IBM Deskstar 120GXP

IBM Ultrastar 73LZX Capacities Model Number Capacity IC35L040AVVA07 40 GB IC35L080AVVA07 80 GB IC35L120AVVA07 120 GB Lowest Real-Time Price: Introduction IBM's Deskstar series of ATA drives have been highly regarded by hardware enthusiasts for years. When StorageReview.com first launched nearly four years ago, Big Blue's Deskstar 5 and Deskstar 8 were all the rage, with the huge 7200 RPM Deskstar 14GXP just around the corner. Over SR's years, regardless of the methodologies used at any given time, the GXP series has excelled through leading the pack when it came to capacity and performance.

A stumbling block of sorts appeared with the 75GXP. Although the drive continued to deliver first-rate size and speed, an unusually large number of users complained about reliability problems with the model. A similar though lesser situation arose with the 60GXP, though its unclear whether or not users unfairly attributed "mundane" problems that occur to all drives (and/or all users) to the 60GXP's lineage. SR does not hold an opinion one way or another on the matter; we simply point out what we've observed.

Amazingly, all this negativity has done little to stifle the excitement of many over the latest addition to the line, the Deskstar 120GXP. Indeed many readers have written in stating that they will delay purchase of a new drive until SR evaluates the 120GXP despite the DiamondMax D740X, Barracuda ATA IV, and Caviar WD1200BB, all excellent alternatives.

In a strange turnaround from the days of old, IBM is one of the last major players (along with Samsung) to introduce a 7200 RPM drive based on 40-gig platters. When moving from 15- to 20-gig disks, IBM abandoned its unique five-platter architecture in favor of a more conventional three-disk design, hence the regression in size when comparing the older flagship 75GXP to the newer 60GXP. The 120GXP continues with three platters yielding a flagship capacity of 120 GB- not bad considering that all competitors excepting only Western Digital have pulled back to two-disk designs. IBM specs the 120GXP's access time at 8.5 milliseconds. A 2-megabyte buffer rounds out the offering.

Featuring its 7200 RPM spindle speed, the Deskstar 120GXP targets mid- to high-end desktop machines as well as entry-level workstations and servers. Its large capacity potentially promises huge server capacity on the cheap. A three-year warranty backs the drive.

Let's see how this long-awaited contender stacks up!