Toshiba announced in recent days a new line of hard hard drives with 1.8-inch Serial ATA, with a capacity of 160GB, MK1617GSG, and with a capacity of 80GB, MK8017GSG. According to the information from the new mass production of new products will begin in the coming month of August.

In these new hard disk 1.8 inches was increased the speed of 1.5Gbps interface and was increased speed at 5400 rpm, making them the fastest of the current generation of hard drives from Toshiba 1.8. With the first unit of 1.8-inch 160GB Toshiba ensures that mobile PCs will be able to meet the expectations of most demanding users.

The maximum speed internal improves data transfer has been improved by about 17% and supported access to data faster in reading and writing which improves overall performance.

Compared to those currently marketed by Toshiba, the new units more respect the environment by increasing efficiency of energy consumption according to Japanese legislation with an improvement of 25% and will also contribute to the achievement of environmental awareness for products in full compliance with the European directive RoHS.

That directive came into force in July 2006 eliminates the use of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The key characteristics of these new hard disks are (according to Toshiba):

1. Large storage capacity: 160GB (MK1617GSG)

The new MK 1617GSG is, for now, the disc from a 1.8 inches with a Serial ATA interface with greater capacity (160GB);

2. Improved efficiency in energy consumption (MK1617GSG) with an improvement of 25%.

3. Lightweight (MK8017GSG): The new 80GB drive weighs only 60g;

4. Top speed (MK1617GSG and MK8017GSG)

The Serial ATA interface supports a speed of 1.5Gbps interface, surpassing the performance of discs with a Parallel ATA interface. The units also operate at a maximum speed of 5400 rpm, 29% faster than the Toshiba MK1214GAH (Parallel ATA, 120GB, 1.8-inch HDD). The disc improves the density maximum data transfer by about 17%, and supports a faster access to data in reading and writing which improves overall performance.

5. High resistance to vibration and shock (MK1617GSG and MK8017GSG)

Compared to the current 2.5 "HDD (MK1652GSX), the new units offer higher levels of resistance to vibration and shock, which is very useful in portable PCs;

6. Environmental Awareness.

And here are the specific fields declared by Toshiba.

Model name MK1617GSG

The ability formatted 160GB

Number of dishes 2

Number of heads 4

Average Seek Time 15msec

Rotational speed 5,400 rpm

Serial ATA interface -

Interface speed 1.5Gbps

Dimensions (W P x x, Hx mm) 54.0 (L) x 78.5 (D) x 8.0 (H)

Weight 62g (Max)

Energy consumption 0.00281W/GB

Shock resistance of operation: 4900 m/s2 (500g, 2 msec)

Not Operational 14,700 m/s2 (1,500 G, 1msec)

Model name MK8017GSG

The formatted capacity 80GB

Number of dishes 1

Number of heads 2

Average Seek Time 15msec

Rotational speed 5,400 rpm

Serial ATA interface -

Interface speed 1.5Gbps

Dimensions (W P x x, Hx mm) 54.0 (L) x 78.5 (D) x 8.0 (H)

Weight 60g (Max)

Energy consumption 0.00563W/GB

Shock resistance of operation: 4900 m/s2 (500g, 2 msec)

Not Operational 14,700 m/s2 (1,500 G, 1msec)