Glossary

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-4K 20.0/40.0/60.0/80.0 GB AT G-5

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Maxtor manual Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/40.0/60.0/80.0 GB AT G-5
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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.
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