This chapter gives an overview#of$the176contents￿of6*+5this manual,￿%JCRVGT/#07#including the intended￿￿. audience, how the manual is organized, terminology and conventions, and references.

￿￿￿#7&+'0%'The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/40.0/60.0/80. GB AT Product Manual is intended for several audiences. These audiences include: the end user, installer, developer, consumer electronics and personal computer original equipment manufacturer (CE/ PC OEM), and distributor. The manual provides information about installation, principles of operation, interface command implementation, and maintenance.

The Maxtor D540X-4K family of drives provide a high-quality, low-cost, market leading 40 GB per disk products to serve the consumer and mainstream commercial markets, as well as the consumer electronics market.

￿￿￿/#07#This manual.￿14)#0+<#6+10is organized into the following chapters:

Chapter – About This Manual

Chapter 2 – General Description

Chapter 3 – Installation

Chapter – Specifications

Chapter 5 – Basic Principles of Operation

Chapter – ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands

￿￿￿6'4/+01In the Glossary.1);at￿#0&the back￿%108'06+105of this manual, you can find definitions for many of the terms used in this manual. In addition, the following abbreviations are used in this manual:

• ASIC

application-specific integrated circuit

Maxtor D54 X-4K 20.4/40.0/60.0/80.0 GB AT 1-1

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Maxtor D540X-4K manual Installation, Asic, Application-specific integrated circuit

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.