Maxtor 500GB Drives

[Dark Ember]

In case anyone is curious...

Maxtor announced 1/2 terrabyte drives today. Shipping in Q3. Here's there PR:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050606/sfm045.html?.v=12

[xonik]

And the race to product availability begins. Hitachi announced their 500 GB drives several months ago. Who will be first to reach the customer?

[DougLite]

My money is on Hitachi. Maxtor will have to achieve either 3x166GB platters, 4x125GB, or 5x100GB platters. I don't see 166GB platters being technically feasible anytime soon, and I don't foresee Maxtor going with a 5 platter design (Hitachi is the only maker that ships ATA drives with more than 3), so I think they'll try for the 4x125GB. That's quite a change in course on the part of Maxtor - can anybody remember the last Maxtor drive with more than three platters? I can't. OTOH, Hitachi has a working five platter design and 125GB platters on the market (just not in the same drive). Hitachi can also leverage their 5 platter design and the 125GB platters in T7K250 to achieve 625GB, although a powerful five arm actuator that's precise enough to work on 125GB platters will be pretty pricey.

[Dark Ember]

My money is on Hitachi. Maxtor will have to achieve either 3x166GB platters, 4x125GB, or 5x100GB platters. I don't see 166GB platters being technically feasible anytime soon, and I don't foresee Maxtor going with a 5 platter design (Hitachi is the only maker that ships ATA drives with more than 3), so I think they'll try for the 4x125GB. That's quite a change in course on the part of Maxtor - can anybody remember the last Maxtor drive with more than three platters? I can't. OTOH, Hitachi has a working five platter design and 125GB platters on the market (just not in the same drive). Hitachi can also leverage their 5 platter design and the 125GB platters in T7K250 to achieve 625GB, although a powerful five arm actuator that's precise enough to work on 125GB platters will be pretty pricey.


There are actually a couple different versions of them. There are both 125GB platters and 133GB platter designs in existance right now. Not sure exactly which will end up being shipped in regular retail channels. But yes, thats a 4 platter, 8 head design.

I have a few on my desk at work. They are pretty nifty drives. Lots of neato features. :)