Glossary

the sides of a disk drive mounted in an IBM AT and compatible computers so that the drive easily slides into place.

HALF HEIGHT – Term used to describe a drive that occupies half the vertical space of the original full size 5 1/4-inch drive. 1.625 inches high.

HARD DISK – A type of storage medium that retains data as magnetic patterns on a rigid disk, usually made of an iron oxide or alloy over a magnesium or aluminum platter. Because hard disks spin more rapidly than floppy disks, and the head flies closer to the disk, hard disks can transfer data faster and store more in the same volume.

HARD ERROR – A repeatable error in disk data that persists when the disk is reread, usually caused by defects in the media surface.

HEAD – The tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole piece used to create and read back the magnetic patterns (write and read information) on the media.

HIGH-CAPACITY DRIVE – By industry conventions typically a drive of 1 gigabytes or more.

HIGH-LEVEL FORMATTING – Formatting performed by the operating system’s format program. Among other things, the formatting program creates the root directory and file allocation tables. See also low-level formatting.

HOME – Reference position track for recalibration of the actuator, usually the outer track (track 0).

HOST ADAPTER – A plug-in board that forms the interface between a particular type of computer system bus and the disk drive.

INITIALIZE – See low level formatting.

INITIATOR – A SCSI device that requests

another SCSI device to perform an operation. A common example of this is a system requesting data from a drive. The system is the initiator and the drive is the target.

INTERFACE – A hardware or software protocol, contained in the electronics of the disk controller and disk drive, that manages the exchange of data between the drive and computer.

INTERLEAVE – The arrangement of sectors on a track. A 1:1 interleave arranges the sectors so that the next sector arrives at the read/write heads just as the computer is ready to access it. See also interleave factor.

INTERLEAVE FACTOR – The number of sectors that pass beneath the read/write heads before the next numbered sector arrives. When the interleave factor is 3:1, a sector is read, two pass by, and then the next is read. It would take three revolutions of the disk to access a full track of data. Maxtor drives have an interleave of 1:1, so a full track of data can be accessed within one revolution of the disk, thus offering the highest data throughput possible.

INTERNAL DRIVE – A drive mounted inside one of a computer’s drive bays (or a hard disk on a card, which is installed in one of the computer’s slots).

JUMPER – A tiny box that slips over two pins that protrude from a circuit board. When in place, the jumper connects the pins electrically. Some board manufacturers use Dual In-Line Package (DIP) switches instead of jumpers.

KILOBYTE (K) – A unit of measure consisting of 1,024 (210) bytes.

G-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/40.0/60.0/80.0 GB AT

D540X-4K specifications

The Maxtor D540X-4K is a notable hard disk drive that has made its mark in the world of computer storage solutions. Launched in the early 2000s, this drive was known for its high capacity and reliable performance, making it a popular choice among consumers and businesses alike.

One of the main features of the D540X-4K is its generous storage capacity. With a range of models available, users could select from configurations starting at 40GB to larger sizes, accommodating a wide variety of storage needs. This capacity was particularly advantageous during an era when digital media was rapidly expanding, allowing users to store everything from documents and photos to videos and applications without running out of space.

The D540X-4K utilizes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface, also known as PATA (Parallel ATA), which ensures compatibility with a broad spectrum of computers. This interface was standard at the time, making the drive accessible to a wide user base. The drive also supports ATA-100, providing data transfer rates of up to 100 MB/s, which was impressive for its time.

In terms of performance, the drive operates at a speed of 5400 RPM, which, while not the fastest in comparison to modern solid-state drives, provided a suitable balance of speed and efficiency for the average user’s needs. This rotational speed ensured decent read and write times for everyday applications, making it a reliable option for personal computing.

Another characteristic of the D540X-4K is its advanced data protection features. The drive was equipped with Maxtor's unique Shock Protection Technology, which helps protect the drive’s internal components from damage due to shocks or drops. This feature contributed to increased reliability, especially for users in mobile or high-traffic environments.

The Maxtor D540X-4K also incorporates a Cache Buffer, which enhances performance by temporarily storing frequently accessed data. The cache sizes varied across models, with options of 2MB or more, aiding in quicker data retrieval and overall improved system responsiveness.

In summary, the Maxtor D540X-4K is a hard drive that stands out for its storage capacity, compatibility, and protective features. Even today, it serves as a reminder of the evolution of data storage technologies, as it laid the groundwork for the high-capacity drives we utilize in modern computing. Its legacy continues to influence new technologies while reflecting the needs of the early digital era.