Glossary

platter is made of beneath the magnetic coating. Hard disks are generally made of aluminum or magnesium alloy (or glass, for optical disks) while the substrate of floppies is usually mylar.

SURFACE – The top or bottom side of the platter which is coated with the magnetic material for recording data. On some drives one surface may be reserved for positioning information.

U

UNFORMATTED CAPACITY – The total number of bytes of data that could be fit onto a disk. Formatting the disk requires some of this space to record location, boundary definitions, and timing information. After formatting, user data can be stored on the remaining disk space, known as formatted capacity. The size of a Maxtor drive is expressed in formatted capacity.

T

THIN FILM – A type of coating, used for disk surfaces. Thin film surfaces allow more bits to be stored per disk.

TPI – Acronym for tracks per inch. The number of tracks or cylinders that are written in each inch of travel across the surface of a disk.

TRACK – One of the many concentric magnetic circle patterns written on a disk surface as a guide to where to store and read the data.

TRACK DENSITY – How closely the tracks are packed on a disk surface. The number is specified as tracks per inch (TPI).

TRACK TO TRACK SEEK TIME – The time required for the read/write heads to move to an adjacent track.

TRANSFER RATE – The rate at which the disk sends and receives data from the controller. Drive specifications usually reference a high number that is the burst mode rate for transferring data across the interface from the disk buffer to system RAM. Sustained data transfer is at a much lower rate because of system processing overhead, head switches, and seeks.

V

VOICE COIL – A type of motor used to move the disk read/write head in and out to the right track. Voice-coil actuators work like loudspeakers with the force of a magnetic coil causing a proportionate movement of the head. Maxtor's actuator uses voice-coil technology, and thereby eliminates the high stress wearing parts found on stepper motor type actuators.

W

WEDGE SERVO – The position on every track that contains data used by the closed loop positioning control. This information is used to fine tune the position of the read/write heads exactly over the track center.

WINCHESTER DISKS – Hard disks that use a technology similar to an IBM model using Winchester as the code name. These disks use read/write heads that ride just above the magnetic surface, held up by the air flow created by the turning disk. When the disk stops turning, the heads land on the surface, which has a specially lubricated coating. Winchester disks must be sealed and have a filtration system since ordinary dust particles are large enough to catch between the head and the disk.

WRITE ONCE – In the context of optical disks, technologies that allow the drive to store data on a disk and read it back, but not to erase it.

G-8 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/40.0/60.0/80.0 GB AT

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Maxtor D540X-4K manual Glossary
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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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