Maxtor D540X 4K User Manual

This product or document is protected by copyright and distributed under licences restricting its use, copy-  
ing, distributing, and decompilation. No part of this product or document may be reproduced in any form  
by any means without prior written authorization of Maxtor and its licensors, if any.  
RESTR ICTED R IGHTS LEGEND: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the government is subject to  
restrictions as set forth in subparagraphs (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software  
clause at DFAR S 252.227-7013 and FAR 52.227-19.  
THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED AS ISWITHOUT WAR RANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER  
EXPR ESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WAR R ANTIES  
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTIULAR PUR POSE, OR NON-INFR INGE-  
MENT.  
You can request Maxtor publications from your Maxtor Sales R epresentative or order them directly from  
Maxtor.  
Publication Number: 81-126201-02  
Corporate Headquarters:  
510 Cottonwood Drive  
Milpitas, California 95035  
Tel: 408-432-1700  
Fax: 408-432-4510  
Research and Developm ent Center:  
2190 Miller Drive  
Longmont, Colorado 80501  
Tel: 303-651-6000  
Fax: 303-678-2165  
Thank you for your interest in Maxtor hard disk drives. This manual provides technical information for  
OEM engineers and systems integrators regarding the installation and use of Maxtor hard drives. Drive  
repair should be performed only at an authorized repair center. For repair information, contact the Maxtor  
Customer Service Center at 800-2MAXTOR or 408-922-2085.  
CAUTION: Maxtor hard drives are precision products. Failure to follow these precautions and guidelines out-  
lined here may lead to product failure, damage and invalidation of all warranties.  
1
BEFO RE unpacking or handling a drive, take all proper electro-static discharge (ESD) precau-  
tions, including personnel and equipment grounding. Stand-alone drives are sensitive to ESD  
damage.  
2
3
4
BEFORE removing drives from their packing material, allow them to reach room temperature.  
During handling, NEVER drop, jar, or bump a drive.  
Once a drive is removed from the Maxtor shipping container, IMMEDIATELY secure the  
drive through its mounting holes within a chassis. Otherwise, store the drive on a padded,  
grounded, antistatic surface.  
5
6
NEVER switch DC power onto the drive by plugging an electrically live DC source cable into  
the drive's connector. NEVER connect a live bus to the drive's interface connector.  
ELECTRICAL GROUNDING - For proper operation, the drive must be securely fastened to  
a device bay that provides a suitable electrical ground to the drive baseplate.  
Please do not remove or cover up Maxtor factory-installed drive labels. They contain information required  
should the drive ever need repair.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
v
 
Table of Contents  
vi  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Table of Contents  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
vii  
Table 3-1 AT Jumper Options .............................................................................................. 3-5  
Table 6-9 Accessing the SET CONFIGUR ATION WITHOUT  
SAVING TO DISK Command .......................................................................... 6-12  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
ix  
Table of Contents  
x
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
This chapter gives an overview of the contents of this manual, including the intended  
audience, how the manual is organized, terminology and conventions, and references.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT Product Manual is intended for  
several audiences. These audiences include: the end user, installer, developer,  
consumer electronics and personal computer original equipment manufacturer (CE/  
PC OEM), and distributor. The manual provides information about installation,  
principles of operation, interface command implementation, and maintenance.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K family of drives provide a high-quality, low-cost, market  
leading 40 GB per disk products to serve the consumer and mainstream commercial  
markets, as well as the consumer electronics market.  
This manual is organized into the following chapters:  
Chapter 1 About This Manual  
Chapter 2 General Description  
Chapter 3 Installation  
Chapter 4 Specifications  
Chapter 5 Basic Principles of Operation  
Chapter 6 ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
In the Glossary at the back of this manual, you can find definitions for many of the  
terms used in this manual. In addition, the following abbreviations are used in this  
manual:  
ASIC  
application-specific integrated circuit  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT 1-1  
       
About This Manual  
ATA  
bpi  
advanced technology attachment  
bits per inch  
dB  
decibels  
dBA  
DPS  
SPS  
ECC  
Kfci  
Hz  
decibels, A weighted  
Data Protection System  
Shock Protection System  
error correcting code  
thousands of flux changes per inch  
hertz  
KB  
kilobytes  
LSB  
mA  
MB  
least significant bit  
milliamperes  
megabytes (1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes when referring to disk  
transfer rates or storage capacities and 1,048,576 bytes in all  
other cases)  
Mb/ s  
megabits per second  
MB/ s megabytes per second  
MHz  
ms  
MSB  
mV  
ns  
megahertz  
milliseconds  
most significant bit  
millivolts  
nanoseconds  
tracks per inch  
microseconds  
volts  
tpi  
µs  
V  
The typographical and naming conventions used in this manual are listed below.  
Conventions that are unique to a specific table appear in the notes that follow that  
table.  
Typographical Conventions:  
Nam es of Bits: Bit names are presented in initial capitals. An example  
is the Host Software R eset bit.  
Com m ands: Interface commands are listed in all capitals. An example  
is WRITE LONG.  
Register Nam es: Registers are given in this manual with initial capitals.  
An example is the Alternate Status R egister.  
1-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Param eters: Parameters are given as initial capitals when spelled out,  
and are given as all capitals when abbreviated. Examples are Prefetch  
Enable (PE), and Cache Enable (CE).  
Hexadecim al Notation: The hexadecimal notation is given in 9-point  
subscript form. An example is 30H.  
Signal Negation: A signal name that is defined as active low is listed  
with a minus sign following the signal. An example is R D.  
Messages: A message that is sent from the drive to the host is listed in  
all capitals. An example is ILLEGAL COMMAND.  
Naming Conventions:  
Host: In general, the system in which the drive resides is referred to as  
the host.  
Com puter Voice: This refers to items you type at the computer  
keyboard. These items are listed in 10-point, all capitals, Courier font.  
An example is FORMAT C:/S.  
For additional information about the ATA interface, refer to the latest revision of the  
AT Attachment - 6 with Packet Interface (ATA/ ATAPI - 6).”  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT 1-3  
 
About This Manual  
1-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
This chapter summarizes the general functions and key features of the Maxtor  
D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives, as well as the applicable  
standards and regulations.  
Maxtors D540X-4K hard disk drives are part of a family of high performance, 1-  
inch-high hard disk drives manufactured to meet the highest product quality  
standards.  
These hard disk drives use nonremovable, 3 1/ 2-inch hard disks and are available  
with the ATA interface.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives feature an  
embedded hard disk drive controller, and use ATA commands to optimize system  
performance. Because the drive manages media defects and error recovery  
internally, these operations are fully transparent to the user.  
The innovative design of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives incorporate  
leading edge technologies such as UltraATA/ 100, Advanced Cache Management,  
Shock Protection SystemII (SPS II), and Data Protection System (DPS). These  
enhanced technologies enable Maxtor to produce a family of high-performance,  
high-reliability drives.  
Additionally, the Maxtor D540X-4K family of drives are CE-class drives designed  
for the consumer electronics market. Acoustics is one of the most important features  
in the CE arena. These hard disk drives are available with very quiet seek codes  
resulting in very low acoustical emissions from the drive. This makes the Maxtor  
D540X-4K drives an attractive choice for most CE users.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
2-1  
   
General Description  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives include the  
following key features:  
General  
Formatted storage capacity of 20.4 GB (1 disk, 1 heads), 40.0 GB (1 disks,  
2 heads), 60.0 (2 disks, 3 heads) and 80.0 (2 disks, 4 heads)  
Low profile, 1-inch height  
Industry standard 3 1/ 2-inch form factor  
Compliance with ANSI/ NCITS interface standard for AT Attachment,  
revision 6 (ATA/ ATAPI-6).  
Windows NT and 9X Certification  
Performance  
Average seek time of 12 ms  
Average rotational latency of 5.56 ms  
New Ultra ATA interface with Maxtor-patented UltraATA/ 100  
protocol supporting burst data transfer rates of 100 MB/ s.  
Extra quiet seek code available (Maxtor Quiet Drive Technology)  
2 MB buffer  
Look-ahead DisCache feature with continuous prefetch and  
WriteCache write-buffering capabilities  
R ead promotion and Write R eordering features  
AutoTask R egister update, Multi-block AutoR ead, and Multi-block  
AutoWrite features in a custom ASIC  
Support of all standard ATA data transfer modes with PIO mode 4 and  
multiword DMA mode 2, and Ultra DMA modes 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5  
R eliability  
800,000 hours mean time between failure (MTBF) in the field  
Automatic retry on read errors  
Error Correcting Code (ECC) with 15 symbols cross checking  
correction up to 142 bits in length  
S.M.A.R .T. 4 (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and R eporting Technology)  
Patented Airlock® automatic shipping lock, magnetic actuator retract,  
and dedicated landing zone  
Transparent media defect mapping  
2-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
 
General Description  
High performance, in-line defective sector skipping  
R eassignment of defective sectors discovered in the field, without  
reformatting  
Shock Protection System II to enhance protection against both operating  
and non-operating shock  
Data Protection System to verify drive integrity  
Versatility  
Power saving modes  
Downloadable firmware  
Cable select feature  
Ability to daisy-chain two drives on the interface  
Windows MS Logo Certification  
Passed Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows NT  
Workstation 4.0 Logo testing by Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality  
Labs (WHQL)  
Master ID# 43395  
Maxtor Corporations disk drive products meet all domestic and international  
product safety regulatory compliance requirements. Maxtors disk drive products  
conform to the following specifically marked Product Safety Standards:  
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 1950. This certificate is a  
category certification pertaining to all 3.5-inch drive models in the  
U.S.A. and Canada.  
TUV Rheinland Standard EN60 950. This certificate is a category  
certification pertaining to all 3.5-inch drive models.  
CE Mark authorization is granted by TUV R heinland in compliance  
with our qualifying under EN 55022:1994 and EN 50082-1:1997.  
C-Tick Mark is an Australian authorization marked noted on Maxtors  
disk drive products. The mark proves conformity to the regulatory  
compliance document AS/ NZS 3548: 1995 and BS EN 55022: 1995.  
Approval from Taiwan BSMI. Number: 3892A638  
Korea EMI certification approved. MIC number: EH011-01-1977  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
2-3  
   
General Description  
Maxtors disk drives are designed as a separate subassembly that conforms to the  
FCC R ules for R adiated and Conducted emissions, Part 15 Subpart J; Class B when  
installed in a given computer system.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives are compatible with computers and other  
hosts that support the ATA interface. It connects to the host either by means of a  
third-party ATA-compatible adapter board, or by plugging a cable from the drive  
directly into a PC motherboard that supplies an ATA interface.  
2-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
     
This chapter explains how to unpack, configure, mount, and connect the Maxtor  
D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drive prior to operation. It also  
explains how to start up and operate the drive.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives are shipped without a faceplate. Figure 3-  
1 shows the external dimensions of the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0  
GB AT drives.  
Mechanical Dimensions of Maxtor D540X-4K Hard Disk Drive  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-1  
         
Installation  
The maximum limits for physical shock can be exceeded if the  
drive is not handled properly. Special care should be  
taken not to bump or drop the drive. It is highly recommended  
that Maxtor D540X-4K drives are not stacked or placed on any  
hard surface after they are unpacked. Such handling could cause  
media damage.  
1. Open the shipping container and remove the packing assembly that  
contains the drive.  
2. Remove the drive from the packing assembly.  
During shipment and handling, the antistatic electrostatic dis-  
charge (ESD) bag prevents electronic component  
damage due to electrostatic discharge. To avoid accidental dam-  
age to the drive, do not use a sharp instrument to open the ESD  
bag and do not touch PCB components. Save the packing mate-  
rials for possible future use.  
3. When you are ready to install the drive, remove it from the ESD bag.  
Figure 3-2 shows the packing assembly for a single Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk  
drive. A 20-pack shipping container is available for multiple drive shipments.  
Drive Packing Assembly  
3-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
         
Installation  
Drive Packing Assembly of a Polypropylene 20-Pack Container  
Note: The 20-pack container should be shipped in the same way it was  
received from Maxtor. When individual drives are shipped from  
the 20-pack container then it should be appropriately packaged  
(not supplied with the 20-pack) to prevent damage.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-3  
 
Installation  
The configuration of a Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk  
drive depends on the host system in which it is to be installed. This section describes  
the hardware options that you must take into account prior to installation. Figure 3-  
4 shows the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, indicating the jumpers that  
control some of these options.  
Jumper Locations for the Maxtor D540X-4K Hard Disk Drive  
Jumper Locations on the Interface Connector  
3-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
           
Installation  
The configuration of the following four jumpers controls the drives modes of  
operation:  
CS Cable Select  
DS Drive Select  
PKJumper Parking Position (Slave mode)  
ACAlternate Capacity  
The AT PCB has two jumper locations provided to configure the drive in a system.  
The default configuration for the drive as shipped from the factory is with a jumper  
across the CS location, and open positions in the DS, PK and AC positions.  
Table 3-1 defines the operation of the master-slave jumpers and their function  
relative to pin 28 on the interface. 1 indicates that the specified jumper is installed;  
0 indicates that the jumper is not installed.  
AT Jumper Options  
0
1
0
0
X
X
X
Drive is configured as a slave  
Gnd  
Drive is configured as Master (Device 0) when  
attached to the end of a 80 conductor Ultra ATA  
cable  
0
1
1
0
X
X
X
Drive is configured as a Master  
Open  
Drive is configured as a Slave (Device 1) when  
attached to the m iddle of a 80 conductor Ultra ATA  
cable  
1
1
X
X
Drive is configured as a Master with an attached slave  
that does not support DASP  
Note: In Table 3-1, a 0 indicates that the jumper is removed, a 1 indi-  
cates that the jumper is installed, and an X indicates that the  
jumper setting does not matter.  
When a Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drive and  
another ATA hard disk drive are daisy-chained together, they can be configured as  
Master or Slave either by the CS or DS jumpers. To configure the drive as a Master  
or Slave with the CS feature, the CS jumper is installed (1). The drive's position on  
the 80 conductor Ultra ATA data cable then determines whether the drive is a  
Master (Device 0) or a Slave (Device 1). If the drive is connected to the end of the  
Ultra (cable Select) data cable the drive is a Master. If the drive is connected to the  
middle connection it is set as a Slave.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-5  
           
Installation  
Once you install the CS jumper, the drive is configured as a Master or Slave by the  
state of the Cable Select signal: pin 28 of the ATA bus connector. Please note that  
pin 28 is a vendor-specific pin that Maxtor is using for a specific purpose. More than  
one function is allocated to CS, according to the ATA CAM specification (see  
reference to this specification in Chapter 1). If pin 28 is a 0 (grounded), the drive is  
configured as a Master. If it is a 1 (high), the drive is configured as a Slave. In order  
to configure two drives in a Master/ Slave relationship using the CS jumper, you  
need to use a cable that provides the proper signal level at pin 28 of the ATA bus  
connector. This allows two drives to operate in a Master/ Slave relationship  
according to the drive cable placement.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives are shipped  
from the factory as a Master (Device 0 - CS jumper installed). To configure a drive  
as a Slave (Device 1- DS scheme), the CS jumper must be removed. In this  
configuration, the spare jumper removed from the CS position may be stored on the  
PK jumper pins.  
You can also daisy-chain two drives on the ATA bus interface by using their Drive  
Select (DS) jumpers. To use the DS feature, the CS jumper must not be installed.  
To configure a drive as the Master (Device 0), a jumper must be installed on the DS  
pins.  
Note: The order in which drives are connected in a daisy chain has no  
significance.  
In combination with the current DS or CS jumper settings, the Slave Present (SP)  
jumper can be implemented if necessary as follows:  
Note: The CS position doubles as the Slave present on this drive.  
When the drive is configured as a Master (DS jumper installed or CS  
jumper installed, and the Cable Select signal is set to (0), adding an  
additional jumper (both jumpers DS and CS now installed) will indicate  
to the drive that a Slave drive is present. This Master with Slave Present  
jumper configuration should be installed on the Master drive only if the  
Slave drive does not use the Drive Active/ Slave Present (DASP) signal  
to indicate its presence.  
The PK position is used as a holding place for the jumper for a slave drive in systems  
that do not support Cable Select. The pins used for the parking position are vendor  
unique.  
3-6 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
             
Installation  
For user capacities below 66,055,248 sectors (32 GB), inserting the AC jumper limits  
the Number of Cylinders field to a value of 4,092, as reported in IDENTIFY  
DEVICE data word 1. This allows software drivers to determine that the actual  
capacity is larger than indicated by the maximum CHS, requiring LBA addressing to  
use the full capacity.  
For larger user capacities above 66,055,248 sectors (32 GB), inserting the AC jumper  
limits the Total Number of User Addressable Sectors field to a value of 66,055,248,  
as reported in IDENTIFY DEVICE data words 60 and 61. This protects hosts which  
are not able to address beyond this capacity.  
A summary of these effects for the Maxtor D540X-4K drives is shown in the  
following table:  
C=16,383  
H=16  
C=4,092  
H=16  
S=63  
S=63  
LBA=39,876,480  
LBA=39,876,480  
C=16,383  
H=16  
C=16,383  
H=16  
S=63  
S=63  
LBA=78,198,750  
LBA=66,055,248  
C=16,383  
H=16  
C=16,383  
H=16  
S=63  
S=63  
LBA=117,266,688  
LBA=66,055,248  
C=16,383  
H=16  
C=16,383  
H=16  
S=63  
S=63  
LBA=156,301,488  
LBA= 66,055,248  
AT Connector and Jumper Location  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-7  
   
Installation  
There are two ways you can configure a system to allow the Maxtor D540X-4K  
hard disk drives to communicate over the ATA bus of an IBM or IBM-compatible  
PC:  
2. Install an IDE-compatible adapter board in the PC, and connect the drive  
to the adapter board.  
Most PC motherboards have a built-in 40-pin ATA bus connector that is compatible  
with the 40-pin ATA interface of the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB  
AT hard disk drives. If the motherboard has an ATA connector, simply connect a  
40-pin ribbon cable between the drive and the motherboard.  
You should also refer to the motherboard instruction manual, and refer to Chapter  
6 of this manual to ensure signal compatibility.  
If your PC motherboard does not contain a built-in 40-pin ATA bus interface  
connector, you must install an ATA bus adapter board and connecting cable to allow  
the drive to interface with the motherboard. Maxtor does not supply such an adapter  
board, but they are available from several third-party vendors.  
Please carefully read the instruction manual that comes with your adapter board, as  
well as Chapter 6 of this manual to ensure signal compatibility between the adapter  
board and the drive. Also, make sure that the adapter board jumper settings are  
appropriate.  
3-8 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
Installation  
Drive mounting orientation, clearance, and ventilation requirements are described  
in the following subsections.  
The mounting holes on the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard  
disk drives allow the drive to be mounted in any orientation. Figure 3-6 and Figure  
3-7 show the location of the three mounting holes on each side of the drive. The  
drive can also be mounted using the four mounting hole locations on the PCB side  
of the drive.  
Note: It is highly recommended that the drive is hard mounted on to  
the chassis of the system being used for general operation, as well  
as for test purposes. Failure to hard mount the drive can result in  
erroneous errors during testing.  
Drives can be mounted in any orientation. Normal position is  
with the PCB facing down.  
All dimensions are in millimeters. For mounting, # 6-32 UNC screws are  
recommended.  
Mounting Dimensions for the Maxtor D540X-4K Hard Disk Drives  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-9  
             
Installation  
Mounting Screw Clearance for the Maxtor D540X-4K Hard Disk Drives  
The PCB is very close to the mounting holes. Do not exceed  
the specified length for the mounting screws. The specified  
screw length allows full use of the mounting hole threads,  
while avoiding damaging or placing unwanted stress on the  
PCB. Figure 3-8 specifies the minimum clearance between  
the PCB and the screws in the mounting holes. To avoid  
stripping the mounting hole threads, the maximum torque ap-  
plied to the screws must not exceed 8 inch-pounds. A maxi-  
mum screw length of 0.25 inches may be used.  
3-10 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
Installation  
Clearance from the drive to any other surface (except mounting surfaces) must be a  
minimum of 1.25 mm (0.05 inches).  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives operate  
without a cooling fan, provided the ambient air temperature does not exceed 131°F  
(55°C) at any point along the drive form factor envelope.  
J1 is a three-in-one combination connector. The drives DC power can be applied  
to section A. The ATA bus interface (40-pin) uses section C. The connector is  
mounted on the back edge of the printed-circuit board (PCB), as shown in Figure  
3-9.  
J1 DC Power and ATA Bus Combination Connector  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-11  
                 
Installation  
The recommended mating connectors for the +5 VDC and +12 VDC input power  
are listed in Table 3-2.  
J1 Power Connector, Section A  
J 1 Section A (4-Pin):  
1
2
+12 VDC  
4-Pin Connector:  
AMP P/N 1-480424-0  
Loose piece contacts:  
AMP P/N VS 60619-4  
Strip contacts:  
Ground  
Return for  
+12 VDC  
AMP P/N VS 61117-4  
3
4
Ground  
Return for  
+5 VDC  
+5 VDC  
Note: Labels indicate the pin numbers on the connector. Pins 2 and 3 of  
section A are the +5 and +12 volt returns and are connected together  
on the drive.  
An external drive activity LED may be connected to the DASP-I/ O pin 39 on J1.  
For more details, see the pin description in Table 6-1.  
On the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives, the ATA  
bus interface cable connector (J1, section C) is a 40-pin Universal Header, as shown  
in Figure 3-9.  
To prevent the possibility of incorrect installation, the connector has been keyed by  
removing Pin 20. This ensures that a connector cannot be installed upside down.  
See Chapter 6, ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands,for more detailed  
information about the required signals. R efer to Table 6-1 for the pin assignments  
of the ATA bus connector (J1, section C).  
3-12 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
           
Installation  
You can install the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk  
drives in an AT-compatible system that contains a 40-pin ATA bus connector on  
the motherboard.  
To connect the drive to the motherboard, use a 40 conductor ribbon cable (80  
conductor ribbon cable if using UltraATA/ 66 drive) 18 inches in length or shorter.  
Ensure that pin 1 of the drive is connected to pin 1 of the motherboard connector.  
To install the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drive in  
an AT-compatible system without a 40-pin ATA bus connector on its motherboard,  
you need a third-party IDE-compatible adapter board.  
Carefully read the manual that accompanies your adapter board before installing it.  
Make sure that all the jumpers are set properly and that there are no address or signal  
conflicts. You must also investigate to see if your AT-compatible system contains a  
combination floppy and hard disk controller board. If it does, you must disable the  
hard disk drive controller functions on that controller board before proceeding.  
Once you have disabled the hard disk drive controller functions on the floppy/ hard  
drive controller, install the adapter board. Again, make sure that you have set all  
jumper straps on the adapter board to avoid addressing and signal conflicts.  
Note: For Sections 3.7 and 3.8, power should be turned off on the  
computer before installing the drive.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-13  
           
Installation  
Use a 40-pin ribbon cable to connect the drive to the board. See Figure 3-10. To  
connect the drive to the board:  
2. Insert the other end of the cable into the header on the drive. When  
inserting this end of the cable, make sure that pin 1 of the cable connects to  
pin 1 of the drive connector.  
3. Secure the drive to the system chassis by using the mounting screws, as  
shown in Figure 3-11.  
Drive Power Supply and ATA Bus Interface Cables  
3-14 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
   
Installation  
Completing the Drive Installation  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-15  
 
Installation  
Older BIOS that only support Int 13 commands for accessing ATA drives through  
DOS based operating systems will be limited to use only 1024 cylinders. This will  
reduce the effective capacity of the drive to 528 Mbytes.  
Whenever possible the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT drive  
should be used on systems that support LBA translation to ensure the use of the  
entire capacity of the disk drive. If that is not possible the following are some  
techniques that can be used to overcome this barrier.  
Use a third party software program that translates the hard drive  
parameters to an acceptable configuration for MS-DOS.  
Use a hard disk controller that translates the hard drive parameters to an  
appropriate setup for both MS-DOS and the computer systems R OM-  
BIOS.  
Insert the Alternate Capacity jumper on the drive (see Section 3.3.5).  
Newer BIOSs allow users to configure disk drives to go beyond the 528 MB barrier  
by using several BIOS translation schemes. However, while using these translations  
the BIOS using Int 13 functions are limited to 24 bits of addressing which results in  
another barrier at the 8.4 GB capacity.  
To overcome this barrier a new set of Int 13 extensions are being implemented by  
most BIOS manufacturers. The new Int 13 extensions use a 64-bit address field  
resulting in 9.4 terabytes of accessible space.  
Whenever possible the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT drive  
should be used on systems with BIOS that support Int 13 extensions. If that is not  
possible the following are some techniques that can be used to overcome this barrier:  
Use a third party software that supplements the BIOS and adds Int 13  
extension support.  
Obtain a BIOS upgrade from the system board manufacturer. Many  
system board manufacturers allow their BIOS to be upgraded in the field  
using special download utilities. Information on BIOS upgrades can be  
obtained on the System Board Customer Service respective web sites on  
the Internet.  
Insert the Alternate Capacity jumper on the drive (see Section 3.3.5).  
3-16 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
     
Installation  
Most popular operating systems available today have additional limitations which  
affect the use of large capacity drives. However, these limitations can not be  
corrected on the BIOS and it is up to the operating system manufacturers to release  
improved versions to address these problems.  
The most popular operating systems available today, DOS and Win 95, use a File  
Allocation Table (FAT) size of 16 bits which will only support partitions up to 2.1  
GB. A newer release of Win 95 called OSR2 with a 32 bit FAT has been released  
to system manufacturers only. This new FAT size table will support partitions of up  
to 2.2 terabytes. The Windows NT file system (NTFS) does not have this limit.  
Once you have installed the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard  
disk drive, and adapter board (if required) in the host system, you are ready to  
partition and format the drive for operation. To set up the drive correctly, follow  
these steps:  
2. Run the SETUP program. This is generally on a Diagnostics or Utilities  
disk, or within the systems BIOS. Some system BIOS have an auto-  
detecting feature making SETUP unnecessary.  
3. Enter the appropriate parameters.  
4.  
The SETUP program allows you to enter the types of optional hardware installed—  
such as the hard disk drive type, the floppy disk drive capacity, and the display  
adapter type. The systems BIOS uses this information to initialize the system when  
the power is switched on. For instructions on how to use the SETUP program, refer  
to the system manual for your PC.  
During the AT system CMOS setup, you must enter the drive type for the Maxtor  
D540X-4K hard disk drives. The drive supports the translation of its physical drive  
geometry parameters such as cylinders, heads, and sectors per track to a logical  
addressing mode. The drive can work with different BIOS drive-type tables of the  
various host systems.  
You can choose any drive type that does not exceed the capacity of the drive. Table  
3-3 gives the logical parameters that provide the maximum capacity on the Maxtor  
D540X-4K family of hard disk drives.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
3-17  
   
Installation  
LBA Capacity  
CHS Capacity  
20,416 MB  
40,037 MB  
60,040 MB  
80,026 MB  
8,455 MB*  
(Default)  
8,455 MB*  
(Default)  
8,455 MB*  
(Default)  
8,455 MB*  
(Default)  
20,416 MB  
(Configurable)  
40,037 MB  
(Configurable)  
60,040 MB  
(Configurable)  
80,026 MB  
(Configurable)  
LogicalCylinders 16,383*  
16,383*  
16  
16,383*  
16  
16,383*  
16  
Logical Heads  
16  
63  
Logical Sectors/  
Track  
63  
63  
63  
Total Num ber  
Logical Sectors  
39,876,480  
78,198,750  
117,266,688  
156,301,488  
Note: *Capacity may be restricted to 8.4 GB (or less) due to system  
BIOS limitations. Check with your system manufacturer to de-  
termine if your BIOS supports LBA Mode for hard drives greater  
than 8.4 GB. Default logical cylinders is limited to 16,383 by the  
ATA standard.  
To match the logical specifications of the drive to the drive type of a particular  
BIOS, consult the systems drive-type table. This table specifies the number of  
cylinders, heads, and sectors for a particular drive type.  
5.  
Boot the system using the operating system installation diskfor example,  
MS-DOSthen follow the installation instructions in the operating system  
manual.  
3-18 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
         
This chapter gives a detailed description of the physical, electrical, and environmental  
characteristics of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives.  
Table 4-1 gives a summary of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives.  
Specifications  
Capacity  
20.41 GB  
5388  
40.03 GB  
5388  
60.04 GB  
5388  
80.02 GB  
5388  
Nom inal rotational  
speed (rpm )1  
Num ber of Disks  
1
1
1
2
2
3
2
4
Num ber of R/W  
heads  
Data Organization:  
Zones per surface  
Tracks per surface  
Total tracks  
15  
15  
15  
15  
54,982  
54,982  
54,982  
109,964  
54,982  
164,946  
54,982  
219,928  
Sectors per track:  
Inside zone  
486  
486  
486  
486  
Outside zone  
950  
950  
950  
950  
Total User Sectors  
Bytes per sector  
39,876,480  
512  
78,198,750  
512  
117,266,688  
512  
156,301,488  
512  
Num ber of tracks  
per cylinder  
1
2
3
4
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-1  
     
Specifications  
Recording:  
Recordingtechnology Multiple  
Zone  
Multiple  
Zone  
Multiple Zone Multiple Zone  
Maxim um linear den- 535,671 fci  
sity  
535,671 fci  
535,671 fci  
535,671 fci  
Encoding m ethod  
24/25  
24/25  
24/25  
24/25  
NPRML  
NPRML  
NPRML  
NPRML  
Interleave  
1:1  
1:1  
1:1  
1:1  
Track density  
56,170 tpi  
56,170 tpi  
56,170 tpi  
56,170 tpi  
Maxim um effective  
areal density  
29.88  
Gbits/in  
29.88  
Gbits/in  
29.88  
Gbits/in  
29.88  
Gbits/in  
Perform ance:  
Seek tim es:  
Average Read  
12 m s typ.  
12 m s typ.  
12 m s typ.  
12 m s typ.  
15 m s m ax.  
15 m s m ax.  
15 m s m ax.  
15 m s m ax.  
Track-to-track  
Average write  
Full stroke  
2 m s  
typical  
2 m s  
typical  
2 m s  
typical  
2 m s  
typical  
15 m s typ.  
18 m s m ax.  
15 m s typ.  
18 m s m ax.  
15 m s typ.  
18 m s m ax.  
15 m s typ.  
18 m s m ax.  
24 m s typ.  
24 m s typ.  
24 m s typ.  
24 m s typ.  
28 m s m ax.  
28 m s m ax.  
28 m s m ax.  
28 m s m ax.  
Data transfer Rates:  
Disk to Read Once a  
Revolution2, 3  
175.39 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
175.39 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
175.39 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
175.39 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
377.84 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
377.84 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
377.84 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
377.84 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
Disk to Read  
230.77 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
230.77 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
230.77 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
230.77 Mb/  
sec. m in.  
Instantaneously2  
493.59 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
493.59 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
493.59 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
493.59 Mb/  
sec. m ax.  
Read Buffer to ATA  
Bus  
(PIO Mode with  
IORDY)  
16.7 MB/  
sec. m axi-  
m um  
16.7 MB/  
sec. m axi-  
m um  
16.7 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
16.7 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
Read Buffer to ATA  
Bus  
100 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
100 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
100 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
100 MB/sec.  
m axim um  
(Ultra ATA Mode)  
Buffer Size  
2 MB  
2 MB  
2 MB  
2 MB  
4-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
   
Specifications  
Reliability:  
Seek error rate  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
1 in 10  
Unrecoverable error  
rate  
1 in 10  
Error correction  
m ethod  
360-bit  
Reed  
360-bit  
Reed  
360-bit  
Reed  
360-bit  
Reed  
(with cross check)  
Solom on  
Solom on  
Solom on  
Solom on  
Projected MTBF  
800,000 hrs  
50,000 m in.  
800,000 hrs  
50,000 m in.  
800,000 hrs  
50,000 m in.  
800,000 hrs  
50,000 m in.  
Contact Start/Stop  
Cycles (Am bient  
tem perature)  
Auto head-park m ethod  
1. Spindle speed is 5388 R PM +/ - 0.1%.  
2. Disk to read buffer transfer rate is zone-dependent, instantaneous  
3. R efer to Section 4.14, DISK ER R OR Sfor details on error rate definitions.  
4. CSS specifications assumes a duty cycle of one power off operation for every one  
idle spin down.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-3  
 
Specifications  
At the factory, the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives  
receive a low-level format that creates the actual tracks and sectors on the drive. Table  
4-2 shows the capacity resulting from this process. Formatting done at the user level,  
for operation with DOS, UNIX, or other operating systems, may result in less capacity  
than the physical capacity shown in Table 4-2.  
Formatted Capacity  
Capacity  
20.41 GB  
40.03 GB  
60.04 GB  
80.02 GB  
Num ber of 512-  
byte sectors avail- 39,876,480  
able  
78,198,750  
117,266,688  
156,301,488  
Data is transferred from the disk to the read buffer at a rate of up to 283.20 Mb/ s  
in bursts. Data is transferred from the read buffer to the ATA bus at a rate of up to  
16.7 MB/ s using programmed I/ O with IORDY, or at a rate of up to 66 MB/ s  
using Ultra ATA/ 100. For more detailed information on interface timing, refer to  
Chapter 6.  
4-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
             
Specifications  
Table 4-3 illustrates the timing specifications of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk  
drives.  
Timing Specifications  
Sequential Cylinder Switch Tim e  
Sequential Head Switch Tim e  
Random Average (Read or Seek)  
Random Average (Write)  
Full-Stroke Seek  
2 m s  
2 m s  
12 m s  
15 m s  
24 m s  
3 m s  
3 m s  
15 m s  
18 m s  
28 m s  
Average Rotational Latency  
Power On to Drive Ready  
Standby to Interface Ready  
Spindown Tim e, Standby Com -  
m and  
5.56 m s  
7.5 seconds  
6 seconds  
6 seconds  
12 seconds  
12 seconds  
15 seconds  
Spindown Tim e, Power loss  
12 seconds  
30 seconds  
1. Nominal conditions are as follows:  
Nominal temperature 77°F (25°C)  
Nominal supply voltages (12.0V, 5.0V)  
No applied shock or vibration  
2. Worst case conditions are as follows:  
Worst case temperature extremes 41°F to 131°F (5°C to 55°C)  
Worst case supply voltages (12.0V ±10%, 5.0 V ±5%)  
3. Sequential Cylinder Switch Time is the time from the conclusion of the last sector  
of a cylinder to the first logical sector on the next cylinder (no more than 6% of  
cylinder switches exceed this time).  
4. Sequential Head Switch Time is the time from the last sector of a track to the  
beginning of the first logical sector of the next track of the same cylinder (no more  
than 6% of head switches exceed this time).  
5. Power On is the time from when the supply voltages reach operating range to  
when the drive is ready to accept any command.  
6. Drive R eady is the condition in which the disks are rotating at the rated speed,  
and the drive is able to accept and execute commands requiring disk access  
without further delay at power or start up. Error recovery routines may extend  
the time to as long as 45 seconds for drive ready.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-5  
           
Specifications  
7. Standby is the condition at which the microprocessor is powered, but not the  
HDA. When the host sends the drive a shutdown command, the drive parks the  
heads away from the data zone, and spins down to a complete stop.  
8. After this time it is safe to move the disk drive  
9. Average random seek is defined as the average seek time between random logical  
block addresses (LBAs).  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives operate from  
two supply voltages:  
+12V ±10%  
+5V ±5%  
The allowable ripple and noise is 250 mV peak-to-peak for the +12 Volt supply and  
150 mV peak-to-peak for the +5 Volt supply. The allowable ripple noise for each  
voltage is measured at the power supply with the drive not attached to it.  
You may apply the power in any order, or open either the power or power return  
line with no loss of data or damage to the disk drive. The drive can withstand transient  
voltages of +10% to -100% from nominal when powering up or down. However, data  
may be lost in the sector being written at the time of power loss. Also if power voltage  
dwells in the range around reset (9.2 - 9.7 V at 12 V or 3.4 - 4.0 at 5 V) for several  
seconds, the drive may disable itself. These voltages are outside expected operational  
limits. However, they will occur during testing. To avoid this event during the testing  
of reset limits, increase line voltages in 200 mV increments.  
When powering up, the drive remains reset (inactive) until both rising voltage  
thresholds reset limits are exceeded. When powering down, the drive becomes reset  
when any supply voltage drops below the falling voltage threshold.  
Power Reset Limits  
+5 V  
V = 4.10 V m inim um  
75 m V (typical)  
V
= 4.10 V m axim um  
+12 V  
V
V
= 9.30 V m inim um  
= 10.45 V m axim um  
425 m V (typical)  
4-6 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
               
Specifications  
Table 4-5 lists the voltages and typical average corresponding currents for the various  
modes of operation of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives.  
Typical Power and Current Consumption  
Startup  
(peak)  
1700  
200  
600  
35  
1700  
250  
570  
35  
700  
580  
590  
100  
630  
700  
580  
600  
110  
Idle  
Maxim um  
Seeking  
Standby  
Read/Write On  
Track  
210  
250  
630  
Startup (peak)  
Idle  
20  
6.0  
10  
20  
6.0  
10  
Maxim um Seeking  
Standby  
0.9  
6.0  
0.9  
7.0  
Read/Write On Track  
1. Current is rms except for startup. Startup current is the typical peak current  
measured an average (over 1 ms) from power-on till the drive is ready.  
2. Power requirements reflect nominal for +12V and +5V power.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-7  
       
Specifications  
3. Idle mode is in effect when the drive is not reading, writing, seeking, or executing  
any commands. A portion of the R / W circuitry is powered down, the motor is  
up to speed and the Drive R eady condition exists.  
4. Maximum seeking is defined as continuous random seek operations with typical  
host command overhead.  
5. Standby mode is defined as when the motor is stopped, the actuator is parked, and  
all electronics except the interface control are in low power state. Standby occurs  
after a programmable time-out after the last host access. Drive ready and seek  
complete status exist. The drive leaves standby upon receipt of a command that  
requires disk access or upon receiving a spinup command.  
6. R ead/ Write On Track is defined as 50% read operations and 50% write  
operations on a single physical track.  
Table 4-6 specifies the acoustical characteristics of the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/  
60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drive. The acoustics are measured in an anechoic chamber  
with background noise at least <10dBA less than the expected sound pressure Lp(A).  
To distinguish between sound power and sound pressure standards, sound power  
Lw(A) is specified in Bels. The relationship between bels and dBA for sound power is  
1 bel = 10dBA.  
Acoustical CharacteristicsSound Power  
Idle On Track  
20.4/40.0 GB AT (1-Disk)  
60.0/80.0 GB GB AT (2-Disk)  
2.8 Bels  
2.9 Bels  
3.4 Bels  
3.5 Bels  
Seeking Random  
20.4/40.0 GB AT (1-Disk)  
60.0/80.0 GB AT (2-Disk)  
2.9 Bels  
3.1 Bels  
3.4 Bels  
3.6 Bels  
4-8 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
   
Specifications  
Height: 1.0 in.(25.4 mm)  
Width: 4.0 in.(101.6 mm)  
Depth: 5.75 in.(146.1 mm)  
Weight: Maxtor D540X-4K 40.0 GB AT (2-Disk) 1.3 lb  
Table 4-7 summarizes the environmental specifications of the Maxtor D540X-4K  
hard disk drives.  
Environmental Specifications  
Tem perature  
5° to 55°C  
-40° to 65°C  
(Non-condensing)  
(41° to 131°F)  
(-40° to 149°F)  
Tem perature Gradient  
(Non-condensing)  
24°C/hr m axim um  
(75.2°F/hr)  
48°C/hr m axim um  
(118.4°F/hr)  
Hum idity (Non-condens- 5% to 85% RH  
5% to 95% RH  
ing)  
37°C (98.6°F)  
46°C (114.8°F)  
Maxim um Wet Bulb  
Tem perature  
Hum idity Gradient  
Altitude  
30% / hour  
30% / hour  
200 m to 3,000 m  
200 m to 12, 000 m  
(650 to 10,000 ft.)  
(650 to 40,000 ft.)  
Altitude Gradient  
1.5 kPa/m in  
8 kPa/m in  
1. Maximum operating temperature must not exceed the drive at any point along  
the drive form factor envelope. Airflow or other means must be used as needed  
to meet this requirement.  
2. The humidity range shown is applicable for temperatures whose combination  
does not result in condensation in violation of the wet bulb specifications.  
3. Altitude is relative to sea level.  
4. The specified drive uncorrectable error rate will not be exceeded over these  
conditions.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-9  
       
Specifications  
The Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives can withstand  
levels of shock and vibration applied to any of its three mutually perpendicular axes,  
or principal base axis, as specified in Table 4-8. A functioning drive can be subjected  
to specified operating levels of shock and vibration. When a drive has been subjected  
to specified nonoperating levels of shock and vibration, with power to the drive off,  
there will be no loss of user data at power on.  
When packed in its 1-pack shipping container, the Maxtor D540X-4K drives can  
withstand a drop from 30 inches onto a concrete surface on any of its surfaces, six  
edges, or three corners. The 20-pack shipping container can withstand a drop from  
30 inches onto a concrete surface on any of its surfaces, six edges, or three corners.  
Shock and Vibration Specifications  
Translational 1/2 sine wave  
2 m s duration  
1 m s duration  
20 Gs (write)  
63 Gs (read)  
300 Gs  
110 G s  
Rotational 2 m s applied at  
actuator pivot point  
2,000 rad/sec  
20,000 rad/sec  
Vibration  
Random Vibration (G /Hz)  
Sine wave (peak to peak)  
0.004 (10500 Hz)  
1.0 Gs P-P (5500 Hz)  
0.05 (10300 Hz)  
2 Gs P-P 5500 Hz  
1/2 octave per m inute sweep  
1. The specified drive unrecovered error rate will not be exceeded over these  
conditions.  
4-10 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
Specifications  
Before handling the Maxtor hard disk drive some precautions must to be taken to  
ensure that the drive is not damaged. Use both hands while handling the drive and  
hold the drive by its edges. Maxtor drives are designed to withstand normal handling,  
however, hard drives can be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD), dropping the  
drive, rough handling, and mishandling. Use of a properly grounded wrist strap to the  
earth is strongly recommended. Always keep the drive inside its special antistatic bag  
until ready to install.  
Note: To avoid causing any damage to the drive do not touch or remove  
the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or any of its components when  
handling the drive. Doing so will cause ESD damage to the drive.  
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF):  
The projected field MTBF is 800,000  
hours. The Maxtor MTBF numbers  
represent Bell-Core TR-332 Issue # 6,  
December 1997 MTBF predictions and  
represent the minimum MTBF that  
Maxtor or a customer would expect from  
the drive.  
Component Life:  
5 years  
Preventive Maintenance (PM):  
Start/ Stop:  
Not required  
50,000 cycles @ ambient  
Note: Drive reliability is closely related to the temperature the drive is ex-  
posed to. The operational design environment is 35°C at 71% uti-  
lization or 6240 POH/ year.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
4-11  
       
Specifications  
5 Volts/ meter over a range of 10 KHz to 1 GHz.  
0.5 g-mm maximum  
(This is approximately equivalent to 0.05 g emitted vibrations)  
Table 4-9 provides the error rates for the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives.  
Error Rates  
Retry recovered read errors  
Unrecovered data errors  
Seek errors  
1 event per 10 bits read  
1 event per 10 bits read  
1 error per 10 seeks  
1. R etry recovered read errors are errors which require retries for data correction.  
Errors corrected by ECC on-the-fly are not considered recovered read errors.  
R ead on arrival is disabled to meet this specification. Errors corrected by the  
thermal asperity correction are not considered recovered read errors.  
2. Unrecovered read errors are errors that are not correctable using ECC or retries.  
The drive terminates retry reads either when a repeating error pattern occurs, or  
after the programmed limit for unsuccessful retries and the application of  
quadruple-burst error correction.  
3. Seek errors occur when the actuator fails to reach (or remain) over the requested  
cylinder and the drive requires the execution of a full recalibration routine to  
locate the requested cylinder.  
Note: Error rates are for worst case temperature and voltage.  
4-12 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
This chapter describes the operation of Maxtor D540X-4K AT hard disk drives’  
functional subsystems. It is intended as a guide to the operation of the drive, rather  
than a detailed theory of operation.  
This section describes the drive mechanism. Section 5.2 describes the drive  
electronics. The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives consist of a mechanical assembly  
and a PCB as shown in Figure 5-1.  
The head/ disk assembly (HDA) contains the mechanical subassemblies of the drive,  
which are sealed under a metal cover. The HDA consists of the following  
components:  
Automatic actuator lock  
Air filter  
The drive is assembled in a Class-100 clean room.  
To ensure that the air in the HDA remains free of  
contamination, never remove or adjust its cover and seals.  
Tampering with the HDA will void your warranty.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-1  
             
Basic Principles of Operation  
Hard Disk Drive Exploded View  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-2  
 
Basic Principles of Operation  
A single-piece, e-coated, aluminum-alloy base casting provides a mounting surface for  
the drive mechanism and PCB. The base casting also acts as the flange for the DC  
motor assembly. To provide a contamination-free environment for the HDA, a gasket  
provides a seal between the base casting, and the metal cover that encloses the drive  
mechanism.  
Integral with the base casting, the DC motor assembly is a fixed-shaft, brushless DC  
spindle motor that drives the counter-clockwise rotation of the disks.  
The disk stack assembly in the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives consist of disks  
secured by a disk clamp. The aluminum-alloy disks have a sputtered thin-film  
magnetic coating.  
A carbon overcoat lubricates the disk surface. This prevents head and media wear due  
to head contact with the disk surface during head takeoff and landing. Head contact  
with the disk surface occurs only in the landing zone outside of the data area, when  
the disk is not rotating at full speed. The landing zone is located at the inner diameter  
of the disk, beyond the last cylinder of the data area.  
Cylinder Contents  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9
3462  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
3680  
60  
486  
520  
560  
600  
628  
666  
700  
738  
771  
804  
836  
860  
900  
920  
950  
400  
243.59  
260.18  
280.54  
291.86  
315.93  
332.69  
348.08  
372.47  
389.42  
408.12  
423.08  
437.50  
452.66  
467.31  
481.78  
269.23  
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
System Data  
0
1. For user data, zone 15 is the innermost zone and zone 1 is the outermost zone.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT 5-3  
               
Basic Principles of Operation  
The headstack assembly consists of read/ write heads, head arms, and a coil joined  
together by insertion molding to form a rotor subassembly, bearings, and a flex circuit.  
R ead/ write heads mounted to spring-steel flexures are swage mounted onto the rotary  
positioner assembly arms.  
The flex circuit connects the headstack assembly to the PCB through a compression  
connector. The flex circuit contains a read preamplifier/ write driver IC.  
The rotary positioner, or rotary voice-coil actuator, is a Maxtor-proprietary design  
that consists of upper and lower permanent magnet plates, a rotary single-phase coil  
molded around the headstack mounting hub, and a bearing shaft. The single bi-polar  
magnet consists of two alternating poles and is bonded to the magnet plate. A resilient  
crash stop prevents the heads from being driven into the spindle or off the disk surface.  
Current from the power amplifier induces a magnetic field in the voice coil.  
Fluctuations in the field around the permanent magnet cause the voice coil to move.  
The movement of the voice coil positions the heads over the requested cylinder.  
To ensure data integrity and prevent damage during shipment, the drive uses a  
dedicated landing zone, an actuator magnetic retract, and Maxtors patented Airlock .  
The Airlock holds the headstack in the landing zone whenever the disks are not  
rotating. It consists of an air vane mounted near the perimeter of the disk stack, and a  
locking arm that restrains the actuator arm assembly.  
When DC power is applied to the motor and the disk stack rotates, the rotation  
generates an airflow on the surface of the disk. As the flow of air across the air vane  
increases with disk rotation, the locking arm pivots away from the actuator arm,  
enabling the headstack to move out of the landing zone. When DC power is  
removed from the motor, an electronic return mechanism automatically pulls the  
actuator into the landing zone, where the magnetic actuator retract force holds it until  
the Airlock closes and latches it in place.  
5-4  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
                         
Basic Principles of Operation  
The Maxtor D540X-4K AT hard disk drives are Winchester-type drives. The heads  
fly very close to the media surface. Therefore, it is essential that the air circulating  
within the drive be kept free of particles. Maxtor assembles the drive in a Class-100  
purified air environment, then seals the drive with a metal cover. When the drive is  
in use, the rotation of the disks forces the air inside of the drive through an internal  
0.3 micron filter. The internal HDA cavity pressure equalizes to the external pressure  
change by passing air through a 0.3 micron, carbon impregnated breather filter.  
Advanced circuit (Very Large Scale Integration) design and the use of miniature  
surface-mounted devices and proprietary VLSI components enable the drive  
electronics, including the ATA bus interface, to reside on a single printed circuit board  
assembly (PCBA).  
Figure 5-2 contains a simplified block diagram of the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk  
drive electronics.  
The only electrical component not on the PCBA is the PreAmplifier and Write  
Driver IC. It is on the flex circuit (inside of the sealed HDA). Mounting the  
preamplifier as close as possible to the read/ write heads improves the signal-to-noise  
ratio. The flex circuit (including the PreAmplifier and Write Driver IC) provides the  
electrical connection between the PCB, the rotary positioner assembly, and read/  
write heads.  
Maxtor D540X-4K AT Hard Disk Drive Block Diagram  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-5  
           
Basic Principles of Operation  
The integrated µProcessor, Disk Controller, and ATA Interface Electronics have nine  
functional modules (described below):  
µProcessor  
Digital Synchronous Spoke (DSS)  
Error Correction Code (ECC) Control  
Formatter  
Buffer Controller  
Servo Controller, including PWM  
Serial Interface  
ATA Interface Controller  
Motor Controller  
The µProcessor core provides local processor services to the drive electronics under  
program control. The µProcessor manages the resources of the Disk Controller, and  
ATA Interface internally. It also manages the R ead/ Write ASIC (Application Specific  
Integrated Circuit), and the Spindle/ VCM driver externally.  
The DSS decodes servo information written on the drive at the factory to determine  
the position of the read/ write head. It interfaces with the read/ write channel, process  
timing and position information, and stores it in registers that are read by the servo  
firmware.  
The Error Correction Code (ECC) Control block utilizes a Reed-Solomon encoder/  
decoder circuit that is used for disk read/ write operations. It uses a total of 36  
redundancy bytes organized as 32 ECC (Error Correction Code) bytes with four  
interleaves, and four cross-check bytes. The ECC uses eight bits per symbol and four  
interleaves. This allows quadruple-burst error correction of at least 96, and as many as  
128 bits in error.  
The Formatter controls the operation of the read and write channel portions of the  
ASIC. To initiate a disk operation, the µProcessor loads a command into the ASIC  
registers.  
The Formatter also directly drives the read and write gates (RG, WG) and Command  
Mode Interface of the Read/ Write ASIC and the R / W Preamplifier, as well as passing  
write data to the Precompensator circuit in the R ead/ Write ASIC.  
5-6  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
               
Basic Principles of Operation  
The Buffer Controller supports a 1.75 MB buffer. The 16-bit width implementation  
provides a 60 MB/ s maximum buffer bandwidth. This increased bandwidth allows the  
µProcessor to have direct access to the buffer, eliminating the need for a separate  
µProcessor R AM IC.  
The Buffer Controller supports both drive and host address rollover and reloading, to  
allow for buffer segmentation. Drive and host addresses may be separately loaded for  
automated read/ write functions.  
The Buffer Controller operates under the direction of the µProcessor.  
The Servo Processor in the R ead Write Channel ASIC provides servo data recovery  
and burst demodulation to extract the actuator position information. This information  
is processed in the controller ASIC/ microprocessor, and a control signal is output to  
the VCM in the Power ASIC. This controls the current in the actuator coil which  
controls the position of the actuator.  
The R ead/ Write interface allows the integrated µprocessor, disk controller to  
communicate with the R ead/ Write chip.  
The ATA Interface Controller portion of the ASIC provides data handling, bus  
control, and transfer management services for the ATA interface. Configuration and  
control of the interface is accomplished by the µController across the MAD bus. Data  
transfer operations are controlled by the Buffer Controller module.  
The Motor Controller controls the spindle and voice coil motor (VCM) mechanism  
on the drive.  
The R ead/ Write ASIC integrates an Advanced Partial R esponse Maximum  
Likelihood (PR ML) processor, a selectable code rate Encoder-Decoder (ENDEC),  
and a Servo Processor with data rates up to 270 MHz (259 Mb/ s). Programming is  
done through a fast 40 MHz serial interface. The controller and data interface through  
an 8-bit wide data interface. The R ead/ Write ASIC is a low power 3.3 Volts, single  
supply, with selective power down capabilities.  
The Read/ Write ASIC comprises 12 main functional modules (described below):  
Pre-Compensator  
Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA)  
Butterworth Filter  
FIR Filter  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-7  
                       
Basic Principles of Operation  
Flash A/ D Converter  
Viterbi Detector  
ENDEC  
Servo Processor  
Clock Synthesizer  
PLL  
Serial Interface  
TA Detection and Correction  
The pre-compensator introduces pre-compensation to the write data received from  
the sequencer module in the DCIIA. The pre-compensated data is then passed to the  
R / W Pre-Amplifier and written to the disk. Pre-compensation reduces the write  
interference from adjacent write bit.  
Digital and analog controlled AGC function with input attenuator for extended range.  
Continuous time data filter which can be programmed for each zone rate.  
Digitally controlled and programmable filter for partial response signal conditioning.  
Provides very high speed digitization of the processed read signal.  
Decodes ADC result into binary bit stream.  
Provides 16/ 17 or 24/ 25 code conversion to NR Z. Includes preamble and sync mark  
generation and detection.  
Servo processor with servo data recovery and burst demodulation.  
Provides programmable frequencies for each zone data rate.  
Provides digital read clock recovery.  
5-8  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
                           
Basic Principles of Operation  
High speed interface for digital control of all internal blocks.  
Detects thermal asperitiesdefective sectors and enables thermal asperity recoveries.  
The PreAmplifier and Write Driver provides write driver and read pre-amplifier  
functions, and R / W head selection. The write driver receives precompensated write  
data from the PreCompensator module in the Read/ Write ASIC. The write driver  
then sends this data to the heads in the form of a corresponding alternating current.  
The read pre-amplifier amplifies the low-amplitude voltages generated by the R / W  
heads, and transmits them to the VGA module in the R ead/ Write ASIC. Head select  
is determined by the controller. The preamp also contains internal compensation for  
thermal asperity induced amplitude variation.  
This section describes the following firmware features:  
Disk caching  
Head and cylinder skewing  
Error detection and correction  
Defect management  
The Maxtor D540X-4K AT hard disk drives incorporate DisCache, a 380 K  
(minimum) disk cache, to enhance drive performance. This integrated feature is user-  
programmable and can significantly improve system throughput. R ead and write  
caching can be enabled or disabled by using the Set Configuration command.  
The cache buffer for the Maxtor D540X-4K drives features adaptive segmentation for  
more efficient use of the buffers R AM. With this feature, the buffer space used for  
read and write operations is dynamically allocated. The cache can be flexibly divided  
into several segments under program control. Each segment contains one cache entry.  
A cache entry consists of the requested read data plus its corresponding prefetch data.  
Adaptive segmentation allows the drive to make optimum use of the buffer. The  
amount of stored data can be increased.  
DisCache anticipates host-system requests for data and stores that data for faster access.  
When the host requests a particular segment of data, the caching feature uses a prefetch  
strategy to look ahead, and automatically store the subsequent data from the disk  
into high-speed R AM. If the host requests this subsequent data, the R AM is accessed  
rather than the disk.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-9  
                       
Basic Principles of Operation  
Since typically 50 percent or more of all disk requests are sequential, there is a high  
probability that subsequent data requested will be in the cache. This cached data can  
be retrieved in microseconds rather than milliseconds. As a result, DisCache can  
provide substantial time savings during at least half of all disk requests. In these  
instances, DisCache could save most of the disk transaction time by eliminating the  
seek and rotational latency delays that dominate the typical disk transaction. For  
example, in a 1K data transfer, these delays make up to 90 percent of the elapsed time.  
DisCache works by continuing to fill its cache memory with adjacent data after  
transferring data requested by the host. Unlike a noncaching controller, Maxtors disk  
controller continues a read operation after the requested data has been transferred to  
the host system. This read operation terminates after a programmed amount of  
subsequent data has been read into the cache segment.  
The cache memory consists of a 369 K (approximately) DRAM buffer allocated to  
hold the data, which can be directly accessed by the host by means of the READ and  
WR ITE commands. The memory functions as a group of segments with rollover  
points at the end of cache memory. The unit of data stored is the logical block (that  
is, a multiple of the 512 byte sector). Therefore, all accesses to the cache memory must  
be in multiples of the sector size. All non-read/ write commands force emptying of the  
cache:  
When a write command is executed with write caching enabled, the drive stores the  
data to be written in a DRAM cache buffer, and immediately sends a GOOD  
STATUS message to the host before the data is actually written to the disk. The host  
is then free to move on to other tasks, such as preparing data for the next data transfer,  
without having to wait for the drive to seek to the appropriate track, or rotate to the  
specified sector.  
While the host is preparing data for the next transfer, the drive immediately writes the  
cached data to the disk, usually completing the operation in less than 20 ms after  
issuing GOOD STATUS. With WriteCache, a single-block random write, for  
example, requires only about 3 ms of host time. Without WriteCache, the same  
operation would occupy the host for about 20 ms.  
WriteCache allows data to be transferred in a continuous flow to the drive, rather than  
as individual blocks of data separated by disk access delays. This is achieved by taking  
advantage of the ability to write blocks of data sequentially on a disk that is formatted  
with a 1:1 interleave. This means that as the last byte of data is transferred out of the  
write cache and the head passes over the next sector of the disk, the first byte of the  
of the next block of data is ready to be transferred, thus there is no interruption or  
delay in the data transfer process.  
The WriteCache algorithm fills the cache buffer with new data from the host while  
simultaneously transferring data to the disk that the host previously stored in the cache.  
5-10  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Basic Principles of Operation  
In a drive without DisCache, there is a delay during sequential reads because of the  
rotational latency, even if the disk actuator already is positioned at the desired cylinder.  
DisCache eliminates this rotational latency time (7.14 ms on average) when requested  
data resides in the cache.  
Moreover, the disk must often service requests from multiple processes in a  
multitasking or multiuser environment. In these instances, while each process might  
request data sequentially, the disk drive must share time among all these processes. In  
most disk drives, the heads must move from one location to another. With DisCache,  
even if another process interrupts, the drive continues to access the data sequentially  
from its high-speed memory. In handling multiple processes, DisCache achieves its  
most impressive performance gains, saving both seek and latency time when desired  
data resides in the cache.  
The cache can be flexibly divided into several segments under program control. Each  
segment contains one cache entry. A cache entry consists of the requested read data  
plus its corresponding prefetch data.  
The requested read data takes up a certain amount of space in the cache segment.  
Hence, the corresponding prefetch data can essentially occupy the rest of the space  
within the segment. The other factors determining prefetch size are the maximum and  
minimum prefetch. The drives prefetch algorithm dynamically controls the actual  
prefetch value based on the current demand, with the consideration of overhead to  
subsequent commands.  
Head and cylinder skewing in the Maxtor D540X-4K AT hard disk drives minimize  
latency time and thus increases data throughput.  
Head skewing reduces the latency time that results when the drive must switch read/  
write heads to access sequential data. A head skew is employed such that the next  
logical sector of data to be accessed will be under the read/ write head once the head  
switch is made, and the data is ready to be accessed. Thus, when sequential data is on  
the same cylinder but on a different disk surface, a head switch is needed but not a  
seek. Since the sequential head-switch time is well defined on the Maxtor D540X-4K  
drives, the sector addresses can be optimally positioned across track boundaries to  
minimize the latency time during a head switch. See Table 5-2.  
Cylinder skewing is also used to minimize the latency time associated with a single-  
cylinder seek. The next logical sector of data that crosses a cylinder boundary is  
positioned on the drive such that after a single-cylinder seek is performed, and when  
the drive is ready to continue accessing data, the sector to be accessed is positioned  
directly under the read/ write head. Therefore, the cylinder skew takes place between  
the last sector of data on the last head of a cylinder, and the first sector of data on the  
first head of the next cylinder. Since single-cylinder seeks are well defined on the  
Maxtor D540X-4K drives, the sector addresses can be optimally positioned across  
cylinder boundaries to minimize the latency time associated with a single-cylinder  
seek. See Table 5-2.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-11  
 
Basic Principles of Operation  
In the ID-less environment, the drives track and cylinder skewing will be based in  
unit of wedges instead of the traditional sectors. The integrated µprocessor, disk  
controller and ATA interface contains a Wedge Skew R egisterto assist in the task  
of skewing, where the skew offset must now be calculated with every read/ write  
operation. The firmware will program the skew offset into this register every time the  
drive goes to a new track. The integrated µprocessor, disk controller and ATA  
interface will then add this value to the wedge number in the ID calculator, effectively  
relocating the firstsector of the track away from the index. For example, if without  
skew, sector 0 is to be found following wedge 0, then if the skew register is set to 10,  
sector 0 will be found following wedge 10.  
Since the wedge-to-wedge time is constant over the entire disk, a single set of head  
and cylinder skew off-sets will fulfill the requirement for all recording zones.  
Skew Offsets  
Head Skew  
2 ms  
1 ms  
45  
36  
Cylinder Skew  
The switch time is calculated on the basis of the normal wedge-  
to-wedge time with the spindle speed variation accounted for.  
Wedge offsets are rounded to the closest whole number.  
Since the wedge-to-wedge time is constant over the entire disk, a single set of head  
and cylinder skew offsets will fulfill the requirement for all recording zones. The  
formula used to compute the wedge skew for a given cylinder and head is:  
Wedge skew = [C* ((# of heads 1) * TS + CS) + H * TS] MOD 180  
Where:C = Cylinder number  
H = Head number  
TS = Head Skew Offset  
CS Cylinder Skew Offset  
(wedges/ track = 200)  
5-12  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
 
Basic Principles of Operation  
As disk drive areal densities increase, obtaining extremely low error rates requires a  
new generation of sophisticated error correction codes. Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk  
drive series implement 288-bit quadruple-burst R eed-Solomon error correction  
techniques to reduce the uncorrectable read block error rate to less than one bit in 1  
x 10 bits read.  
When errors occur, an automatic retry, a double-burst, and a more rigorous  
quadruple-burst correction algorithm enable the correction of any sector with four  
bursts of four incorrect bytes each, or up to sixteen multiple random one-byte burst  
errors. In addition to these advanced error correction capabilities, the drive uses an  
additional cross-checking code and algorithm to double check the main ECC  
correction. This greatly reduces the probability of a miscorrection.  
When a data error occurs, the Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives check to see if the  
error is correctable using hardware on-the-fly ECC correction. If the error is  
correctable using hardware on-the-fly ECC correction, the error is corrected via  
hardware and the data is transferred to the host system. The hardware on-the-fly ECC  
correction process is very quick and does not stop the disk transfer.  
If the data is not correctable using hardware on-the-fly ECC correction, the sector is  
re-read in an attempt to read the data correctly without applying firmware triple, or  
quadruple-burst ECC correction. Before invoking the firmware triple, or quadruple-  
burst ECC algorithm, the drive will always try to recover from an error by attempting  
to re-read the data correctly. This strategy prevents invoking correction on non-  
repeatable errors. Each time a sector in error is re-read a set of ECC syndromes is  
computed. If all of the ECC syndrome values equal zero, and XC syndrome value  
equals to 0 or 0FF, the data was read with no errors, and the sector is transferred to  
the host system. If any of the syndrome values do not equal zero, an error has  
occurred, the syndrome values are retained, and another re-read is invoked. If the  
retry algorithm reaches the last step of the retry table, or the last pass through the retry  
table, and the sector still has a data error, then the drive will apply firmware ECC  
correction to recover the data.  
Non-repeatable errors are usually related to the signal to noise ra-  
tio of the system. They are not due to media defects.  
If the automatic read reallocation feature is enabled, and the drive used firmware ECC  
correction to recover the data, then the drive will perform a media test on the sector  
to determine if the error was caused by a grown media defect. The media test consists  
of writing and reading the sector four times. If any one of the writes or reads fails, or  
if any read requires firmware ECC correction to recover the data, then the sector is  
automatically reassigned.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K AT drives are shipped from the factory  
with the automatic read reallocation feature enabled so that any  
new defective sectors can be easily and automatically reallocated  
for the average AT end user.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
5-13  
     
Basic Principles of Operation  
The Maxtor D540X-4K drives use two techniques for replacing defective sectors -  
inline replacement and offline replacement.  
During manufacturing, if a sector on a cylinder is found to be defective, the address  
of the sector is added to the drive's defect list. The defective sector is skipped,and  
is replaced by the next immediate sector, which maintains a sequential ordering of  
logical blocks. This inline sparing technique is employed in an attempt to eliminate  
slow data transfer that would result from requiring a seek to another cylinder to access  
a replacement sector.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K drives are divided into 30 logical zones for purposes of defect  
management. Each zone has a pool of 32 spare sectors, which are reserved for offline  
replacement.  
Defects that occur in the field are known as grown defects. If such a defective sector  
is found in the field, the sector is reallocated to a spare sector from the nearest available  
pool of spares. The defect list supports a maximum of 500 grown defects.  
Sectors are considered to contain grown defects if the quadruple-burst ECC algorithm  
must be applied to recover the data. If this algorithm is successful, the corrected data  
is stored in the newly allocated sector. If the algorithm is not successful, a pending  
defect will be added to the defect list. Any subsequent read to the original logical block  
will return an error if the read is not successful. A host command to over-write the  
location will result in several write/ read/ verifies of the suspect location. If any of these  
operations fail, the new data will be written to a spare sector, and the original location  
will be added to the permanent defect list. If all of the operations are successful, data  
will be written to the location, and the pending defect will be removed from the list.  
5-14  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
This chapter describes the interface between Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0  
GB AT hard disk drives and the ATA bus. The commands that are issued from the  
host to control the drive are listed, as well as the electrical and mechanical  
characteristics of the interface.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives use the standard  
ATA/ ATAPI-6 interface. Support of various options in the standard are explained  
in the following sections.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drive contains a 50-pin unitized connector for  
both signal and power connections as well as configuration jumpers. The  
dimensions of the unitized connector comply with figure A.12 and table A.15 of  
the ATA/ ATAPI-6 standard.  
Signals on the ATA interface are assigned to connector pins according to Table A.1  
and A.8 of the ATA/ ATAPI-6 standard. The signaling protocol complies with section  
9 and signal timing complies with section 10 of the standard.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives support all Ultra DMA Data Transfer modes  
of ATA/ ATAPI-6. In Mode 5, it can send and receive data at the full 100 MB/ s  
transfer rate.  
Hosts may assert the RESET- signal for longer than the minimum. When power is  
applied with R ESET- asserted, the Maxtor D540X-4K disk media will not begin to  
spin up until R ESET- is negated. This may reduce maximum current consumption  
for the overall system.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-1  
             
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives allow their host systems to address the full set  
of command and control registers as specified in ATA/ ATAPI-6 section 7.  
The µProcessor, Disk Controller, and ATA Interface electronics are contained in a  
proprietary ASIC developed by Maxtor.  
The Maxtor D540X-4K hard disk drives support all the mandatory commands from  
the general feature set for non-packet devices. They are:  
EXECUTE DEVICE DIAGNOSTIC  
FLUSH CACHE  
IDENTIFY DEVICE  
INITIALIZE DEVICE PAR AMETER S  
R EAD DMA  
R EAD MULTIPLE  
R EAD SECTOR (S)  
R EAD VER IFY SECTOR (S)  
SEEK  
SET FEATUR ES  
SET MULTIPLE MODE  
WR ITE DMA  
WR ITE MULTIPLE  
WR ITE SECTOR(S)  
The drives support the following optional commands from the general feature set for  
non-packet devices:  
DOWNLOAD MICR OCODE  
NOP  
R EAD BUFFER  
WR ITE BUFFER  
6-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The drives support the Multiword DMA protocol.  
The drives support the Ultra DMA feature set for the following commands:  
R EAD DMA  
WR ITE DMA  
The drives support the following commands from the optional Power Management  
feature set:  
CHECK POWER MODE  
IDLE  
IDLE IMMEDIATE  
SLEEP  
STANDBY  
STANDBY IMMEDIATE  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-3  
     
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The drives support the following commands from the optional Security Mode feature  
set:  
SECURITY SET PASSWOR D  
SECURITY UNLOCK  
SECURITY ER ASE PREPAR E  
SECURITY ER ASE UNIT  
SECURITY FR EEZE LOCK  
SECURITY DISABLE PASSWOR D  
The drives support the following commands from the optional SMART feature set:  
SMART DISABLE OPER ATIONS  
SMART ENABLE/ DISABLE AUTOSAVE  
SMART ENABLE OPER ATIONS  
SMART R ETUR N STATUS  
SMART EXECUTE OFF-LINE IMMEDIATE  
SMART R EAD DATA  
SMART R EAD LOG SECTOR  
SMART WR ITE LOG SECTOR  
The drives support the following commands from the optional Host Protected Area  
feature set including security extensions:  
R EAD NATIVE MAX ADDR ESS  
SET MAX ADDR ESS  
SET MAX SET PASSWOR D  
SET MAX LOCK  
SET MAX FR EEZE LOCK  
SET MAX UNLOCK  
The drives support the optional Automatic Acoustic Management feature set which  
uses subcommands of the SET FEATUR ES command.  
6-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Identify Device Parameters  
0
General configuration bit-significant inform ation:  
15  
14-8  
7
0 = ATA device  
Retired  
Rem ovable m edia device  
Not rem ovable controller and/or device  
Retired  
Response incom plete  
Retired  
Reserved  
6
045Ah  
5-3  
2
1
0
1
Obsolete  
3FFFh  
0000h  
0010h  
2
Specific configuration  
Obsolete  
3
4-5  
Retired  
7E00h-  
5332h  
6
Obsolete  
003Fh  
7-8  
Reserved for the Com pactFlashAssociation  
0000h-  
0000h  
9
Retired  
5154h  
10-19  
20-21  
Serial num ber (20 ASCII characters)  
Retired  
Variable  
0003h-  
0344h  
22  
Obsolete  
0004h  
23-26  
27-46  
Firm ware revision (8 ASCII characters)  
Model num ber (40 ASCII characters)  
Variable  
MX 4K020H1  
MX 4K040H2  
MX 4K060H3  
MX 4K080H4  
47  
48  
15-8  
7-0  
80h  
8010h  
Maxim um sectors per interrupt on MULTIPLE  
com m ands  
Reserved  
Reserved  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-5  
   
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
49  
Capabilities  
15-14 Reserved for the IDENTIFY PACKET DEVICE  
com m and.  
13  
12  
Standby tim er values are supported  
Reserved for the IDENTIFY PACKET DEVICE  
com m and.  
0F00h  
11  
10  
9
8
7-0  
IORDY supported  
IORDY m ay be disabled  
LBA supported  
DMA supported.  
Retired  
50  
Capabilities  
15  
14  
13-2  
1
Shall be cleared to zero.  
Shall be set to one.  
0
1
Reserved.  
Obsolete  
000h  
0
0
0
Shall be set to one to indicate a device specific  
Standby tim er value m inim um .  
51-52  
53  
Obsolete  
0200h-  
0200h  
15-3  
Reserved  
0
1
1
1
2
1
0
the fields reported in word 88 are valid  
the fields reported in words 64-70 are valid  
the fields reported in words 54-58 are valid  
54  
Obsolete  
3FFFh  
55  
Obsolete  
0010h  
56  
Obsolete  
0100h  
57-58  
59  
Current capacity in Sectors  
Multiple sector setting  
Total num ber of user addressable sectors  
Obsolete  
Variable  
0100h  
60-61  
62  
Variable  
0000h  
63  
Multiword DMA m ode  
Advanced PIO m odes  
0407h  
64  
0003h  
65  
Minim um Multiword DMA transfer cycle tim e  
recom m ended Multiword DMA transfer cycle tim e  
Minim um cycle tim e without flow control  
Minim um cycle tim e with IORDY flow control  
Reserved  
0078h  
66  
0078h  
67  
0078h  
68  
0078h  
69-70  
71-74  
75  
Reserved  
Reserved  
0000h  
Reserved  
Maxim um queue depth 1  
Reserved  
76-79  
Reserved  
6-6 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
80  
81  
82  
83  
84  
85  
86  
87  
88  
89  
90  
Major version num ber  
Minor version num ber  
Com m and set supported  
Com m and set supported  
003Eh  
0015h  
346Bh  
5B01h  
Com m and set/feature supported extension  
Com m and set/feature enabled  
Com m and set/feature enabled  
Com m and set/feature default  
4003h  
3468h  
1A01h  
4003h  
003Fh  
Variable  
0000h  
Ultra DMA m ode  
Tim e required for security erase unit com pletion  
Tim e required for Enhanced security erase  
com pletion  
91  
Current advanced power m anagem ent value  
Master Password Revision Code  
Hardware reset result  
0000h  
92  
FFFEh  
93  
Variable  
8080h  
94  
acoustic m anagem ent value  
Reserved  
95-99  
100-103  
Reserved  
Maxim um user LBA address for 48-bit Address  
feature set  
777Fh,  
0260h,  
0000h,  
0000h  
104-126  
127  
Reserved  
Reserved  
0000h  
Rem ovable Media Status Notification feature set  
support  
128  
Security status  
0001h  
129-159  
160  
Vendor specific  
CFA power m ode 1  
Reserved  
0000h  
161-175  
Reserved for assignm ent by the Com pactFlash™  
Association  
Reserved  
176-254  
255  
Reserved  
Reserved  
15-8  
7-0  
Integrity word checksum  
Integrity word signature  
Variable  
41A5h  
Table 6-2 shows the supported subcommands of SET FEATUR ES organized by  
feature name. The ID Word column shows if the current default setting can be  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-7  
 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
determined from the information returned from the IDENTIFY DEVICE command.  
Where the entry is none, the default setting must be determined by other analytical  
means or by asking a trusted human source. The last column shows the default setting  
(enabled or disabled) for each supported feature.  
Supported Features  
02h  
03h  
42h  
82h  
na  
Write cache  
88 bit 5  
63, 88  
02h  
03h  
42h  
Set transfer m ode  
C2h  
Autom atic Acoustic Managem ent  
feature set  
86 bit 9,  
94  
55h  
AAh  
66h  
Read look-ahead feature  
85 bit 6  
None  
55h  
CCh  
Reverting to power-on defaults  
CCh  
The drives support the following Maxtor specific commands:  
R EAD DEFECT LIST  
R EAD CONFIGURATION  
SET CONFIGURATION  
The READ DEFECT LIST command enables the host to retrieve the drives defect  
list. Prior to issuing this command the host should issue the READ DEFECT LIST  
LENGTH command. This command will not transfer any data. It instead, stores the  
length in sectors of the defect list in the Sector Count register (1F2), and the Sector  
Number register (1F3), with the Sector Count register containing the LSB of the 2-  
byte value (see Table 6-3). The defect list length is a fixed value for each Maxtor  
product and can be calculated as follows:  
length in sectors = (((maximum number of defects) * 8 + 4) + 511)/ 512  
At the completion of the command, the task file registers 1F2 1F6 will contain bytes  
necessary to execute the R EAD DEFECT LIST command, and the host will only  
need to write the extended command code (F0h) to the Command register (1F7) to  
proceed with the R EAD DEFECT LIST command execution.  
6-8 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
     
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
READ DEFECT LIST LENGTH Command Bytes  
Sector  
Count  
0
Defect List Subcode  
Password  
Length in Sectors  
(LSB)  
Sector  
Num ber  
FFh  
FFh  
3Fh  
Length in Sectors  
(MSB)  
Cylinder  
Low  
Password  
FFh  
Cylinder  
High  
Password  
3Fh  
Device/  
Head  
AXh (Drive 0)  
BXh (Drive 1)  
Drive Select  
AXh = Drive 0  
BXh = Drive 1  
Status Register  
Com m and F0h  
Extended Com m and  
Code  
R egisters 1F2h through 1F5h must contain the exact values  
shown. These values function as a key. The drive issues the  
message ILLEGAL COMMAND if the bytes are not entered  
correctly.  
The READ DEFECT LIST command is an extended AT command that enables the  
host to retrieve the drives defect list. The host begins by writing to address 1F6h to  
select the drive. Then the host writes to addresses 1F2h 1F5h using values indicated  
in Table 6-4. When the host subsequently writes the extended command code F0h to  
address 1F7h, the drive sets BSY, retrieves the defect list, sets DR Q, and resets BSY.  
The host can now read the requested number of sectors (512 bytes) of data. An  
INTRQ precedes each sector. Bytes 1F2h and 1F3h contain the 2-byte number of  
sectors that the host expects to read, with address 1F2h containing the LSB (see Table  
6-4). The sector count (1F2h 1F3h) may vary from product to product and if the  
wrong value is supplied for a specific product, the drive responds by setting the ABR T  
bit in the Error register. If the host does not know the appropriate sector count for a  
specific product, it can issue the R ead Defect List Length command, described in the  
previous section to set up the task file for the R ead Defect List command.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-9  
 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
READ DEFECT LIST Command Bytes  
Sector  
Count  
Variable  
Variable  
FFh  
Length in Sectors  
(LSB)  
Sector  
Num ber  
Length in Sectors  
(MSB)  
Cylinder  
Low  
Password  
Cylinder  
High  
3Fh  
Password  
Device/  
Head  
AXh = Drive 0  
BXh = Drive 1  
Drive Select  
Com m and F0h  
Extended Com m and  
Code  
R egisters 1F2h and 1F3h must contain the transfer length that is  
appropriate for the specific product, and 1F4h and 1F5h must  
contain the exact values shown. These values function as a key.  
The drive responds by setting the ABRT bit in the Error register  
if the bytes are not entered correctly.  
Pending defects will be excluded from the list, since no alternate sector is being used  
as their replacement, and since they may be removed from the drives internal pending  
list at a later time. Table 6-5 shows the overall format of the defect list, and Table 6-  
6 shows the format of the individual defect entries.  
6-10 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
DEFECT LIST DATA FORMAT  
0
1
2
0
1Dh  
8* (Num ber of Defects)  
(MSB)  
3
8* (Num ber of Defects)  
(LSB)  
411  
Defect Entry #1  
1219  
Defect Entry #2  
DEFECT ENTRY DATA FORMAT  
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Defect cylinder (MSB)  
Defect cylinder  
Defect cylinder (LSB)  
Defect head  
Defect sector (MSB)  
Defect sector  
Defect sector  
Defect sector (LSB)  
Bytes 4 7 will be set to FFh for bad track entries.  
In addition to the SET FEATUR ES command, the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/  
60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives provide two configuration commands:  
The SET CONFIGUR ATION command, which enables the host to  
change DisCache and Error R ecovery parameters  
The R EAD CONFIGUR ATION command, which enables the host to  
read the current configuration status of the drive  
See Chapter 5 for more details about DisCache and setting cache parameters. See  
Chapter 5 also for more information about error detection and defect management.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-11  
     
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The READ CONFIGURATION command displays the configuration of the drive.  
Like the SET CONFIGUR ATION command, this command is secured to prevent  
accidentally accessing it. To access the R EAD CONFIGUR ATION command, you  
must write the pattern shown in Table 6-7 to the Command Block R egisters. The first  
byte, 01h, is a subcode to the extended command code, F0h.  
Accessing the READ CONFIGURATION Command  
Sector Count 01h  
Sector Num ber FFh  
Cylinder Low FFh  
Cylinder High 3Fh  
Read Configuration Subcode  
Password  
Password  
Password  
Device/Head  
AXh  
(Drive 0)  
Drive Select  
BXh  
(Drive 1)  
Drive Select  
Com m and  
F0h  
Extended Com m and Code  
Only the value in address 1F2h of the Command Block R egisters  
is different from the SET CONFIGUR ATION command.  
R egisters 1F2h through 1F5h must contain the exact values  
shown in Table 6-7. These values function as a key. The drive  
responds by setting the ABR T bit in the Error register if the key  
is not entered correctly.  
To select the drive for which the configuration is to be read, set  
register 1F6h. For execution of the command to begin, load  
register 1F7h with F0h.  
A 512-byte data field is associated with the R EAD CONFIGUR ATION command.  
A 512-byte read sequence sends this data from the drive to the host. The information  
in this data field represents the current settings of the configuration parameters. The  
format of the READ CONFIGURATION command data field is similar to that for  
the data field of the SET CONFIGURATION command, shown in Table 6-8.  
However, in the R EAD CONFIGUR ATION command, bytes 0 through 31 of the  
data field are not KEY information, as they are in the SET CONFIGUR ATION  
command. The drive reads these bytes as Maxtor CONFIGURATION, followed by  
eleven spaces. Users can read the configuration into a buffer, then alter the  
configuration parameter settings.  
6-12 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
   
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The SET CONFIGUR ATION command is secured to prevent accessing it  
accidentally. To access the SET CONFIGUR ATION command, you must write the  
pattern shown in Table 6-8 to the Command Block Registers. The first byte, FFh, is  
a subcode to the extended command code F0h.  
Accessing the SET CONFIGURATION Command  
1F2h  
1F3h  
1F4h  
1F5h  
1F6h  
FFh  
FFh  
FFh  
3Fh  
Set Configuration Subcode  
Password  
Password  
Password  
AXh  
(Drive 0)  
Drive Select  
BXh  
(Drive 1)  
Drive Select  
1F7h  
F0h  
Extended Com m and Code  
R egisters 1F2h through 1F5h must contain the exact values  
shown above. These values function as a key. The drive responds  
by setting the ABR T bit in the Error register if the key is not  
entered correctly.  
To select the drive being reconfigured, register 1F6h should be  
set. For execution of the command to begin, load register 1F7h  
with F0h.  
The SET CONFIGUR ATION WITHOUT SAVING TO DISK command is  
secured to prevent accidentally accessing it. To access this command, you must write  
the pattern shown in Table 6-9 to the Command Block R egisters. The first byte, FEh,  
is a subcode to the extended command code F0h.  
Accessing the SET CONFIGURATION WITHOUT SAVING TO DISK Command  
1F2h  
1F3h  
1F4h  
1F5h  
1F6h  
FEh  
FFh  
FFh  
3Fh  
Set Configuration Subcode  
Password  
Password  
Password  
AXh  
(Drive 0)  
Drive Select  
BXh  
Drive 1)  
Drive Select  
1F7h  
F0h  
Extended Com m and Code  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-13  
       
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
R egisters 1F2h through 1F5h must contain the exact values  
shown above. These values function as a key. The drive responds  
by setting the ABR T bit in the Error register if the key is not  
entered correctly.  
To select the drive being reconfigured, set register 1F6h. For  
execution of the command to begin, load register 1F7h with F0h.  
A 512-byte data field is associated with this command. This data field is sent to the  
drive through a normal 512-byte write handshake. Table 6-10 shows the format of the  
data field. Bytes 0 through 31 of the data field contain additional KEY information.  
The drive responds by setting the ABR T bit in the Error register if this information is  
not entered correctly. Bytes 32 through 35 control the operation of DisCache. Bytes  
36 through 38 control operation of the error recovery procedure. The drive does not  
use bytes 40 through 511, which should be set to 0.  
Configuration Command Format  
031  
MAXTOR CONFIGURATION KEY  
RESERVED = 0  
32  
33  
34  
35  
36  
37  
38  
39  
PE  
CE  
RESERVED  
RESERVED = 0  
RESERVED = 0  
AWRE ARR  
N/A  
RC  
EEC  
N/A  
N/A  
DCR  
0
NUMBER OF RETRIES  
ECC CORRECTION SPAN  
RESERVED = 0  
WCE  
RUEE  
40511 RESERVED = 0  
All fields marked R ESER VED or N/ A should be set to zero.  
Bytes 06 must contain the ASCII characters Q, U, A, N, T, U, and M; byte 7, the  
ASCII character space; and bytes 820 must contain the ASCII characters C, O, N, F,  
I, G, U, R, A, T, I, O, and N. Bytes 2131 must contain an ASCII space. If this  
information is not entered correctly, the drive responds by setting the ABR T bit in  
the Error register.  
PE – Prefetch Enable (Byte 32, Bit 1): When set to 1, this bit indicates that the  
drive will perform prefetching. A PE bit set to 0 indicates that no prefetching will  
occur. The CE bit (bit 0) must be set to 1 to enable use of the PE bit. The default  
value is 1.  
6-14 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
         
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
CE Cache Enable (Byte 32, Bit 0): When set to 1, this bit indicates that the drive  
will activate caching on all R EAD commands. With the CE bit set to 0, the drive will  
disable caching and use the RAM only as a transfer buffer. The default setting is 1.  
AWRE – Automatic Write Reallocation Enabled (Byte 36, Bit 7): When set  
to 1, indicates that the drive will enable automatic reallocation of bad blocks.  
Automatic Write R eallocation is similar to the function of Automatic R ead  
R eallocation, but is initiated by the drive when a defective block has become  
inaccessible for writing. An AWR E bit set to 0 indicates that the Maxtor D540X-4K  
20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT drives will not automatically reallocate bad blocks. The  
default setting is 1.  
ARR Autom atic Read Reallocation (Byte 36, Bit 6): When set to 1, this bit  
indicates that the drive will enable automatic reallocation of bad sectors. The drive  
initiates reallocation when the AR R bit is set to 1 and the drive encounters a hard  
errorthat is, if the triple-burst ECC algorithm is invoked. The default setting is 1.  
When the AR R bit is set to 0, the drive will not perform automatic reallocation of  
bad sectors. If R C (byte 36, bit 4) is 1, the drive ignores this bit. The default value is 1.  
RC Read Continuous (Byte 36, Bit 4): When set to 1, this bit instructs the drive  
to transfer data of the requested length without adding delays to increase data  
integritythat is, delays caused by the drives error-recovery procedures. With R C  
set to 1 to maintain a continuous flow of data and avoid delays, the drive may send  
data that is erroneous. When the drive ignores an error, it does not post the error. The  
R C bit set to 0 indicates that potentially time-consuming operations for error recovery  
are acceptable during data transfer. The default setting is 0.  
EEC Enable Early Correction (Byte 36, Bit 3): When set to 1, this bit indicates  
that the drive will use its ECC algorithm if it detects two consecutive equal, nonzero  
error syndromes. The drive will not perform rereads before applying correction, unless  
it determines that the error is uncorrectable. An EEC bit set to 0 indicates that the  
drive will use its normal recovery procedure when an error occurs: rereads, followed  
by error correction. If the R C bit (byte 36, bit 4) is set to 1, the drive ignores the EEC  
bit. The default setting is 0.  
SilentMode (Byte 36, Bit 2): When set to 1, this bit indicates that the drives  
acoustic emanations will be reduced.  
DCR Disable Correction (Byte 36, Bit 0): When set to 1, this bit indicates that  
all data will be transferred without correction, even if it would be possible to correct  
the data. A DCR bit set to 0 indicates that the data will be corrected if possible. If the  
data is uncorrectable, it will be transferred without correction, though the drive will  
attempt rereads. If R C (byte 36, bit 4) is set to 1, the drive ignores this bit. The default  
setting is 0. The drive will post all errors, whether DCR is set to 0 or 1.  
NUMBER OF RETRIES (Byte 37): This byte specifies the number of times that  
the drive will attempt to recover from data errors by rereading the data, before it will  
apply correction. The drive performs rereads before ECC correctionunless EEC  
(byte 36, bit 3) is set to 1, enabling early correction. The default is eight.  
ECC CORRECTION SPAN (Byte 38): This byte specifies the maximum number  
of 10-bit symbols that can be corrected using ECC. The default value for this byte is  
20h or 32 decimal.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-15  
                 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
WCE Write Cache Enable (Byte 39, Bit 2): When this bit is set to1, the Maxtor  
D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard disk drives enable the Write Cache.  
This indicates that the drive returns GOOD status for a write command after  
successfully receiving the data, but before writing it to the disk. A value of zero  
indicates that the drive returns GOOD status for a write command after successfully  
receiving the data and writing it to the disk.  
If the next command is another WRITE command, cached data continues to be  
written to the disk while new data is added to the buffer. The default setting is 1.  
RUEE Reallocate Uncorrectable Error Enables (Byte 39, Bit 1): When set  
to 1, this bit indicates that the Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT hard  
disk drives will automatically reallocate uncorrectable hard errors, if the AR R bit (byte  
36, bit 6) is set to 1. The default setting is 1.  
COMMAND CODE - B0h  
TYPE - Optional - SMART Feature set. If the SMAR T feature set is implemented,  
this command is optional and not recommended.  
PR OTOCOL - PIO data in  
INPUTS - The Features register shall be set to D1h. The Cylinder Low register shall  
be set to 4Fh. The Cylinder High register shall be set to C2h.  
Features  
D1h  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
Cylinder High  
Device/Head  
Com m and  
4Fh  
C2h  
1
1
D
B0h  
NOR MAL OUTPUTS - None  
ER R OR OUTPUTS - If the device does not support this command, if SMART  
disabled or if the values in the Features, Cylinder Low or Cylinder High registers are  
invalid, an Aborted command error is posted.  
Error  
na  
na  
na  
na  
UNC  
na  
IDNF na  
ABRT na  
na  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
6-16 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
       
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Cylinder High  
Device/Head  
Status  
na  
obs  
BSY  
na  
obs  
DEV  
na  
na  
DRQ  
DRDY DF  
na  
na  
ERR  
PR EREQUISITES - DRDY set equal to one. SMAR T enabled.  
DESCR IPTION - This command returns the devices attribute thresholds to the host.  
Upon receipt of this command from the host, the device sets BSY, reads the attribute  
thresholds from non-volatile memory, sets DR Q, clears BSY, asserts INTR Q, and  
then waits for the host to transfer the 512 bytes of attribute threshold information from  
the device via the Data register.  
The following defines the 512 bytes that make up the attribute threshold information.  
The sequence of active attribute thresholds must appear in the same order as their  
corresponding attribute values (see Section 6.5.12.2).  
The data structure revision number shall be the same value used in the device attribute  
values data structure.  
Table 6-11 defines the twelve bytes that make up the information for each threshold  
entry in the device attribute thresholds data structure. Attribute entries in the  
individual threshold data structure must be in the same order and correspond to the  
entries in the individual attribute data structure.  
The attribute ID numbers are vendor specific. Any non-zero value in the attribute ID  
number indicates an active attribute.  
Attribute threshold values are to be set at the factory and are not changeable in the  
field.  
The data structure checksum is the twos compliment of the result of a simple eight-  
bit addition of the first 511 bytes in the data structure.  
Device Attribute Thresholds Data Structure  
Data structure revision num ber =  
0x0004h for this revision  
2
binary  
Rd only  
Rd only  
1st attribute threshold  
.....  
12  
.....  
.....  
30th attribute threshold  
reserved (0x00)  
Vendor specific  
Data structure checksum  
Total bytes  
12  
18  
Rd only  
Rd only  
Rd only  
Rd only  
131  
1
512  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-17  
 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Individual Threshold Data Structure  
Attribute ID num ber  
1
1
binary  
binary  
Rd only  
Rd only  
Attribute threshold (for com parison  
with attribute values from 0x00 to  
0xFFh)  
0x00 always passingthreshold value  
to be used for code test purposes  
0x01 m inim um value for norm al  
operation  
0xFD m axim um value for norm al  
operation  
0xFE invalid for threshold value - not to  
be used  
0xFF always failingthreshold value to  
be used for code test purposes  
Reserved  
10  
12  
Rd only  
Total bytes  
Device SMART Data Structure  
0-361  
362  
Vendor Specific  
Off-line data collection Status  
Vendor specific  
363  
364-  
365  
Total tim e in seconds to com plete  
off-line data collection  
366  
367  
Vendor Specific  
Off-line data collection capability  
SMART capability  
368-  
369  
370-  
385  
Reserved  
386-  
510  
Vendor Specific  
Data Structure check sum  
511  
The attribute ID numbers and their definitions are vendor specific. Any non-zero  
value in the attribute ID number indicates an active attribute. Valid values for this byte  
are from 0x01 through 0xFFh.  
6-18 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
   
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Bit 0 -Pre-failure/ advisory - If the value of this bit equals zero, an  
attribute value less than or equal to its corresponding attribute threshold  
indicates an advisory condition where the usage or age of the device has  
exceeded its intended design life period. If the value of this bit equals  
one, an attribute value less than or equal to its corresponding attribute  
threshold indicates a pre-failure condition where imminent loss of data  
is being predicted.  
Bit 1 Reserved for future use.  
Bits 3 - 6 - Vendor specific.  
Bits 7 - 15 - Reserved for future use.  
The range and meaning of the attribute values is described in Table 6-13. Prior to the  
monitoring and saving of attribute values, all values are set to 0x64h. The attribute  
values of 0x00h and 0xFFh are reserved and should not be used by the device.  
Bit 0 - Pre-power mode attribute saving capability - If the value of this  
bit equals one, the device will save its attribute values prior to going into  
a power saving mode (Idle, Standby or Sleep modes).  
Bit 1 - Attribute autosave after event capability - If the value of this bit  
is equal to one, the device supports the SMART ENABLE/ DISABLE  
ATTR IBUTE AUTOSAVE command.  
Bits 2-15 - R eserved for future use.  
The data structure checksum is the twos compliment of the result of a simple eight-  
bit addition of the first 511 bytes in the data structure.  
COMMAND CODE - B0h  
TYPE - Optional - SMART Feature set. If the SMAR T feature set is implemented,  
this command shall be implemented.  
PR OTOCOL - Non-data command.  
INPUTS - The Features register shall be set to DAh. The Cylinder Low register shall  
be set to 4Fh. The Cylinder High register shall be set to C2h.  
Features  
DAh  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
4Fh  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-19  
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Cylinder High  
C2h  
B0h  
Device/Head  
Com m and  
1
1
D
NOR MAL OUTPUTS - If the device has not detected a threshold exceeded  
condition, the device sets the Cylinder Low register to 4Fh and the Cylinder High  
register to C2h. If the device has detected a threshold exceeded condition, the device  
sets the Cylinder Low register to F4h and the Cylinder High register to 2Ch.  
ER R OR OUTPUTS - If the device does not support this command, if SMART is  
disabled or if the values in the Features, Cylinder Low or Cylinder High registers are  
invalid, an Aborted command error is posted.  
Error  
na  
UNC na  
IDNF na  
ABRT na  
na  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
Cylinder High  
Device/Head  
Status  
na  
na  
na  
na  
obs  
BSY  
na  
obs  
DF  
DEV  
na  
na  
DRD  
Y
DRQ  
na  
na  
ERR  
PREREQUISITES - DRDY set equal to one. SMART enabled.  
DESCRIPTION - This command is used to communicate the reliability status of  
the device to the host at the hosts request. Upon receipt of this command the device  
sets BSY, saves any updated attribute values to non-volatile memory and compares the  
updated attribute values to the attribute thresholds.  
COMMAND CODE - B0h  
TYPE - Optional - SMART Feature set. If the SMAR T feature set is implemented,  
this command is optional and not recommended.  
PR OTOCOL - Non-data command  
INPUTS - The Features register shall be set to D3h. The Cylinder Low register shall  
be set to 4Fh. The Cylinder High register shall be set to C2h.  
6-20 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
 
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
Features  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
Cylinder High  
Device/Head  
Com m and  
D3h  
4Fh  
C2h  
1
1
D
B0h  
NOR MAL OUTPUTS - None  
ER R OR OUTPUTS - If the device does not support this command, if SMART is  
disabled or if the values in the Features, Cylinder Low or Cylinder High registers are  
invalid, an Aborted command error is posted.  
Error  
na  
UNC na  
IDNF na  
ABRT na  
na  
Sector Count  
Sector Num ber  
Cylinder Low  
Cylinder High  
Device/Head  
Status  
na  
na  
na  
na  
obs  
BSY  
na  
obs  
DF  
DEV  
na  
na  
DRD  
Y
DRQ  
na  
na  
ERR  
PR EREQUISITES - DRDY set equal to one. SMAR T enabled.  
DESCR IPTION - This command causes the device to immediately save any updated  
attribute values to the devices non-volatile memory regardless of the state of the  
attribute autosave timer. Upon receipt of this command from the host, the device sets  
BSY, writes any updated attribute values to non-volatile memory, clears BSY and  
asserts INTRQ.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
6-21  
ATA Bus Interface and ATA Commands  
The drives support the following commands from the optional Device Configuration  
Overlay feature set:  
DEVICE CONFIGUR ATION FR EEZE LOCK  
DEVICE CONFIGUR ATION IDENTIFY  
DEVICE CONFIGUR ATION R ESTOR E  
DEVICE CONFIGUR ATION SET  
6-22 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
 
ALLOCATION UNIT An allocation  
unit, also known as a cluster, is a group of  
sectors on the disk that can be reserved for the  
use of a particular file.  
A
ACCESS (v) R ead, write, or update  
information on some storage medium, such as  
a disk. (n) One of these operations.  
ACCESS TIME The interval between the  
time a request for data is made by the system  
and the time the data is available from the  
drive. Access time includes the actual seek  
time, rotational latency, and command  
processing overhead time. See also seek,  
rotational latency, and overhead.  
AVERAGE SEEK TIME The average  
time it takes for the read/ write head to move  
to a specific location. To compute the average  
seek time, you divide the time it takes to  
complete a large number of random seeks all  
over the disk by the number of seeks  
performed.  
ACTUATOR Also known as the positioner.  
The internal mechanism that moves the  
read/ write head to the proper track. The  
Maxtor actuator consists of a rotary voice coil  
and the head mounting arms. One end of each  
head mounting arm attaches to the rotor with  
the read/ write heads attached at the opposite  
end of each arm. As current is applied to the  
rotor, it rotates, positioning the heads over the  
desired cylinder on the media.  
B
BACKUP A copy of a file, directory, or  
volume on a separate storage device from the  
original, for the purpose of retrieval in case the  
original is accidentally erased, damaged, or  
destroyed.  
BAD BLOCK A block (usually the size of  
a sector) that cannot reliably hold data because  
of a media flaw or damaged format markings.  
AIRLOCK A patented Maxtor feature that  
ensures durable and reliable data storage.  
Upon removal of power from the drive for  
any reason, the read/ write heads  
BAD TRACK TABLE A label affixed to  
the casing of a hard disk drive that tells which  
tracks are flawed and cannot hold data. The  
listing is typed into the low-level formatting  
program when the drive is being installed.  
Because Maxtor disk drives  
defect-management scheme handles all such  
flaws automatically, there is no need to  
concern yourself with bad track tables.  
automatically park and lock in a non data area  
called the landing zone. AIR LOCK allows  
the drive to withstand high levels of  
non-operating shock. When power is applied  
to the drive, airflow created from the spinning  
disks causes the AIR LOCK arm to swing  
back and unlock the actuator, allowing the  
heads to move from the landing zone. Upon  
power down, the AIR LOCK swings back to  
the locked position, locking the heads in the  
landing zone. A park utility is not required to  
park the heads on drives equipped with  
AIR LOCK (all Maxtor drives).  
BIT Abbreviation for binary digit. A binary  
digit may have one of two values1 or 0.  
This contrasts with a decimal digit, which  
may have a value from 0 to 9. A bit is one of  
the logic 1or logic 0 binary settings that make  
up a byte of data. See also byte.  
ALLOCATION The process of assigning  
particular areas of the disk to particular files.  
See also allocation unit.  
BLOCK A sector or group of sectors. By  
default, a block of data consists of 512 bytes.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
G-1  
Glossary  
BPI Abbreviation for bits per inch. A  
more hard disks, usually installed in a slot in  
the computer.  
measure of how densely information is packed  
on a storage medium. Flux changes per inch is  
also a term commonly used in describing  
storage density on a magnetic surface.  
CPU Acronym for Central Processing Unit.  
The microprocessor chip that performs the  
bulk of data processing in a computer.  
BUFFER An area of R AM reserved for  
temporary storage of data that is waiting to be  
sent to a device that is not yet ready to receive  
it. The data is usually on its way to or from the  
disk drive or some other peripheral device.  
CRC Acronym for Cyclic Redundancy Check.  
An error detection code that is recorded  
within each sector and is used to see whether  
parts of a string of data are missing or  
erroneous.  
BUS The part of a chip, circuit board, or  
interface designed to send and receive data.  
CYLINDER On a disk drive that has more  
than one recording surface and heads that  
move to various tracks, the group of all tracks  
located at a given head position. The number  
of cylinders times the number of heads equals  
the number of tracks per drive.  
BYTE The basic unit of computer  
memory, large enough to hold one character  
of alphanumeric data. Comprised of eight bits.  
See also bit.  
D
C
DATA SEPARATOR On a disk drive  
that stores data and timing information in an  
encoded form, the circuit that extracts the  
data from the combined data and clock signal.  
CACHE R andom-access memory used as a  
buffer between the CPU and a hard disk.  
Information more likely to be read or changed  
is placed in the cache, where it can be accessed  
more quickly to speed up general data flow.  
DEDICATED SERVO A surface separate  
from the surface used for data that contains  
only disk timing and positioning information  
and contains no data.  
CAPACITY The amount of information  
that can be stored on a disk drive. The data is  
stored in bytes, and capacity is usually  
expressed in megabytes.  
DEFECT MANAGEMENT A method  
that is implemented to ensure long term data  
integrity. Defect management eliminates the  
need for user defect maps. This is  
accomplished by scanning the disk drives at  
the factory for defective sectors. Defective  
sectors are deallocated prior to shipment. In  
addition, during regular use, the drive  
continues to scan and compensate for any new  
defective sectors on the disk.  
CDB Command Descriptor Block. The  
SCSI structure used to communicate requests  
from an initiator (system) to a target (drive).  
CLEAN ROOM An environmentally  
controlled dust-free assembly or repair facility  
in which hard disk drives are assembled or can  
be opened for internal servicing.  
DISK In general, any circular-shaped  
data-storage medium that stores data on the  
flat surface of the platter. The most common  
type of disk is the magnetic disk, which stores  
data as magnetic patterns in a metal or  
metal-oxide coating. Magnetic disks come in  
two forms: floppy and hard. Optical recording  
is a newer disk technology that gives higher  
capacity storage but at slower access times.  
CLUSTER A group of sectors on a disk  
drive that is addressed as one logical unit by  
the operating system.  
CONTROLLER Short form of disk  
controller. The chip or complete circuit that  
translates computer data and commands into a  
form suitable for use by the disk drive.  
CONTROLLER CARD An adapter  
holding the control electronics for one or  
DISK CONTROLLER A plug-in board,  
or embedded circuitry on the drive, that  
G-2 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Glossary  
passes information to and from the disk. The  
Maxtor disk drives all have controllers  
embedded on the drive printed-circuit board.  
FCI Acronym for flux changes per inch. See  
also BPI.  
FILE SERVER A computer that provides  
network stations with controlled access to  
shareable resources. The network operating  
system is loaded on the file server, and most  
shareable devices (disk subsystems, printers)  
are attached to it. The file server controls  
system security and monitors  
station-to-station communications. A  
dedicated file server can be used only as a file  
server while it is on the network. A non  
dedicated file server can be used  
DISKWARE The program instructions  
and data stored on the disk for use by a  
processor.  
DMA Acronym for direct memory access. A  
process by which data moves directly between  
a disk drive (or other device) and system  
memory without passing through the CPU,  
thus allowing the system to continue  
processing other tasks while the new data is  
being retrieved.  
simultaneously as a file server and a  
workstation.  
DRIVE Short form of disk drive.  
FLUX DENSITY The number of  
magnetic field patterns that can be stored in a  
given length of disk surface. The number is  
usually stated as flux changes per inch (FCI),  
with typical values in the thousands.  
DRIVE GEOMETRY The functional  
dimensions of a drive in terms of the number  
of heads, cylinders, and sectors per track. See  
also logical format.  
FLYING HEIGHT The distance between  
the read/ write head and the disk surface  
caused by a cushion of air that keeps the head  
from contacting the media. Smaller flying  
heights permit more dense storage of data, but  
require more precise mechanical designs.  
E
ECC Acronym for error correction code. The  
recording of extra verifying information  
encoded along with the disk data. The  
controller uses the extra information to check  
for data errors, and corrects the errors when  
possible.  
FORMAT To write onto the disk surface a  
magnetic track pattern that specifies the  
locations of the tracks and sectors. This  
information must exist on a disk before it can  
store any user data. Formatting erases any  
previously stored data.  
EMBEDDED SERVO A timing or  
location signal placed on the disks surface on  
the tracks that also store data. These signals  
allow the actuator to fine-tune the position of  
the read/ write heads.  
FORMATTED CAPACITY The  
amount of room left to store data on the disk  
after the required space has been used to write  
sector headers, boundary definitions, and  
timing information generated by a format  
operation. All Maxtor drive capacities are  
expressed in formatted capacity.  
ENCODING The protocol by which  
particular data patterns are changed prior to  
being written on the disk surface as a pattern  
of On and Off or 1 and 0 signals.  
FORM FACTOR The physical outer  
dimensions of a device as defined by industry  
standard. For example, most Maxtor disk  
drives use a 3 1/ 2-inch form factor.  
EXTERNAL DRIVE A drive mounted in  
an enclosure separate from the PC or  
computer system enclosure, with its own  
power supply and fan, and connected to the  
system by a cable.F  
G
FAT Acronym for file allocation table. A data  
table stored on the outer edge of a disk that  
tells the operating system which sectors are  
allocated to each file and in what order.  
GIGABYTE (GB) One billion bytes (one  
thousand megabytes).  
GUIDE RAILS Plastic strips attached to  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
G-3  
Glossary  
the sides of a disk drive mounted in an IBM  
AT and compatible computers so that the  
drive easily slides into place.  
another SCSI device to perform an operation.  
A common example of this is a system  
requesting data from a drive. The system is the  
initiator and the drive is the target.  
INTERFACE A hardware or software  
protocol, contained in the electronics of the  
disk controller and disk drive, that manages  
the exchange of data between the drive and  
computer.  
H
HALF HEIGHT Term used to describe a  
drive that occupies half the vertical space of  
the original full size 5 1/ 4-inch drive. 1.625  
inches high.  
INTERLEAVE The arrangement of  
sectors on a track. A 1:1 interleave arranges  
the sectors so that the next sector arrives at the  
read/ write heads just as the computer is ready  
to access it. See also interleave factor.  
HARD DISK A type of storage medium  
that retains data as magnetic patterns on a rigid  
disk, usually made of an iron oxide or alloy  
over a magnesium or aluminum platter.  
Because hard disks spin more rapidly than  
floppy disks, and the head flies closer to the  
disk, hard disks can transfer data faster and  
store more in the same volume.  
INTERLEAVE FACTOR The number  
of sectors that pass beneath the read/ write  
heads before the next numbered sector  
arrives. When the interleave factor is 3:1, a  
sector is read, two pass by, and then the next  
is read. It would take three revolutions of the  
disk to access a full track of data. Maxtor  
drives have an interleave of 1:1, so a full track  
of data can be accessed within one revolution  
of the disk, thus offering the highest data  
throughput possible.  
HARD ERROR A repeatable error in disk  
data that persists when the disk is reread,  
usually caused by defects in the media surface.  
HEAD The tiny electromagnetic coil and  
metal pole piece used to create and read back  
the magnetic patterns (write and read  
information) on the media.  
INTERNAL DRIVE A drive mounted  
inside one of a computers drive bays (or a  
hard disk on a card, which is installed in one  
of the computers slots).  
HIGH-CAPACITY DRIVE By industry  
conventions typically a drive of 1 gigabytes or  
more.  
HIGH-LEVEL FORMATTING –  
Formatting performed by the operating  
systems format program. Among other  
things, the formatting program creates the  
root directory and file allocation tables. See  
also low-level formatting.  
J
JUMPER A tiny box that slips over two  
pins that protrude from a circuit board. When  
in place, the jumper connects the pins  
electrically. Some board manufacturers use  
Dual In-Line Package (DIP) switches instead  
of jumpers.  
HOME R eference position track for  
recalibration of the actuator, usually the outer  
track (track 0).  
HOST ADAPTER A plug-in board that  
forms the interface between a particular type  
of computer system bus and the disk drive.  
I
K
INITIALIZE See low level formatting.  
INITIATOR A SCSI device that requests  
KILOBYTE (K) A unit of measure  
consisting of 1,024 (210) bytes.  
G-4 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Glossary  
M
MB See megabyte.  
L
MEDIA The magnetic film that is  
LANDING ZONE A position inside the  
disks inner cylinder in a non data area  
reserved as a place to rest the heads during the  
time that power is off. Using this area prevents  
the heads from touching the surface in data  
areas upon power down, adding to the data  
integrity and reliability of the disk drive.  
deposited or coated on an aluminum substrate  
which is very flat and in the shape of a disk.  
The media is overcoated with a lubricant to  
prevent damage to the heads or media during  
head take off and landing. The media is where  
the data is stored inside the disk in the form of  
magnetic flux or polarity changes.  
LATENCY The period of time during  
which the read/ write heads are waiting for the  
data to rotate into position so that it can be  
accessed. Based on a disk rotation speed of  
3,662 rpm, the maximum latency time is 16.4  
milliseconds, and the average latency time is  
8.2 milliseconds.  
MEGABYTE (MB) A unit of  
measurement equal to 1,024 kilobytes, or  
1,048,576 bytes except when referring to disk  
storage capacity.  
1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes when referring to  
disk storage capacity.  
LOGICAL FORMAT The logical drive  
geometry that appears to an AT system BIOS  
as defined by the drive tables and stored in  
CMOS. With an installation program like  
Disk Manager, the drive can be redefined to  
any logical parameters necessary to adapt to  
the system drive tables.  
See also kilobyte.  
MEGAHERTZ A measurement of  
frequency in millions of cycles per second.  
MHz See megahertz.  
MICROPROCESSOR The integrated  
circuit chip that performs the bulk of data  
processing and controls the operation of all of  
the parts of the system. A disk drive also  
contains a microprocessor to handle all of the  
internal functions of the drive and to support  
the embedded controller.  
LOOK AHEAD The technique of  
buffering data into cache R AM by reading  
subsequent blocks in advance to anticipate the  
next request for data. The look ahead  
technique speeds up disk access of sequential  
blocks of data.  
LOW-LEVEL FORMATTING –  
MICROSECOND (µs) One millionth of  
Formatting that creates the sectors on the  
platter surfaces so the operating system can  
access the required areas for generating the file  
structure. Maxtor drives are shipped with the  
low-level formatting already done.  
a second (.000001 sec.).  
MILLISECOND (m s) One thousandth of  
a second (.001 sec.).  
MTBF Mean Time Between Failure. Used  
as a reliability rating to determine the  
expected life of the product expressed in  
power on hours (POH). There are several  
accepted methods for calculating this value  
that produce very different results and  
generate much confusion in the industry.  
When comparing numbers you should first  
verify which method was used to calculate the  
values.  
LOW PROFILE Describes drives built to  
the 3 1/ 2-inch form factor, which are only 1  
inch high.  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
G-5  
Glossary  
MTTR Mean Time To R epair. The  
other rigid material) that is mounted inside a  
fixed disk drive. Most drives use more than  
one platter mounted on a single spindle (shaft)  
to provide more data storage surfaces in a  
small package. The platter is coated with a  
magnetic material that is used to store data as  
transitions of magnetic polarity.  
average time it takes to repair a drive that has  
failed for some reason. This only takes into  
consideration the changing of the major  
sub-assemblies such as circuit board or sealed  
housing. Component level repair is not  
included in this number as this type of repair  
is not performed in the field.  
POH Acronym for power on hours. The unit  
of measurement for Mean Time Between  
Failure as expressed in the number of hours  
that power is applied to the device regardless  
of the amount of actual data transfer usage.  
See MTBF.  
O
OVERHEAD The processing time of a  
command by the controller, host adapter or  
drive prior to any actual disk accesses taking  
place.  
POSITIONER See actuator.  
OVERWRITE To write data on top of  
existing data, erasing it.  
R
OXIDE A metal-oxygen compound. Most  
magnetic coatings are combinations of iron or  
other metal oxides, and the term has become  
a general one for the magnetic coating on tape  
or disk.  
RAM Acronym for random access memory.  
An integrated circuit memory chip which  
allows information to be stored and retrieved  
by a microprocessor or controller. The  
information may be stored and retrieved in  
any order desired, and the address of one  
storage location is as readily accessible as any  
other.  
P
RAM DISK A phantom disk drivefor  
which a section of system memory (R AM) is  
set aside to hold data, just as if it were a  
number of disk sectors. The access to this data  
is extremely fast but is lost when the system is  
reset or turned off.  
PARTITION A portion of a hard disk  
devoted to a particular operating system and  
accessed as one logical volume by the system.  
PERFORMANCE A measure of the speed  
of the drive during normal operation. Factors  
affecting performance are seek times, transfer  
rate and command overhead.  
READ AFTER WRITE A mode of  
operation that has the computer read back  
each sector on the disk, checking that the data  
read back is the same as recorded. This slows  
disk operations, but raises reliability.  
PERIPHERAL A device added to a system  
as an enhancement to the basic CPU, such as  
a disk drive, tape drive or printer.  
READ VERIFY A disk mode where the  
disk reads in data to the controller, but the  
controller only checks for errors and does not  
pass the data on to the system.  
PHYSICAL FORMAT The actual  
physical layout of cylinders, tracks, and sectors  
on a disk drive.  
READ/ WRITE HEAD The tiny  
electromagnetic coil and metal pole piece  
used to create and read back the magnetic  
patterns (write or read information) on the  
disk. Each side of each platter has its own  
read/ write head.  
PLATED MEDIA Disks that are covered  
with a hard metal alloy instead of an  
iron-oxide compound. Plated disks can store  
greater amounts of data in the same area as a  
coated disk.  
PLATTER An disk made of metal (or  
G-6 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Glossary  
REMOVABLE DISK Generally said of  
disk drives where the disk itself is meant to be  
removed, and in particular of hard disks using  
disks mounted in cartridges. Their advantage  
is that multiple disks can be used to increase  
the amount of stored material, and that once  
removed, the disk can be stored away to  
prevent unauthorized use.  
header, which cannot be overwritten.  
SEEK A movement of the disk read/ write  
head in or out to a specific track.  
SERVO DATA Magnetic markings  
written on the media that guide the  
read/ write heads to the proper position.  
RLL Run Length Limited. A method used  
on some hard disks to encode data into  
magnetic pulses. R LL requires more  
processing, but stores almost 50% more data  
per disk than the MFM method.  
SERVO SURFACE A separate surface  
containing only positioning and disk timing  
information but no data.  
SETTLE TIME The interval between  
when a track to track movement of the head  
stops, and when the residual vibration and  
movement dies down to a level sufficient for  
reliable reading or writing.  
ROM Acronym for read only memory.  
Usually in the form of an ROM in the  
controller that contains programs that can be  
accessed and read but not modified by the  
system.  
SHOCK RATING A rating (expressed in  
Gs) of how much shock a disk drive can  
sustain without damage.  
ROTARY ACTUATOR The rotary  
actuator replaces the stepper motor used in the  
past by many hard disk manufacturers. The  
rotary actuator is perfectly balanced and  
rotates around a single pivot point. It allows  
closed-loop feedback positioning of the heads,  
which is more accurate than stepper motors.  
SOFT ERROR An error in reading data  
from the disk that does not recur if the same  
data is reread. Often caused by power  
fluctuations or noise spikes.  
SOFT SECTORED Disks that mark the  
beginning of each sector of data within a track  
by a magnetic pattern.  
ROTATIONAL LATENCY The delay  
between when the controller starts looking  
for a specific block of data on a track and  
when that block rotates around to where it  
can be read by the read/ write head. On the  
average, it is half of the time needed for a full  
rotation (about 8 ms.).  
SPINDLE The center shaft of the disk  
upon which the drives platters are mounted.  
SPUTTER A type of coating process used  
to apply the magnetic coating to some  
high-performance disks. In sputtering, the  
disks are placed in a vacuum chamber and the  
coating is vaporized and deposited on the  
disks. The resulting surface is hard, smooth,  
and capable of storing data at high density.  
Maxtor disk drives use sputtered thin film  
disks.  
S
SCSI Acronym for Small Computer System  
Interface, an American National Standards  
Institute (ANSI) version of Shugart Associates'  
SASI interface between the computer and  
controller. SCSI has grown in popularity and  
is one of the most flexible and intelligent  
interfaces available.  
STEPPER A type of motor that moves in  
discrete amounts for each input electrical  
pulse. Stepper motors used to be widely used  
for read/ write head positioner, since they can  
be geared to move the head one track per  
step. Stepper motors are not as fast or reliable  
as the rotary voice coil actuators which  
Maxtor disk drives use.  
SECTOR A section of space along a track  
on the disk, or the data that is stored in that  
section. Hard disks most often have sectors  
that are 512 data bytes long plus several bytes  
overhead for error correcting codes. Each  
sector is preceded by ID data known as a  
SUBSTRATE The material the disk  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
G-7  
Glossary  
platter is made of beneath the magnetic  
U
coating. Hard disks are generally made of  
aluminum or magnesium alloy (or glass, for  
optical disks) while the substrate of floppies is  
usually mylar.  
UNFORMATTED CAPACITY The  
total number of bytes of data that could be fit  
onto a disk. Formatting the disk requires some  
of this space to record location, boundary  
definitions, and timing information. After  
formatting, user data can be stored on the  
remaining disk space, known as formatted  
capacity. The size of a Maxtor drive is  
expressed in formatted capacity.  
SURFACE The top or bottom side of the  
platter which is coated with the magnetic  
material for recording data. On some drives  
one surface may be reserved for positioning  
information.  
T
V
THIN FILM A type of coating, used for  
disk surfaces. Thin film surfaces allow more  
bits to be stored per disk.  
VOICE COIL A type of motor used to  
move the disk read/ write head in and out to  
the right track. Voice-coil actuators work like  
loudspeakers with the force of a magnetic coil  
causing a proportionate movement of the  
head. Maxtor's actuator uses voice-coil  
technology, and thereby eliminates the high  
stress wearing parts found on stepper motor  
type actuators.  
TPI Acronym for tracks per inch. The  
number of tracks or cylinders that are written  
in each inch of travel across the surface of a  
disk.  
TRACK One of the many concentric  
magnetic circle patterns written on a disk  
surface as a guide to where to store and read  
the data.  
W
TRACK DENSITY How closely the  
tracks are packed on a disk surface. The  
number is specified as tracks per inch (TPI).  
WEDGE SERVO The position on every  
track that contains data used by the closed  
loop positioning control. This information is  
used to fine tune the position of the  
read/ write heads exactly over the track  
center.  
TRACK TO TRACK SEEK TIME The  
time required for the read/ write heads to  
move to an adjacent track.  
WINCHESTER DISKS Hard disks that  
use a technology similar to an IBM model  
using Winchester as the code name. These  
disks use read/ write heads that ride just above  
the magnetic surface, held up by the air flow  
created by the turning disk. When the disk  
stops turning, the heads land on the surface,  
which has a specially lubricated coating.  
Winchester disks must be sealed and have a  
filtration system since ordinary dust particles  
are large enough to catch between the head  
and the disk.  
TRANSFER RATE The rate at which the  
disk sends and receives data from the  
controller. Drive specifications usually  
reference a high number that is the burst  
mode rate for transferring data across the  
interface from the disk buffer to system RAM.  
Sustained data transfer is at a much lower rate  
because of system processing overhead, head  
switches, and seeks.  
WRITE ONCE In the context of optical  
disks, technologies that allow the drive to  
store data on a disk and read it back, but not  
to erase it.  
G-8 Maxtor D540X-4K 20.0/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
DATA TR ANSFER R ATE 4-4  
Data transfer R ates 4-2  
DC motor assembly 5-3  
DCR (disable early correction) 6-14  
DisCache parameters 6-13  
DISK ERR OR S 4-2, 4-3  
disk stack assembly 5-3  
actuator lock 5-5  
adapter board 2-4, 3-13  
Adaptive Caching 5-10  
Adaptive segmentation 5-10  
air filtration 5-6  
AIR LOCK® 5-5  
DOS 4-4  
AR R (automatic read reallocation) 6-14  
AWR E (automatic write reallocation en-  
abled) 6-14  
DP8491 R ead Channel Device 5-8  
drive electronics 5-6  
drive mechanism 5-1  
drive parameters 6-15  
drive select (DS) jumper 3-6  
base casting 5-3  
block diagram 5-6  
Buffer Controller 5-8  
ECC correction span 6-14  
EEC (enable early correction) 6-14  
ENDEC 5-7  
error detection, correction 5-14  
error rates 5-14  
error recovery parameters 6-14  
Cable Select 3-6  
cable select (CS) jumper 3-5  
CE (cache enable) 6-14  
clean room 5-1  
clearance 3-11  
command descriptions 6-2  
Configuration 6-10  
faceplate 3-1  
firmware features 5-10  
configuration command data field 6-13  
connector, IDE 3-12  
cooling fan requirements 3-11  
crash stops 5-5  
flex circuit. 5-5  
floppy drive 3-13  
hardware options 3-4  
headstack assembly 5-5  
Humidity 4-9  
daisy-chain 2-3  
daisy-chained 3-5  
Data Synchronizer 5-9  
Data transfer operations 5-8  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
I-1  
 
Index  
packing assembly 3-2  
packing materials 3-2  
PE (prefetch enable) 6-13  
Peak Detect 5-9  
IDE interface controller 5-8  
IDE-bus interface 6-1  
IDE-bus interface connector 3-12  
Idle 4-7  
input power connections 3-12  
interface, IDE-bus 6-1  
power and AT bus connector 3-11  
power and bus interface cables 3-14  
power connector 3-11  
Power R equirements 4-7  
Power Sequencing 4-6  
pre-amplifier 5-10  
pre-compensator 5-9  
precompensator circuit 5-7  
printed circuit board 3-4  
Pulse Detector 5-9  
jumper configurations 3-5  
jumper locations 3-4  
jumper options 3-5  
PWM 5-7  
landing zone 5-5  
logical cylinders 3-18  
logical heads 3-18  
logical sectors/ track 3-18  
low 4-4  
Quantum configuration key 6-13  
low-level format 4-4  
R/ W head matrix 5-10  
RC (read continuous) 6-14  
read configuration 6-11  
read defect list 6-8  
read preamplifier 5-5  
read/ write ASIC 5-10  
Reset Limits 4-6  
maximum screw torque 3-10  
mechanical dimensions 3-1  
microcontroller 5-7  
motherboard 3-13  
Motor Controller 5-8  
mounting 3-9  
mounting dimensions 3-9  
mounting holes 3-9  
mounting screw clearance 3-10  
mounting screws 3-10  
MS-DOS 3-18  
ripple 4-6  
rotary positioner 5-5  
rotary positioner assembly 5-5  
RUEE (reallocate uncorrectable error en-  
ables) 6-15  
MTBF 4-11  
Servo Controller 5-8  
set configuration 6-12  
set configuration without saving to disk 6-  
noise 4-6  
Nominal conditions 4-5  
number of retries 6-14  
shipping container 3-2  
I-2  
Maxtor D540X-4K 20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0 GB AT  
Index  
SHOCK 4-10  
Slave Present 3-6  
slave present (SP) jumper 3-6  
Specifications 4-10  
sputtered thin-film coating 5-3  
supply voltages 4-5  
tampering with the HDA 5-1  
temperature 4-5  
theory of operation 5-1  
timebase generator 5-9  
UNIX 4-4  
ventilation 3-11  
ventilation requirements 3-9  
vibration 4-5  
warranty (void) 5-1  
WCE (write cache enable) 6-15  
write driver 5-5, 5-10  
Maxtor D540X-4K20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0GBAT  
I-3  
Index  
Maxtor D540X-4K20.4/ 40.0/ 60.0/ 80.0GBAT  
I-4  

Motorola Moto Q Cellular Telephone and PDA User Manual
Memorex MP3228 User Manual
LG Electronics 600 User Manual
IBM 48X User Manual
Grindmaster SHUTTLE BREWER APBVSA 330V2 User Manual
Fujitsu MHT2080BH User Manual
Fujitsu Computer Drive User Manual
Emerson CKS3088 User Manual
Bunn Coffeemaker CWT TSR User Manual
Alpine CDA 7897 User Manual