Glossary

K

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

L

LANDING ZONE – A position inside the disk’s inner cylinder in a non data area reserved as a place to rest the heads during the time that power is off. Using this area prevents the heads from touching the surface in data areas upon power down, adding to the data integrity and reliability of the disk drive.

LATENCY – The period of time during which the read/write heads are waiting for the data to rotate into position so that it can be accessed. Based on a disk rotation speed of 3,662 rpm, the maximum latency time is 16.4 milliseconds, and the average latency time is 8.2 milliseconds.

LOGICAL FORMAT – The logical drive geometry that appears to an AT system BIOS as defined by the drive tables and stored in CMOS. With an installation program like Disk Manager, the drive can be redefined to any logical parameters necessary to adapt to the system drive tables.

LOOK AHEAD – The technique of buffering data into cache RAM by reading subsequent blocks in advance to anticipate the next request for data. The look ahead technique speeds up disk access of sequential blocks of data.

LOW-LEVEL FORMATTING – Formatting that creates the sectors on the platter surfaces so the operating system can access the required areas for generating the file structure. Maxtor drives are shipped with the low-level formatting already done.

LOW PROFILE – Describes drives built to the 3 1/2-inch form factor, which are only 1 inch high.

M

MB – See megabyte.

MEDIA – The magnetic film that is deposited or coated on an aluminum substrate which is very flat and in the shape of a disk. The media is overcoated with a lubricant to prevent damage to the heads or media during head take off and landing. The media is where the data is stored inside the disk in the form of magnetic flux or polarity changes.

MEGABYTE (MB) – A unit of measurement equal to 1,024 kilobytes, or 1,048,576 bytes except when referring to disk storage capacity.

1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes when referring to disk storage capacity.

See also kilobyte.

MEGAHERTZ – A measurement of frequency in millions of cycles per second.

MHz – See megahertz.

MICROPROCESSOR – The integrated circuit chip that performs the bulk of data processing and controls the operation of all of the parts of the system. A disk drive also contains a microprocessor to handle all of the internal functions of the drive and to support the embedded controller.

MICROSECOND (µs) – One millionth of a second (.000001 sec.).

MILLISECOND (ms) – One thousandth of a second (.001 sec.).

MTBF – Mean Time Between Failure. Used as a reliability rating to determine the expected life of the product expressed in power on hours (POH). There are several accepted methods for calculating this value that produce very different results and generate much confusion in the industry. When comparing numbers you should first verify which method was used to calculate the values.

Maxtor D540X-4G G-5

Page 50 Page 52
Page 51
Image 51
Maxtor manual Maxtor D540X-4G G-5
Page 50 Page 52

D540X-4G specifications

The Maxtor D540X-4G, introduced in the early 2000s, is a notable hard disk drive that carved a niche in the consumer and business storage market. It is part of the D540X series, known for its reliability and substantial storage capacity for its time, boasting an impressive 4GB of storage.

One of the standout features of the D540X-4G is its advanced ATA/100 interface, allowing for a high data transfer rate of up to 100 MB/s. This was a significant leap forward in performance, enabling faster access to data and improved system responsiveness. Unlike older interfaces, the ATA/100 significantly reduced bottlenecks, making it an ideal choice for users who required efficient data management.

The D540X-4G was built on a 5400 RPM spindle speed. While this wasn't as fast as some higher-end drives available at the time, it provided a balance between speed and thermal efficiency. The combination of its rotational speed and data density allowed for a commendable average seek time, which translated into quicker file access for everyday applications, such as word processing and spreadsheet management.

Another commendable attribute of the D540X-4G is its acoustic management technology, which ensured that the drive operated quietly, minimizing distraction in office environments or home setups. This was particularly beneficial for users who needed to maintain a serene working atmosphere.

In terms of durability, the D540X-4G featured a robust design with built-in shock protection. This characteristic offered an additional layer of safety for data integrity, especially vital in portable systems where exposure to movement is frequent. Maxtor also placed a focus on providing error-correction capabilities, which further enhanced data reliability.

The D540X-4G utilized a halogen-free design in its manufacturing process, reflecting an early commitment to environmental considerations, which would become increasingly important in the years to follow.

Overall, the Maxtor D540X-4G hard drive highlighted the advancements in storage technology of the time, combining ample capacity, improved speed, and reliability in a user-friendly package. It appealed to a broad spectrum of users, from everyday home computing to small business applications, making it a valuable player in the computing landscape during its era.
Top Page Image Contents