Fujitsu Limited and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies have both announced today their latest 500GB 2.5" hard disk drive (HDD) products featuring low power consumption and built-in encryption functions.

Fujitsu MJA2 BH and MJA2 CH series

Fujitsu has developed two new 500 GB 2.5" hard disk drive (HDD) models that feature a rotational speed of 5,400 RPM. The MJA2 BH series will be available from the end of December 2008, and the MJA2 CH series will be available in the first quarter of the 2009 calendar year.

The new models consume only 1.4W of power when recording data, one-third less than previous models. Moreover, these are Fujitsu's first halogen-free HDD models, making them an environmentally friendly products across their lifecycle, from deployment to disposal.

In addition, the MJA2 CH series is equipped with 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.

By increasing recording density, the new models deliver a maximum of 500 GB in storage capacity. To prevent data leaks for customers handling sensitive information, the MJA2 CH model has a built-in encryption function. This model automatically encrypts data as it is recorded, and all data stored on the HDD can be erased instantly, in less than a second, using the advanced secure erase feature.

Both MJA2 BH and MJA2 CH series target the expanding notebook PC market but also other markets such as desktop PCs.
Basic specifications:

Capacity: Maximum 500 GB
Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s (ATA-8, Serial ATA 2.6)
Rotation speed: 5,400 RPM
Average seek time (typ.): 12ms (read) 14 ms (write)
Data transfer rate: Max 300 MB/s
Buffer size: 8 MB
Shock resistance, during operation: 350 G (2 ms)
Shock resistance, non-operating: 900 G (1 ms)
Voltage: +5 V ± 5%

Power consumption
Read/write (typ.): 1.4 W (3.0 Gb/s) / 1.3 W (1.5 Gb/s)
Idle (typ.): 0.60 W (in slumber mode)
Standby (typ.): 0.13 W (in slumber mode)

Noise at idle (typ.): 2.4 bels
Dimensions: 9.5 x 70 x 100 mm
Weight: 101g or less

Hitachi Travelstar 5K500.B

Hitachi Hitachi GST introduced the Travelstar 5K500.B, a mobile hard drive that also combines advanced data encryption technology with eco-friendly features.
The Travelstar 5K500.B, Hitachi?s second 500GB mobile drive, uses the latest 250GB-per-platter technology to deliver a half terabyte (500GB) of capacity in a standard 9.5mm mobile form factor.

The Travelstar 5K500.B features optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) for hard-drive-level data security. The drive also meets the forthcoming Storage Security specification established by the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), an organization focused on developing open industry standards for security hardware and software. The TCG Storage Security specification, targeting consumer and commercial applications, is intended to discourage HDD/system theft, as well as prevent data access after HDD/system disposal.

BDE encrypts data using a private security key as it is written to the disk and then decrypts it with the key as it is retrieved. The TCG Storage Security specification implemented in the Travelstar 5K500.B supports pre-boot authentication in hardware, and up to four separate encrypted data ranges with multiple user and administrative authentication credentials. It also speeds and simplifies the drive re-deployment process. By deleting the encryption key, the data is rendered unreadable, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming data-overwrite.

The Travelstar 5K500.B also features a read/write power specification of 1.4W, resulting in more energy-efficient notebooks that run cooler and have longer battery life.