News

posted on 11 June 2008 10:34

Toshiba has upped the capacity of its SATA 1.8-inch hard disk drive line to 160GB with its newest model, the MK1617GSG. It is the highest-capacity 1.8-inch SATA drive in the industry.

Like its previous 120GB MK1216GSG drive this one spins at 5400rpm and uses a 1.5GBit/s SATA interface. However the new drive is more environmentally efficient than this predecessor, and raises energy consumption efficiency, as defined under the Japanese legal standard, to 0.00281W/GB, a 25% improvement.

It also spins faster than Toshiba's current MK1214GAH (parallel ATA, 120GB, 1.8-inch HDD) which rotates at 4,200rpm.

The new drive weighs as little as a feather seemingly, just 62g, with an 80GB cousin, MK8017GSG, weighing 60g. Yet Toshiba states that, compared to its current 2.5-inch HDD (MK1652GSX), the new drive offers higher levels of vibration and shock resistance.

The 160GB model has 2 platters and 4 heads; the 80GB one a single platter and two heads. The capacity increase comes from an areal density increase; from 182.2Gbit/sq in to 246.8Gbit/sq in.

The new 160GB and 80GB drives will enter mass production in August.

^{[Paul Roberts, news editor.]}