Tech Link (Storage): Hard Disk Drive Myths Debunked

Rojakpot, err, TechARP has a pretty neat article about the most common myths about hard drive. I really find this helpful for noobies or clueless. Back in early 95s/96s, I was once thinking that too much formating will reduce my hard drive life span. Had it not for a friend, I would have always believed that, yay. Check it out...

This guide was written in response to the numerous fallacies about the hard disk drive that are still being propagated in many forum discussions. Although many articles have covered these topics, it is apparent that hard drive urban legends are still more popular than the simple truth.

So, let's get down to basics and examine some of these common fallacies or myths and debunk them!

Source:Hard Disk Drive Myths Debunked

Tech Link (Storage): Samsung's Solid State Disk Drive Unveiled

Wohooo, this is just so nice. I can't help but drool over these technologies. It's so nice to have such ultra super fast storage system. I'm lovin' it already, well, I just hope the price is lovable too.

In May 2006, Samsung was the first to come out with a consumer 32 GB flash-based solid state drive for mobile PCs, opening up the category for other solid state drive manufacturers. This article explores the solid state drive technology that might replace our aging hard drives in only a couple of years.

Source:Samsung's Solid State Disk Drive Unveiled

Tech Link (Platform): SGI claims 4.35 TB memory bandwidth on Itanium 2 server

THG has an article about the powerul Chipzilla processor. It's not your typical server CPU, but none other than the amazing and most powerfule processor available to manking: Intel® Itanium®. And oh, this server has 1024 processors. Expand for more...

SGI claims 4.35 TB memory bandwidth on Itanium 2 server

Wolfgang Gruener

July 17, 2006 17:36

SGI said that it has built 1024-processor Altix 4700 system that has achieved a sustained memory bandwidth of 4.35 TB/s. The performance was measured through Stream Triad benchmark tests on a system that was running a single copy of Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10 and SGI's Pro Pack 5 for Linux.

SGI said that its system was about four times faster than the previously held record of 1 TB/s, which was posted by an SGI Altix system with 512 processors. Other systems in the Stream Triad list include a NEC SX-7 with a memory performance of 851 GB/s and an HP Alpha server GS1280, which reached 421 GB/s.

Source:THG

Tech Link (Storage): ACRYLIC CowBoy, the SATA-IDE kit

Are you tired of the same old way of mounting your hard drive? Or just want to see if there's any other way to mount your additional storage? Or maybe trying to change how your big capacity hard disks is arranged? Then this maybe the way of the future, well, that is if it becomes mainstream.
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Currently, I believe it is only available in the land of the Ninjas, that is Japan if you're slow. What's so cool about this device is that you can also use your regular desktop hard-drive with your laptop. At least I think it can because they have an image there showing it, but you'll need an extra power supply to power up the hard disk.


The site even have many colored "acrylic plates", so if you feel like you're in the mood for blue, snap it on and then there's white and black flavors to boot too!

Source:AkihabaraNews

Check out the manufacturer website for more info, that is if you can read Japanese.

Tech Link (Storage): Sony to ship 50GB Blu-ray recordables in June

I am not so excited about the technology, but I think someone out there is or even planning on getting one. I mean hey, it's 50GB of full data goodness, saves a lot in terms of those precious space on your work area. At least, in my case, it'll save me tons, really lots of space since my work area and my mess area is the same, yay, keeps those scattered CDs reduced to a few pieces!

Anyway, this technology is heaven sent for those who really need lots of storage capacity for such a compact media. While I still haven't opened my DVDWriter which I bought eons ago and haven't found a use yet, there is a 25GB flavor that is shipping already. I guess I am being left behind, not that I mind though.

Anyway, if you are one of the storage FanBoyz, check the full story at RegHardware. And oh, did I mention they aren't cheap? Ooops...

Source:RegHardware

Tech Link (Industry): Intel "Snowgrass" -- NAND Flash For Your Motherboard

I still don't know the other details of the implementation of this exciting product but DailyTech have some scoop on the mobile front, and some details regarding the implementation on the desktop.

But if this becomes really affordable for the masses, it can redefine the way we use our systems, doing very fast boot up of PC. It is safe to assume that if implemented properly, this will certainly a boon for the enthusiasts. And if this becomes cheap, it'll become so popular for the masses. And if this becomes rock bottom cheap, and technology matures, who knows, it can be integrated as a PC "stock" component.

Solid-state storage finally comes into mass production; although prices are still sky-high

Last week at IDF, we reported that Intel's next major mobile platform, called Santa Rosa, will feature NAND flash memory technology in order to allow devices to startup and execute programs. This technology, dubbed Robson, will improve boot times, reduce paging and be used as a general buffer between storage devices and system memory.

Interestingly, Intel also mentioned that Robson will have a version for desktop computers called Snowgrass. The technology is currently in the works and is planned to be released after Robson. Motherboard makers will have designs that contain a slot designed to take a Snowgrass NAND module. This opens the door for users to customize their motherboards with various sizes of modules for whatever purposes they choose, and also allows the ability to upgrade NAND as it gets less and less expensive. Remember when L2 cache used to sit on the motherboard?

Intel's current Snowgrass specification calls for a modular design, but it now appears that motherboard makers have the option of integrating the technology directly on board. There is no word yet on capacities, but for Snowgrass or Robson to really have any value over the purchase of a faster hard drive, we would have to speculate that the cost of such a module cost less than a few gigabytes of system memory. We would not be surprised if Robson and Snowgrass have similar price points and capacities as USB NAND at the time of launch. Today, 4GB pen drives using NAND flash memory cost approximately $100.

Source:DailyTech

Tech Link (Storage?): Hard Disk Musicality

If you hate noisy or even broken hard disk, then it will suprise you that someone is collecting it and even making "music" with it. Over at harddisko, Valentina Vuksic makes music with the use of sixteen (16) harddrives, making "rythmic noises".
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All of the sixteen(16) drive casing are removed, and equipped with a special sound pickup device connected to the drive's read head and channeled to the sound mixer. It is a very innovative way to make music, a work of art only done by true artists. The masterpiece is currently being showcased over at Aarau in Switzerland, through April 2.

Techno basics. “Harddisko” is an installation piece dealing with raw computer sounds. Rhythmic noises are evolving from sixteen harddrives, which are orchestrated through simple power circuits. By cutting the harddisk's power in varying sequences and amplifying the peculiar sound characteristics of each drive, an unpredictable acoustic and visual interplay is taking place.

Source:Harddisko

Press Release: Verbatim Takes Printable Media to Next Level With New Glossy Inkjet Printable CDRs, DVD+/-Rs

If you still can't afford Lightscribe*-based DVD/CD Writers to make great prints on your DVD/CD, then maybe this alternative will be a great news for you. Verbatim* released this new Printable CDRs and DVD+/-Rs that promises great prints, comparable to glossy print papers that photographers use. Now, that's a definite wowser! (And come to think of it, I used to be a Verbatim* fan back in the 5.25 floppy disk days *yay*)

Verbatim Takes Printable Media to Next Level With New Glossy Inkjet Printable CDRs, DVD+/-Rs

ORLANDO, FL (February 27, 2006) – Verbatim Corporation, the market leader in premium-quality printable media, announced today a new family of glossy white inkjet printable 52X CDR and 16X DVD+/-R media. The new discs combine a shiny white printable surface and fast drying times with ultra-reliable, high-speed recording technology and broad read compatibility. With Verbatim’s unique glossy media, users can make their recordings look distinctive with vibrant, full-color images and crystal-clear text. The next generation of photo and video storage media were unveiled at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association) Convention which began here yesterday.

The new glossy discs feature an exceptional inkjet-printable surface that provides superior ink absorption and excellent drying properties. When combined with any color inkjet printer, users can print photo-quality images directly to the disc surface to customize their CDs and DVDs.

The new media will meet the needs of individuals and businesses that want to produce professional-looking one-off and limited run video, photo, music, and/or data discs for sharing with friends and family or sales distribution. By combining the ultra-reliability of Verbatim’s advanced CDR and DVD+/-R technologies with an innovative glossy inkjet-printable surface, users have the highest quality in both recording and print performance.

“Our new glossy discs have a high-sheen surface, similar to the glossy print paper photographers use,” explained Ron Hanafin, Verbatim Product Marketing Manager. “The glossy finish takes printable media to the next level by enabling the reproduction of exceptionally vibrant, high-resolution images and graphics that come alive.”

Source:Verbatim*

Tech Link (Storage): DDRdrive X1, a solid state storage using PCIe

As much as I'd like to put this techlink as a "RAM", it's not really used in that way. This is more like your virtual drive back in the good ol' DOS days where you allocate part of your RAM and turn it into a very very very fast floppy drive (or hard drive) or whatever you may want to call it. Gigabyte* released their I-RAM* technology before, and HyperOS Systems'* HyperDrive III* (yep, 3rd incarnation already) has done it as well.
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And now, a new player is coming to town to make the merry wishes of those who have the bucks come true which offers the same concept but different implementation. Gigabyte* I-RAM* technology uses the SATA ports (and the associated bandwidth) while HyperOS Systems'* HyperDrive III* uses the ATA port. This makes them like a virtual hard disk, I mean hey, you snuck them all on storage connectors, so logical thinking suggests they'd function as that. Then this new comer, sees the bottleneck (RAM can go faster than those storage bus anyway) and thought, hmm, why don't I just go directly to the newer spiffy PCI Express Bus? So there you go, the DDRdrive X1* is now born from DDRdrive.

Source:DDRdrive

_{Note: By the way, there's really not much to their site, except that particular product link.}