Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1998/10/28/ibm_extends_highspeed_highcapacity_hard/

IBM extends, high-speed, high-capacity hard drive line

Ultrastar's bring IBM into line with Seagate

By Tony Smith

Posted in On-Prem, 28th October 1998 12:45 GMT

IBM has released a line of high-speed Ultrastar hard disk drives in a belated attempt to catch up with the leading edge of the market. The Ultrastar 36XP leads the new line with its 36.4GB capacity and 7200rpm spin speed. It is followed by the Ultrastar 18ZX and 9ZLX, which offer lower capacities -- 18.2GB and 9.1GB, respectively -- but spin at 10,200rpm. Both drives sport 4MB caches. All three models are available now with Ultra 2 SCSI Fast and Wide, and fibre channel interface options. The drives are based on IBM's giant magnetoresistive (GMR) head technology, which provides very high data densities on the platter. This allows the 36XP to be provided in a 3.5in form factor whereas its nearest rival, a Seagate 47GB model, is only available as a 5.25in unit. That said, the Seagate machine is now some six months old, and the company is preparing a 50GB version in the smaller form factor for release early next year. So, at least on physical size, IBM will soon be playing catch-up again. ® Click for more stories