Seagate Launches The Barracuda ATA V

Shaith · Jul 23, 2002, 11:43 AM

On June 24, 2002, Seagate launched their latest and greatest in hard drive technology - the Barracuda ATA V. This drive carries a total of 120 GB of storage capacity, but what's impressive is that it does this utilizing just *two* platters.

That's right - two. The ATA V uses the latest in extreme data-density to pack more information in the same amount of space.

But it doesn't stop there. This drive will also be the first from Seagate to offer their new Serial ATA Interface.

So What is Serial ATA?

Today's PC's utilize a parallel ATA drive bus. This technology has been around for nearly 15 years, and while it has done its best to keep pace with advances in other technology, its time has come. There are just too many technological hurdles to make it an efficient choice for the future.

Enter Serial ATA. At speeds up to 50% higher than parallel, Serial ATA wraps the data bits into a packet and sends them down the wire. Cyclic Redundancy Checking (CRC) is also improved. Today's parallel interfaces perform CRC checks on the data being transmitted - but not on the commands. Serial ATA integrates CRC on both command and data packet levels, meaning enhanced bus reliability. The CRC code detects all single and double-bit errors, ensuring a detection rate of 99.998%, which prevents both data corruption and avoids time-consuming retransmission. Performance is enhanced further by a 150 MB/sec data transfer rate on the bus to the host system. Add to that intelligent data handling, hot plug capability, the elimination of master/slave jumpers, and longer, thinner cables with snap-in connectors, and you've got every reason you'd ever need to make the switch already.

But How Fast Is The Drive?

According to Seagate, "mainstream applications see performance boosts of as much as 44 percent". Barracuda ATA V has the world's fastest PC hard drive internal transfer rate at up to 570 Mbits per second, and a 9-msec seek time. The Ultra ATA/100 version features a 2-Mbyte cache, and the Serial ATA version will sport an 8-Mbyte cache, the largest on any PC hard drive.

So Quiet, You Could Hear A Bit Drop...

Seagate's patented SoftSonic(tm) Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) motor makes the fast 7,200-rpm Barracuda ATA V almost too quiet to hear, using the same technology that made Barracuda ATA IV the first virtually silent PC drive. Seagate invented the FDB motor for hard drives and has shipped more than all other drive makers combined. No more turning your speakers up to drown out your hard drive noise.

In Conclusion...

Obviously, there is more to this story than just the hard drive. Several key pieces have to fall into place before you'll get the full performance from this new technology. But imagine in the near future the first consumer *Terrabyte* drives and just how much you could put on one. The data-density technology leap is the first step to get us there.

Source: Seagate

digitalwanderer · Jul 23, 2002, 11:52 AM

<gulp!>

Shaith · Jul 23, 2002, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
<gulp!>

I know what I'm asking Santa for this year

DallasStar · Jul 23, 2002, 12:23 PM

*drool*

AlternateVirus · Jul 23, 2002, 01:03 PM

damnit, now i gotta find a job. clawhammer, ddrII, radeon9700, this hdd.

Raider1 · Jul 23, 2002, 03:34 PM

Just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside

***craig5320*** · Jul 23, 2002, 03:38 PM

How would this connect? Would it need a new motherboard with a new type of connector or does it still use IDE connectors?

DallasStar · Jul 23, 2002, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by craig5320
How would this connect? Would it need a new motherboard with a new type of connector or does it still use IDE connectors?

it needs a motherboard with serial ATA

JavaFox · Jul 24, 2002, 10:00 AM

I can personally attest to the cream-filled wonderfulness that is the Seagate Barracuda. I have the IV, and I'll be damned -- the thing is silent and fast. Like a ninja. Or a barracuda, slicing through the dark waters of the ocean... silently, it glides, searching for prey..

w|red · Jul 24, 2002, 10:19 AM

I want it to have my children!

Shaith · Jul 24, 2002, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dallasstar
it needs a motherboard with serial ATA

Or a serial ATA add-on card which will be released about the same time.

Shaith · Jul 24, 2002, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by w|red
I want it to have my children!

Proof positive that some people really need to get out more!

Jul 23, 2002, 11:43 AM	#1
Shaith HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 916 Rep Power: 0	Seagate Launches The Barracuda ATA V On June 24, 2002, Seagate launched their latest and greatest in hard drive technology - the Barracuda ATA V. This drive carries a total of 120 GB of storage capacity, but what's impressive is that it does this utilizing just two platters. That's right - two. The ATA V uses the latest in extreme data-density to pack more information in the same amount of space. But it doesn't stop there. This drive will also be the first from Seagate to offer their new Serial ATA Interface. So What is Serial ATA? Today's PC's utilize a parallel ATA drive bus. This technology has been around for nearly 15 years, and while it has done its best to keep pace with advances in other technology, its time has come. There are just too many technological hurdles to make it an efficient choice for the future. Enter Serial ATA. At speeds up to 50% higher than parallel, Serial ATA wraps the data bits into a packet and sends them down the wire. Cyclic Redundancy Checking (CRC) is also improved. Today's parallel interfaces perform CRC checks on the data being transmitted - but not on the commands. Serial ATA integrates CRC on both command and data packet levels, meaning enhanced bus reliability. The CRC code detects all single and double-bit errors, ensuring a detection rate of 99.998%, which prevents both data corruption and avoids time-consuming retransmission. Performance is enhanced further by a 150 MB/sec data transfer rate on the bus to the host system. Add to that intelligent data handling, hot plug capability, the elimination of master/slave jumpers, and longer, thinner cables with snap-in connectors, and you've got every reason you'd ever need to make the switch already. But How Fast Is The Drive? According to Seagate, "mainstream applications see performance boosts of as much as 44 percent". Barracuda ATA V has the world's fastest PC hard drive internal transfer rate at up to 570 Mbits per second, and a 9-msec seek time. The Ultra ATA/100 version features a 2-Mbyte cache, and the Serial ATA version will sport an 8-Mbyte cache, the largest on any PC hard drive. So Quiet, You Could Hear A Bit Drop... Seagate's patented SoftSonic(tm) Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) motor makes the fast 7,200-rpm Barracuda ATA V almost too quiet to hear, using the same technology that made Barracuda ATA IV the first virtually silent PC drive. Seagate invented the FDB motor for hard drives and has shipped more than all other drive makers combined. No more turning your speakers up to drown out your hard drive noise. In Conclusion... Obviously, there is more to this story than just the hard drive. Several key pieces have to fall into place before you'll get the full performance from this new technology. But imagine in the near future the first consumer Terrabyte drives and just how much you could put on one. The data-density technology leap is the first step to get us there. Source: Seagate

Jul 23, 2002, 11:52 AM	#2
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,620 Rep Power: 0	WOW! <gulp!> __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jul 23, 2002, 12:23 PM	#4
DallasStar Junior Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wave Existence Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 0	drool __________________ "A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Jul 23, 2002, 03:34 PM	#6
Raider1 There is always next year Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 601 Rep Power: 0	Just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside __________________ The Autumn Wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea With a rollicking song he sweeps along swaggering boisterously. His face is weather beaten. He wears a hooded sash. With his silver hat about his head And a bristly black moustache. He growls as he storms the country. A villain big and bold. And the trees all shake and quiver and quake. As he robs them of their gold. The Autumn wind is a Raider. Pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down. And laugh when he's conquered and won. My Rig

Jul 23, 2002, 03:38 PM	#7
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,282 Rep Power: 428 System Specs	How would this connect? Would it need a new motherboard with a new type of connector or does it still use IDE connectors? __________________

Jul 23, 2002, 01:03 PM	#5
AlternateVirus DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 282 Rep Power: 0	damnit, now i gotta find a job. clawhammer, ddrII, radeon9700, this hdd.

Jul 24, 2002, 10:00 AM	#9
JavaFox E Pluribus Unum Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 0	I can personally attest to the cream-filled wonderfulness that is the Seagate Barracuda. I have the IV, and I'll be damned -- the thing is silent and fast. Like a ninja. Or a barracuda, slicing through the dark waters of the ocean... silently, it glides, searching for prey..

Jul 24, 2002, 10:19 AM	#10
w\|red DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: /home Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	I want it to have my children! __________________ fjear teh leet hax0r! 10 PRINT "J00 = H4X3D KEKE!" 20 GOTO 10