Seagate ST36450A, Product Manual

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Introduction
This manual describes the functional, mechanical and interface specifi-
cations for the Medalist
®
Pro 6450 and the Medalist Pro 6451 hard disc
drives. The drives are referred to throughout this manual by their model
numbers, ST36450A for the Medalist Pro 6450 and ST36451A for the
Medalist Pro 6451.
Seagate
®
desktop products take a step into the future with the ST36450A
and ST36451A. These drives feature MR heads and PRML recording
technology, Fast ATA-2 and Ultra ATA performance, segmented cache,
embedded servo technology, low noise and power management
The ST36450A and the ST36451A each contain five discs. These drives
use MR heads and PRML technology that provide the drives with
increased areal density. This means that more data can be stored on
each disc.
The ST36450A supports Fast ATA-2 technology and provides burst
transfer rates of up to 16.6 Mbytes per second. The ST36451A supports
Ultra ATA technology and provides burst-transfer rates of up to 33.3
Mbytes per second. Both drives support PIO mode 4, multiword DMA
mode 2 transfer modes and multiple block read/write. The multiple block
read/write feature allows the drives to store several blocks of data in
cache and to transfer them in a single burst.
These drives use a 512-Kbyte segmented cache. Segmenting the cache
provides a designated area where blocks of contiguous read or write data
can be staged for transfer in a single burst.
The ST36450A and ST36451A drives have other features that ensure
fast data throughput. Embedded servo technology allows the drives to
position the heads for data retrieval efficiently and accurately while
eliminating the periodic thermal recalibration that can interrupt during
data transfers. These drives also use a 16-bit microprocessor and an
intelligent controller that provides data streaming: direct data transfers
between the drive and the host without microprocessor intervention.
These features allow for a sustained data-transfer rate that facilitates
video-playback and other multimedia operations.
These drives support Active, Idle and Standby power-management
modes. Power-saving modes can be controlled by the computer.
Standby mode reduces power consumption to 2 watts (typical) while
retaining drive accessibility.
Medalist Pro 6450/6451 Product Manual, Rev. B 1