Toshiba’s new family of HDDs has been developed in response to growing market demand for 2.5” HDDs, which IDC has predicted will have overtaken 3.5” HDDs in application by 2012 [1]. The new HDD family is a two-part series. The first HDD is the MKxx61GSY, which provides up to 640GB [2] of storage capacity for consumer applications and comes available with a Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) option. The second is the MKxx61GSYB, a high durability (HD) HDD, which brings up to 500GB capacity and is especially designed for industrial and enterprise applications requiring constant operation and the intensive reading and writing of data. As an integrated family of performance-optimised devices, they will enable OEMs operating across multiple market segments to access the low energy, portability and large storage capabilities of 2.5” HDD technology.
The MKxx61GSY series offers storage capacities of 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB and 640GB, with an interface transfer speed of 3 gigabits per second and a high areal density of up to 506.3 gigabits per square inch respectively. It makes up to 320GB available in a single platter design, with 500GB and 640GB delivered across two platters. The design’s ability to deliver high storage capacities at speeds of 7200 RPM boosts overall system and application responsiveness when deployed in home and enterprise computing environments, delivering benefits such as greater productivity and smoother graphics rendering.
The MKxx61GSY is designed to enable end users to download and store greater volumes of rich media content, including video games and high-definition video, on devices that have historically struggled to accommodate them. It, therefore, enables OEMs to improve the internal storage capabilities of a range of portable and compact applications ranging from notebook PCs, gaming laptops, mobile workstations to slimline and all-in-one desktop PCs. With such devices available, users can keep pace with a digital universe which, despite the global recession, grew by 62 per cent in 2009 and will grow by a further 44 times by 2020 [3], without compromising on portability. Its small form factor also offers considerable energy efficiency benefits over 3.5” HDDs.
The MKxx61GSY also offers OEMs the opportunity to build further durability and reliability into products through an optional free fall sensor. This safeguards the device and data contained within HDD even if it is dropped. It is also exceptionally quiet: with the MKxx61GSY operating at the threshold of human hearing in both seek-mode and idle-mode (2.3 Bels / 1Platter, 2.6 Bels / 2Platter).
The MKxx61GSYB series builds on the MKxx61GSY platform to extend the benefits of small form factor technology into industrial and enterprise applications that require reliable storage for intensive, “always-on” operations. Its high durability design includes such features as best-in-class rotational vibration tolerance, which provides
unrivalled availability and performance levels, delivering 24x7 [4] operation support at a 50 per cent duty cycle [5]. Consequently, it optimises performances in systems that require multiple drive configurations and intensive use scenarios, where business critical systems demanding constant read-write activity, such as telecommunications switches and blade servers.
The MKxx61GSYB offers between 80GB and 500GB of storage capacity to OEMs and systems integrators deploying complex enterprise and industrial technology solutions. Its ruggedized design, power efficiency and ability to deliver near 24 hour availability in the small form factor makes it ideal for the growing number of applications in this market segment, including routers, network switches, surveillance cameras, industrial PCs, and robotics.
The MKxx61GSY Self-Encrypting Drive [6] (SED) option has been developed to help OEMs and end users to comply with regulation on data protection through technology that secures data stored on the device even when not in use. By automatically encrypting data stored on the HDD when it is at rest it will be of enormous benefit to organisations in sectors such as health, government and financial services which must take steps to safeguard the personal or sensitive information they possess.
Toshiba’s new 2.5” HDD family provides equivalent storage capacities and performance to 3.5” HDD technology, but consume substantially less energy. For example, the 640GB MKxx61GSY consumes only 0.00013W/GB and operates at a lower temperature, reducing the environmental impact of devices into which it is integrated while contributing to improved system performance and durability. In line with Toshiba’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact, all drives are fully compliant with RoHS regulation and halogen-free.
Martin Larsson, Vice President and General Manager, Toshiba Europe Storage Device Division, said: “The launch of this new family of devices demonstrates Toshiba’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what small form factor HDD technology can accomplish. In a fiercely competitive notebook PC market we are constantly innovating so that OEMs can create ever greater product differentiation. These exciting new products give our customers access to a perfectly balanced range of performance-optimised HDDs that deliver improved storage capacity, durability, power consumption and acoustics, when compared to 5400 RPM 2.5” HDDs and 3.5” technology.”
“The new 7200 RPM designs show Toshiba’s ability to leverage innovative platform architectures and extend the benefits of small form factor technology into to new and fast-growing market-segments. Toshiba has effectively integrated its extensive technical engineering experience in the enterprise market to create a pioneering solution for a growing market segment. With these products in our palette, we will be able to meet the demand for storage technology equal to a new generation of applications industrial and enterprise applications that require ever greater levels of durability, availability and performance.”
Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) has launched two 7200 RPM SATA 2.5” HDDs designed to address the vast range of purposes required across consumer, enterprise and industrial applications. The family of products will be the first to provide Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with a selection of high capacity HDDs that are specially optimised for high-end computing, high durability systems and security sensitive applications, in a portable and power-efficient form-factor.
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