Toshiba reveals slim 320GB notebook drive

Toshiba today set a new record for mobile storage with the MK3253GSX, the world's first 2.5-inch drive to reach the 320GB mark. An improved read head and refined magnetic storage allows the drive to spread the storage across just two platters, fitting into a 9.5mm tall casing slim enough for thinner notebooks. In contrast to the previous record 300GB drive from Fujitsu, the 320GB Toshiba model spins at a faster 5,400RPM and is guaranteed to output 759MB per second. The drive also supports sudden drop protection and includes an 8MB memory cache.

The storage manufacturer hasn't listed official pricing for the drive but expects mass production to begin in November, with shipping notebooks to include the drive shortly afterwards. A second drive, the MK2049GSY, has also been announced for performance users with a 7,200RPM rotational speed and 200GB of storage. It should also be ready in the same timeframe, Toshiba says.