Samsung unveils 1TB Spinpoint server drives

The 7200rpm Spinpoint F3 drives use a 3Gbit/s Sata interface

Samsung has unveiled a set of hard drives which can store up to 1TB, and are aimed at the server and datacentre markets.

The Spinpoint F3 drives cram up to 500GB of data onto a single platter, which can boost performance by up to 30 per cent while also drawing less power, according to Samsung.

Furthermore, the increased areal density means that there are fewer moving parts and less strain on the motor and spindle, so reliability and longevity are also improved.

"Our customers require not only additional capacity, but high performance for their server and desktop storage systems, while promoting a green environment," said Choel-Hee Lee, vice president of marketing for the Storage Systems Division at Samsung.

"The massive capacity-per-platter and high-performance features of the new Spinpoint F3 make it an attractive solution for driving the growth of high-density storage."

The 7200rpm drives use a 3Gbit/s Sata interface and include a 16MB or 32MB buffer memory as well as Native Command Queuing and Samsung's SilentSeek and NoiseGuard technology to keep the drives quiet.

"Market forecasts estimate that 500GB per platter and higher densities will experience over 15 per cent annual growth in the next five years, with expectations that high density storage will become mainstream for 3.5in storage beyond 2010," said Mark Geenen, president at storage research firm TrendFocus.

The Spinpoint F3 is currently available in 500GB capacities and sells for around €46 (£39). The 1TB F3 drives are scheduled to arrive in August and should cost around €69 (£59).