Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) today announced the launch of two 7200 RPM SATA 2.5" HDDs.

The new HDD family is a two-part series. The first HDD is the MKxx61GSY, which provides up to 640GB of storage capacity for consumer applications and comes available with a Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) option. The second is the MKxx61GSYB, a high durability (HD) HDD, which brings up to 500GB capacity and is especially designed for industrial and enterprise applications requiring constant operation and the intensive reading and writing of data.

The MKxx61GSY series offers storage capacities of 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB and 640GB, with an interface transfer speed of 3 gigabits per second and a high areal density of up to 506.3 gigabits per square inch respectively. It makes up to 320GB available in a single platter design, with 500GB and 640GB delivered across two platters. The design?s ability to deliver high storage capacities at speeds of 7200 RPM boosts overall system and application responsiveness when deployed in home and enterprise computing environments, delivering benefits such as greater productivity and smoother graphics rendering.

The MKxx61GSY also offers Toshiba's OEMs the opportunity to build further durability and reliability into products through an optional free fall sensor. This safeguards the device and data contained within HDD even if it is dropped. It is also exceptionally quiet: with the MKxx61GSY operating at the threshold of human hearing in both seek-mode and idle-mode (2.3 Bels / 1Platter, 2.6 Bels / 2Platter).

The MKxx61GSYB series builds on the MKxx61GSY platform to extend the benefits of small form factor technology into industrial and enterprise applications that require reliable storage for intensive, "always-on" operations. Its high durability design includes such features as rotational vibration tolerance, delivering 24x74 operation support at a 50 per cent duty cycle.

The MKxx61GSYB offers between 80GB and 500GB of storage capacity.

The MKxx61GSY Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) option has been developed to help Toshiba's OEMs and end users to comply with regulation on data protection through technology that secures data stored on the device even when not in use. By automatically encrypting data stored on the HDD when it is at rest it will be of a benefit to organisations in sectors such as health, government and financial services which must take steps to safeguard the personal or sensitive information they possess.

Toshiba?s new 2.5" HDD family provides equivalent storage capacities and performance to 3.5" HDD technology, but consume substantially less energy. For example, the 640GB MKxx61GSY consumes only 0.00013W/GB and operates at a lower temperature, reducing the environmental impact of devices into which it is integrated while contributing to improved system performance and durability.

Both Toshiba?s MKxx61GSY and MKxx61GSYB will be commercially available to Toshiba's Distribution and Original Equipment Manufacturers from Q4 2010.