News Releases

Toshiba's New 200GB 2.5-inch HDD for Automotive Applications Has Industry Largest[1] Storage Capacity

15 Apr, 2010
Image of MK2060GSC 

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502), the pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced new HDDs capable of delivering 200GB (MK2060GSC) and 100GB (MK1060GSC) storage capacities in a single-platter design. The 200GB MK2060GSC has a rotational speed of 4,200RPM and serial ATA interface, and is the industry's highest capacity HDD available for automotive applications. Both new series will enter mass production in August.

The MK2060GSC has been designed to target telematics and infotainment applications where proven performance and capacity are critical, and represents a significant innovation in HDD technology for automotive applications. Technical benefits include approximately 78 per-cent improvement in internal transfer rates, compared to the previous series[2], a faster seek time of 12 milliseconds and extremely quiet 'silent seek' operation of 23dB. These features make it ideal for multimedia and navigation applications, which require a combination of high storage capacities and rapid data read operation to secure user satisfaction.

The launch of the new drives will enable manufacturers to deliver high storage capacity systems that offer exceptional levels of reliability. The MK2060GSC has been designed to operate in an altitude range of -300 to 5,650m and at operating temperatures of -30 to +85°C, and to deliver high levels of operating shock resistance (2,940m/s2) and increased vibration resistance[3]. Telematics systems manufacturers deploying the MK2060GSC in high end cars can be confident of their products functioning normally, even in extreme environmental conditions.

Both products are also suitable for use in industrial settings where extended temperature tolerances are required. In line with Toshiba's commitment to reducing its environmental impact, all drives are fully compliant with RoHS[4] regulation and halogen free.

Toshiba introduced its first HDD for automotive application in 2001. The company's highly durable and reliable products today command a share of approximately 75%[5] of the global automotive HDD market, and cumulative shipments now stand at over 14 million units in the period to March 2010.

Key Features

1. A storage capacity of 200GB realizes the industry's largest capacity in a 2.5-inch HDD for automotive application (MK2060GSC).

Toshiba's original technology improves the perpendicular magnetic recording technology head and disk and realizes a storage capacity of 200GB, the industry's highest for a 2.5-inch HDD for automotive applications.

2. Improved high speed processing

The new products accelerate data processing by improving the average seek time by approximately 25% compared to the 80GB MK8057GSC, model in Toshiba's previous series of automotive 2.5-inch HDD. The internal data transfer rate is improved by approximately 78%.

3. Improved seek noise

Toshiba's original advanced acoustic management technology limits acoustic noise during seek and realizes a 23 dB, a 3dB decrease from the previous 80GB MK8057GSC model.

4. High vibration resistance

HDD used in automobiles needs two to three times the vibration resistance of HDD in PC. Toshiba has increased the rigidity of the enclosure, and added a head positioning technology that compensates the head position in real time. As a result, the new HDD have a vibration resistance of 24.5m/s2 (50-200Hz), and a data stability is assured.

5. Ability to withstand severe operating temperatures

Toshiba's automotive HDDs deliver the extended operating specifications required for the automotive operating environment. The new HDD have an operating temperature range of -30º to 85º Celsius, and a non-operating temperature range of -40º to 95º Celsius.

6. Low atmospheric pressure operation

The magnetic head of an HDD floats approximately 1/100,000mm above the fast rotating disk. By adopting the latest aerodynamic design technology in the head slider design, the new drives can read and write data even in low-pressure conditions at high altitudes. They can operate at pressure as low as 495hPa (5,650m[6]).

7. Environmentally conscious products

(1) The company's first HDD for automotive applications recognized as Halogen-Free Products

The new drives achieve chlorine and bromine concentrations below 900ppm, and a combined overall total below 1,500ppm.

(2) Decreased CO2emissions during lifecycle[7] (MK2060GSC)

MK2060GSC decreases CO2 emissions across the product lifecycle by 230g per year, by decreasing product power consumption and environmental burdens from the raw materials stage.

(3) RoHS compliant

The new drives comply with the European Union's RoHS directive on the elimination of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

Toshiba Group, a corporate citizen of planet Earth, is committed to realizing a better environment. Guided by "Toshiba Group Environmental Vision 2050" the Group is implementing measures to boost environmental efficiency by 10 times in FY2050, against the benchmark of FY2000. The core target is to reduce projected CO2 emissions by a total equivalent to 117.7 million tons a year by FY2025, through the development and sales of highly efficient power supply equipment and systems, and the manufacture of environmentally conscious home appliances and office equipment. By working to mitigate global warming, make efficient use of resources and control management of chemicals, Toshiba Group creates value for people and promotes lifestyles in harmony with the Earth.

[1]
As of April. 15, 2010, for 2.5-inch HDD for automotive applications.(Source: Toshiba)
[2]
Compared to the previous MK8057GSC series, the average seek time improved to 12msec from the 16msec. The internal transfer rate improved to 757.6Mbps from 424.8Mbps.
[3]
Compared to the  MK8057GSC series, vibration resistance is improved to 24.5m/s 2 (50 to 200Hz), from 19.6m/s 2(50 to 500Hz).
[4]
The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive, which came into effect on July 1, 2006 in the European Union, limits the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and ploybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) in electrical and electronic equipment.
[5]
For 2009 (Source:Toshiba)
[6]
Based on the evaluation method of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Variations can occur depending on such conditions as temperature and other factors.
[7]
Comparison based on MK2016GAP (year 2000 model). Used under condition of product life cycle of five years, in use for eight hours, 240 days a year. Based on Toshiba's method for evaluation of LCA (Life Cycle Assesment).

Technical Specifications

Model Number MK2060GSC MK1060GSC
Capacity 200GB 100GB
Number of platters 1
Number of heads 2 1
Average seek time 12ms
Rotational speed 4,200RPM
Interface Serial ATA 2.6
Interface speed 1.5Gb/s
External Dimensions (WxDxH; mm) 69.85mmx100.0mmx9.5mm
Weight 98g (max.)
Energy consumption efficiency [8] 0.0040 0.0080
Classification d
Temperature Operating -30°C - +85°C
Non-operating -40°C - +95°C
Atmospheric Pressure (Altitude) Operating 495hPa(5,650m) - 1,050hPa(-300m[6])
Non-operating 193hPa(12,000m[9]) - 1,050hPa(-300m)
Vibration Operating 29.4m/s2, 3G(8-50Hz)
24.5m/s2, 2.5G(50-200Hz)
19.6m/s2, 2G(200-500Hz)
Non-operating 49m/s2, 5G(10-500Hz)

One Gigabyte (1GB) means 109 = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 1012 = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10.  A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 230 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 240 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less storage capacity.  Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and other factors.

[8]
Energy consumption efficiency is calculated in accordance with the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy in Japan, which was enacted in 1979 to promote energy conservation and reduce energy consumption.  The Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy was most recently revised in 2009 with specific measurement criteria reflected in the specification indicated.  Calculation of Energy consumption is dividing consumed energy by the capacity. The consumed energy and capacity shall be measured and specified by the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy.
[9]
Based on Chronological Scientific Tables. Variations can occur depending on such conditions as temperature and other factors.