Overview
Quantum Bigfoot™ 5.25-inch hard disk drives, designed for value-oriented per- sonal computer systems, combine very high capacity with excellent cost-per- megabyte economics. Offered in format- ted capacities of 1,286, 2,110, and 2,577 megabytes (MB) of storage, these products are particularly well-suited to multimedia systems and applications that require large storage capacities.
The Quantum Bigfoot drives’ ultra slim-line design, which measures 8 by
5.75by 0.75 inches, fits into any avail- able 5.25-inch bay in most modular PCs without any customization to system enclosures. Since Quantum Bigfoot drives mount exactly like a CD-ROM unit, installation is actually easier than a traditional 3.5-inch drive, since no brackets or mounting rails are required.
These products are engineered specifi- cally to balance maximum storage capa- city, consumer multimedia performance requirements, and attractive cost-per-MB economics. By applying field-proven components to the 5.25-inch form factor, Quantum also provides the highest levels of quality and reliability.
High-Performance Data Transfers
Quantum Bigfoot drives provide high- speed data transfers through a well- designed, Fast ATA-2 interface. The combination of a 128-kilobyte buffer and the increased track capacities available with 5.25-inch disks allow these drives to meet the performance requirements of the newest generation of consumer PC systems. These features also result in improved sequential performance at the application level because, for any single
transaction, there are fewer seeks and head switches. This speed particularly enhances multimedia playback and virtual memory use of the disk drive.
Quantum’s implementation of a Fast ATA-2 interface supports local-bus AT Programmed Input/Output (PIO) Mode 4 and Multiword DMA Mode 2 data trans- fers at speeds of up to 16.6 MB per second. Enhanced Quantum AutoTransfer™ technology takes advantage of the intel- ligent processing features of the drives and uses a proprietary ASIC design to speed data transfers by minimizing drive- to-host overhead delays.
Multiple AutoRead™ and Multiple AutoWrite™—industry-first solutions for increasing sequential data transfers—allow multiple-sector transfers for a given data request. This combination of firmware and hardware also enhances AutoTransfer capabilities.
Reliability and Versatility
Quantum Bigfoot drives meet the highest standards for data integrity. Automatic, double-burst, on-the-fly error detection and correction are implemented using an advanced custom ASIC and firmware.
These drives also come with an AT- Bus Cable Select™ feature that supports the latest Plug-and-Play ATA specifica- tions. When combined with host system support,* this simplifies disk drive instal- lation by automatically configuring the drive and eliminating the need for manual jumper settings. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who are upgrading their system through the addition of a second hard disk drive.
*Host system support is defined as Quantum’s Disk Manager Software (supplied with drive).
