 3Gb/s SATA interfaces and Native Command Queuing (NCQ), which enables fast data transfer rates for enterprise ATA and other performance-based applications. NCQ is a method of controlling commands sent from the host processor to the drive to enable faster application activities for the end user.

The new Deskstar drives feature a fast interface transfer rate and available 16 MB data buffers on the Deskstar T7K500 SATA version for quicker system boot-up, screen refreshes and more efficient data processing. Hitachi's "Smooth Stream" technology also improves performance for audio/video storage applications.

Proven Quality and Reliability

The Deskstar T7K500 and Deskstar 7K160 extend Hitachi's reputation for quality and reliability with new features such as "Thermal Fly Height Control" (TFC) to improve data integrity. TFC technology uses an internal thermal sensor that monitors temperature and makes adjustments to improve error rates in extreme temperature conditions. The drives also include an optional low power mode to minimize power requirements and enable cooler system operation.

The Deskstar drives helps protect customer data with up to 350 G (2ms) of non-operating shock for increased drive reliability and data protection. Both Deskstar models include Hitachi's unique load/unload technology, which provides a safety ramp for the read-write heads that help protect user data in non-power mode. Fluid dynamic bearing motors are also used to ensure "whisper-quiet" operation.

Hitachi's two new Deskstar drives meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance directive issued last year by the European Union (EU).

The Deskstar drives are backed by Hitachi's renowned compatibility testing labs and worldwide distribution support. The drives, which carry three-year warranties, are expected to ship worldwide in early 3Q 2006.

Technical Specifications:

Deskstar T7K500
500/400/320/250 GB (GB = 1 billion bytes, accessible capacity may be less)
998 Mb/s max. media data rate
8.5 ms average seek time
7,200 RPM, 4.17 ms average latency
ATA-133/Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s
8 MB data buffer - PATA
16/8 MB data buffer - SATA
26.1 mm in height (max)
118 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
3/2 platters
6/4 recording heads
350 G (2ms) non-operating shock (2 disk)
300 G (2ms) non-operating shock (3 disk)
6.0 (3 disk)/5.0 (2 disk) watt idle power (Parallel ATA)
7.0 (3 disk)/6.0 (2 disk) watt idle power (Serial ATA)
3.0 (3 disk)/2.8 (2 disk) Bels typical idle acoustics
0-60 degrees C operating temperature
Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) spindle motor

Deskstar 7K160
160/80 GB (GB = 1 billion bytes, accessible capacity may be less)
966 Mb/s max. media data rate
8.5 ms average seek time
7,200 RPM, 4.17 ms average latency
ATA-133/Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s
8 MB data buffer
26.1 mm in height (max)
120 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
1 platter
2/1 recording heads
350 G (2ms) non-operating shock
4.9 watt idle power (Parallel ATA)
5.9 watt idle power (Serial ATA)
2.5 Bels typical idle acoustics
0-60 degrees C operating temperature
Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) spindle motor