Hitachi Global Storage Technologies introduces the CinemaStar C5K320, a 2.5-inch hard drive with up to 320 GB capacity and the CinemaStar 5K500, a 3.5-inch hard drive with 500GB of storage capacity and new CoolSpin technology to deliver high levels of power efficiency and quiet operation for digital video applications. CoolSpin drives use a low-power motor design, which requires less power to spin up the drive than most 3.5-inch hard drives. The low-power profile of these new drives enables the use of more cost-effective power supplies, which lowers energy costs for consumers.

Hitachi’s new CinemaStar hard disk drives are optimized for use in today’s advanced home theater systems, providing high-capacity storage for set-top boxes, digital video recorders (DVRs) and media center PCs. With customized features, capacity and cool operation, the new CinemaStar drives usher in a new generation of consumer devices that store more hours of video, run more quietly and use less power.

CinemaStar C5K320
The CinemaStar C5K320 is Hitachi’s latest 2.5-inch, 5,400 RPM consumer electronics hard drive with available capacities from 120GB to 320GB. In addition to improved Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) head technology and other reliability-focused enhancements, the new drives include Hitachi SmoothStream technology to enhance streaming functionality in digital video applications. The CinemaStar C5K320 also includes technology to provide time-limited error recovery and enhanced thermal monitoring capabilities.

CinemaStar C5K320 is offered with silent-seek acoustics for ultra-quiet operation. Hitachi continues to provide low-power leadership and cool-running operation to make the C5K320 an ideal choice for DVR applications. This third generation compact CinemaStar drive expands the Hitachi product lineup to provide manufacturers with more energy-efficient options for next-generation compact DVR designs.

CoolSpin Technology
The CinemaStar 5K500, Hitachi’s first CoolSpin drive, uses an enhanced motor design to limit peak current during spin-up and enable lower continuous running power. With CoolSpin, Hitachi was able to achieve just the right blend of performance, power management and acoustics for digital video applications. CoolSpin drives allow system builders to develop set-top boxes and DVRs that run cooler and require less power, ultimately leading to improved product reliability and lifespan.

“Hitachi CoolSpin drives deliver a substantial power savings over their desktop-class counterparts, simplifying CE product design and paving the way for a new class of set-top boxes and DVRs that are smaller, quieter and more reliable for consumers,” said Larry Swezey, director, Consumer and Commercial HDD Marketing and Strategy, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

The CinemaStar 5K500 and C5K320 drives have been built on mature design platforms for proven reliability. The new hard drives bring together the following CE-specific features and benefits:

• Silent seek acoustics for 'bedroom-quiet' operation
• Low power idle for cooler system operation and greater host-product reliability
• Wider temperature range to support warmer operating environments, especially in confined spaces like entertainment cabinets
• Smart Command Transport and adaptive error recovery for optimized video streaming and picture quality
• Thermal fly height control for improved error rates in varied temperature conditions.

“The digital video recorder market continues to experience robust growth. Shipments of disk drives for personal video recording applications are expected to grow at a 2007-2012 CAGR of 14%,” according to John Rydning, Research Director for hard disk drives at IDC. “As well, consumers are seeking more hours of video recording capacity as they increasingly switch to high-definition content. Hitachi's new CinemaStar disk drives hit the mark for delivering higher recording storage capacities while enabling cool, quiet, and low-power PVR operation.”

The CinemaStar 5K500 delivers 500GB of storage capacity, which translates to 250 standard definition feature-length movies, 125,000 four minute songs or 250 video games 1. The CinemaStar C5K320 is available in multiple capacities, ranging from 120- to 320GB.

Technical Specifications

CinemaStar 5K500

• 500GB (GB = 1 billion bytes, accessible capacity may be less)
• 3.2 watt idle power (performance idle)
• 2.7 watt low power idle (enhanced mode with head unloaded)
• 2.2 Bels typical idle acoustics
• 929 Mb/s max. media transfer rate
• 185 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
• 8 MB data buffer
• Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s
• 2 platters
• 4 recording heads
• 1.2M hours targeted Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
• 26.1 mm in height (max)
• 70 G (2ms) operating shock
• 350 G (2ms) non-operating shock
• 0 to 70 degrees C operating temperature (top cover temperature)
• Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) spindle motor

CinemaStar C5K320

• 320/250/160/120 GB (GB = 1 billion bytes, accessible capacity may be less)
• 1.8 watt read/write power
• 0.55 watt low power idle (enhanced mode with head unloaded)
• 2.4 Bels typical idle acoustics
• 729 Mb/s max. media transfer rate
• 250 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
• 5,400 RPM
• 8 MB data buffer
• Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s
• 2/2/1/1 platter(s)
• 4/3/2/2 recording heads
• 9.5 mm in height (max)
• 400 G (2ms) operating shock
• 1000 G (1ms) non-operating shock
• 5 to 65 degrees C operating temperature (top cover temperature)
• Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) spindle motor

The CinemaStar 5K500 and C5K320 are both expected to be shipping worldwide in June 2008.