Toshiba Corp. today announced new 1.8-inch hard disk drives (HDD) that integrate a performance enhancing serial ATA interface: the MK1216GSG offers a storage capacity of 120GB, while the MK8016GSG has a capacity of 80GB. Mass production of both drives will start in April.

These are the first Toshiba 1.8-inch HDD to employ a serial ATA interface, which boosts data transfer rates beyond those achieved by the parallel ATA interface, and also offer a rotation speed of 5,400 rpm, 29% faster than the current generation of Toshiba HDD. Higher rotation speeds support faster data access in reading and writing and enhance overall drive performance.

Alongside high speed data transfer, the new drives offer compact size, high level vibration resistance, and excellent shock resistance. They will support development of light, compact PCs with no compromises in performance. They will also contribute to achievement of environmentally conscious products, thanks to near silent operation and low energy consumption, and full compliance with the EU RoHS directive.

Toshiba will showcase the new drives at Intel Mobility Summit, in Shanghai, China from February 26 to 28.

Toshiba’s cumulative production of HDD now stands at 200 million units since the company entered the business in 1967. Within that total, the company has produced 60 million 1.8-inch HDD since 2000.

Source: Toshiba