A new mobile hard disk drive has managed to break current areal density records thanks to its innovative use of ruthenium, it has emerged.

Hitachi's 2.5-inch Travelstar 80GN is 9.5 mm high, offers 4200 rpm and is being celebrated for its capacity, performance, power management and quiet operation.

However, its major innovation involves its ability to allow 70 Gbits per square inch to be copied to each disk, achieved by adding a ruthenium/magnetic layer to its interior design.

The disk combines AFC Media, Fluid Dynamic Bearing motor technology, Giant Magnetoresistive heads and a Partial Response Maximum Likelihood digital channel.

In addition, it features head load/unload technology, Enhanced Adaptive Batter Life Extender 3.0 and an ATA/100 interface, according to a report on cdfreaks.com.

The five-layer sandwich resulting from the implementation of the ruthenium/magnetic layer is known as laminated 'Pixie Dust'.

Source:

IBM TRAVELSTAR 80GN 80GB ATA5 20Packs (03/06/09)

Ÿ Adfero Ltd